In every town, there are people in need. Whitewater has more than many places, fewer than some others. By nature and teaching, able-bodied and established people often assist those who are trouble or disadvantaged. People are social by nature, and compassion is a basic trait. Without government’s request or intervention, people commit privately (often anonymously) to many charitable concerns.
These concerns affect directly the lives not only of the disadvantaged, but also those who are donors, volunteers, and patrons. Some of those volunteers will prove insightful beyond others, and may have good ideas for the ongoing work of the charity. I’ve met people like this, who volunteer their time and money, but have an even greater gift in good ideas.
None of these volunteers is disadvantaged; they’re privileged people who come to help others through compassion. They act from good and worthy motives. Compared with those the charity serves, the volunteers will often be among the most fortunate and privileged within their communities. Since American communities have so much, that places them among the most fortunate and privileged people in all the world.
And yet, and yet, these clever and dedicated volunteers aren’t all the same. Some will speak up, and fight for their good ideas for charitable improvement, but others will remain silent.
They have all the world, by station and privilege, but only some will venture an opinion against prevailing, ineffective customs.
There’s much in this that’s discouraging. It makes sense that a troubled or fragile person would not speak up; need requires attention over advocacy. It would be wrong and unfair to expect more, then and there.
The same is not true of the fortune. It is a truth and a teaching, simply stated, that ‘to whom much is given, much is expected.’
There’s nothing more galling than a fortunate person who hesitates, or stays silent, rather than advocate his or her good ideas for a charitable concern (a place where, from others’ need, good ideas are most useful).
Some, though, will arrive, see problems, and nevertheless stay silent. Talking about talking, and talking about acting, is not action. It’s talk. They’ll see a problem, and ponder what to do or say, but say nothing that makes a difference. They’re be all sorts of preliminary talk about the right process, about how to handle a difficult conversation, but no actual conversing. Worries about how a few words might be perceived, but no action to change how things are done.
People of this ilk often focus — despite all their advantages — on what they deserve by way of deference, etc.
Government will see some of these deficiencies, too, but diffident bureaucrats will stay silent. A hundred thunderbolts from Olympus when an official wants something, but for those in need, not even a spark.
The admirable ones are those who both serve and speak, so that service to others might be more effective.
