Recent comments from readers (who,
of course, remain anonymous or use a pseudonym = #howbraveisthat) of our
regional local newspaper have reminisced about and glorified their own school
days. They fondly recall the three
flights of stairs, the smallness of the building, the sense of making do with
what they had. In my opinion, this is
all good and all very natural. I don’t believe there are many of us who do not
look back with mostly fond memories to the lives and memories we lived and
experienced. They reference “the
greatest generation” (no argument from me about that), the force of character,
the work ethic.
Often, these same commentators
lament the plight of the senior citizen, these denizens of that greatest
generation. They claim that Milton taxes
will force these people from their homes or put them in an awful bind. I can’t presume to know what anyone else can
or cannot afford but what I do know is that School District of Milton taxes are
the absolute lowest in the entire area and in the Badger Conference. I am not stating this for the sake of argument. I am simply offering perspective. If these people feel they must move, and, if
in fact, they like the way of life of the Milton community where they were
likely raised and attended school themselves, where will they go to find lower
school taxes?
When does a person earn the positive,
honorable label of senior citizen? Is it
a magic age, a mindset, a state of health or wellbeing? I’m not sure and that is not the topic of
this blog but may be worth considering.
I am 67 years old and have lived in this community now for 51
years. I am not native but I am proud of
being local. I graduated from what was
then Milton Union High School in 1968 – 50 years ago next spring. Am I a senior citizen? Perhaps. I also know that there are many Milton
citizens who are the next click or generation older than me and my
contemporaries. I don’t always agree with them but I do value and honor
them. They raised me, they taught me,
they tolerated me, they encouraged me, they corrected me, they praised me, and
they celebrated with me. And, most important of all, through the legacy of the
school district they built and of which they were so proud, they gave back to
me and the future by building schools and facilities that created a platform
for Milton kids to keep pace with the progress of a world moving at lightning
speed. So, in addition to making do, the
greatest generation gave back and created the expectation that we who came
after them would also do the same.
Allow me to share this except
from Philip Gulley’s essay, The Compact.
“Almost every benefit we’ve ever enjoyed happened because our ancestors
were generous enough to share their resources for the good of the whole (the social
compact). Their tax dollars educated us,
secured our health, promoted our safety, and enhanced our lives immeasurably.
Take my money, please. I don’t
want it if it means my children and grandchildren will be afflicted with
second-rate schools, third-world health care, shuttered libraries, busted
dreams, and broken cities.
Shortly after my wife was born, the township she lived in voted not to
pay its library tax. Then, a relatively
prosperous township made up of small family farms, it believed that particular tax
was a waste of money. As a consequence,
the children of that township were not allowed to use the public library. My wife didn’t check a book out of a public
library until she was twenty-one. She
remembers wanting to enter and being told it was forbidden. Today, that township is one of the poorest
townships in the state’s second poorest county, less than ten percent of its
children go to college, and they still believe they can’t afford to pay their
library tax.
When American thrived, it thrived because its citizenry invested
heavily in one another. If America
fails, it will be because we have placed our personal gain above the common
good. If that day comes, a few of us
might be richer, be we will all be infinitely poorer.”
Voting ‘Yes’ on November 7 is clearly
a vote for kids. BUT, it is so much more.
It is a vote for Milton, our lives, our legacy, our survival, our
heritage, our expectations. It is living up to the role model created by that
greatest generation who came before us. I feel privileged to honor and fulfill
that expectation.
After all – KIDS MATTER.
Jon Cruzan
Community Catalyst
cruzan4milton
