It is official; the warm, nostalgic feeling of homecoming has faded into the sickening dose of pity and boredom that haunts those capable of recognizing the gravity of reality in a small, post-manufacturing economy. Apparently, Greenville is increasingly ailed by hopelessness, teen pregnancy and drug use. Surely, the former "ailments" are little more than symptoms of a more substantial and infectious plight.
I am not wholly convinced by the common hypotheses of which disease plagues my hometown. Some are quick to assume that it has been poor state economic policy that has fostered the stagnation -- I daresay, the retrograde movement -- of this community. To this, I argue that Michigan's economic policies do not necessarily explain cases across broad spans of time; that is, it is highly unlikely that the successions of leadership in this state have coercively been able to bring down the might of the automotive and other manufacturing industries, especially across the decades since this disease began its manifestation. Nor does this explanation provide insight as to why, in locations nationwide, similar phenomenon occurs.
Others posit that the disease is much broader -- an economic woe echoing throughout the United States and the world. For many internationally, the Western approach to capitalism, free market globalization, is the culprit for our ills. Free trade rhetoric spouted by the US, World Trade Organization, and other global bodies claims that liberalized economic policies spur development (2002 Monterrey Consensus). In some instances, this is true. After signing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, Mexico's inflows of foreign direct investment increased significantly and overall poverty decreased (World Development Reports 1996-2007, World Bank). But, for significant groups within the population, the benefits of liberalized and free trade are out of reach. In Greenville, there is a large portion of the population which, correctly or incorrectly, maintains that NAFTA is what has allowed our manufacturing jobs to head south and east. Assuming, of course, that this draining of "quality, high-paying jobs" is what drives teenagers in Greevilles across the nation to cook meth and fornicate. (The logic has been grossly oversimplied, but I believe it essentially expresses the general thought processes explaining the downturn of society in a place like Greenville).
Ultimately, however, both these explanations are wrong. The horrible increase in high school drop outs, teen pregnancy, drug use, etc. has little if anything to do with economic wounds. Our own permission of cultural and social degradation is the sickness eating at this community. The said degradation deriving, of course, from an epidemic lack of responsibility for ourselves and for others. Blaming economics is a simple explanation of the disgusting debasement of American community. The correlation is obvious, likely perfect and positive. We, in our seemingly-infinite ability to pass blame, see correlation and read causation. Similarly, for those that do recognize this plague as social, I am sickened by the continued inaction to affect change. Fingers are pointed at everyone, but ourselves. Well, Greenville, look in the mirror. It is not Governor Granholm, nor President Bush, nor global capitalists that have brought this to your door. It is your apathy and lack of caring for the progress of your fellow citizens. Turning your head as a child is abused, ignoring your neighbor's depression, not saying 'hello' to a new face -- to an old face! -- these are things that reduce the quality of life in this community, country, and world. We are responsible for the sickness around us and, consequently, only we can reconstruct what has disintegrated. How? By caring enough.
Love
I Corinthians 13: 4-7
Romans 13: 8
I Corinthians 13: 4-7
Romans 13: 8
