Coming Together Will Set Us Apart

Coming Together Will Set Us Apart
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Camp Fire Alaska

Throughout history, events have both torn apart and, ultimately, reunified nations, cultures, and the people within them. During World War II Winston Churchill sought to unify by stating, “In the days to come the British and the American peoples, for their own safety and for the good of all, walk together side by side in majesty, in justice, and in peace.” Allied nations were bound together by the scourge of war. For the good of all they walked side by side.

Through 46 years of Apartheid, Nelson Mandela never compromised his desire to lift up South Africa’s commonalities rather than just rebuke the barriers that divided his country. He said, “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” South Africa experienced deep challenges as it transformed decades of colonialism and bloodshed. Perhaps the transformation owed as much to building mutual respect as to more enlightened policy making.

Our Pledge of Allegiance includes the term “indivisible.” It means “unable to be divided or separated.” The Constitution begins with “We the people.”

It is only through unity, through turning words such as indivisible and we into action that we—the people—will find the courage to overcome and move beyond today’s polarizing and divisive environment.

Organizations, like individuals, must strengthen as well as expand their capacity to draw together when coming together supports the common good. Camp Fire is such an organization. We know we’re only as good as the people and alliances with which we work—schools, families, businesses, community, and faith-serving organizations, alumni, and donors. When we unite we become stronger champions for our common goals. And our most important goal has been, and will always be, to support the youth who will shape, lead, and transform their communities, families, and institutions.

Youth feel valued when they are treated as equal contributors in shaping a just society. They help make things better and have extraordinary ideas about how to do it. In short, they want to feel part of something bigger than themselves. By providing youth with meaningful opportunities to serve their communities, organizations like Camp Fire provide an environment for all kinds of people from all walks of life to unite in achieving the common good.

Yet, there no longer seems to be agreement on what constitutes the common good. We don’t ask questions or seek knowledge because we think we already know the answers. Which makes navigating decision making even more difficult, because the answers are not easy or even obvious. If we adults—with a set of life experiences to draw upon—are straining for insight, imagine how youth—not yet experienced enough to sort through complexities—must feel.

So, it’s a “now more than ever” moment for families, schools, and community organizations like Camp Fire. We must lead by example. We must be willing to ask ourselves and each other the hard questions. We must be willing to listen to answers we don’t like with an open heart and mind. We must be willing to look in the mirror---because it reflects back to us who we really are. We must model for young people the idea that “we the people” is not the same as “I the individual.” Respecting the path others choose to walk does not dictate that we walk the same path. The common good is derived from areas of agreement and mutual respect. If that’s what our young people see and hear from us, then their way forward will be so much clearer.

Only by working together as community can we become the community of good we strive to be. As Nelson Mandela said:

“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way it treats its children.”

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