EDITORIAL: Working together can change lives
Mike Jones/Observer-Reporter
Too often, political views result in a deep divide that seems impossible to bridge.
Party members dig in, disagreements persist, and it feels as though progress is practically impossible.
There is, however, one thing that politics doesn’t taint: the willingness to give in the face of tragedy.
When 17 people lost their homes last weekend to a massive fire in California Borough, the community showed up for them. Clothing, toiletries and monetary donations flooded several collection locations, including the borough’s volunteer fire department.
Department Chief Tom Harley told a reporter those items quickly filled one of the garage bays of their station. Those donations were transported to California Middle School for distribution to the fire victims.
As of Monday morning, tables in the department’s training room were again filled with more clothing, shoes and toiletries.
People also took care of the first responders from a dozen fire departments in Washington, Fayette and Westmoreland counties. Community members showed up with ice, water and other items to keep firefighters cool during the five hours they were at the scene of the fire.
Responders to the explosion at Clairton Coke Works also learned how generous people can be. One of the departments put out a call for drinks and cooling supplies. In a matter of hours, so much had arrived that they were able to donate excess supplies to The Salvation Army.
GoFundMe campaigns have raised thousands of dollars for the victims or families of victims of the explosion and the fire.
In reference to the California fire, Hartley called the generosity “unbelievable.”
The thing is, it doesn’t have to be. People can work cooperatively for the greater good.
So the next time you find yourself looking at your neighbor, family member, or a stranger on the street with disdain because their political views don’t align with yours, think of this editorial.
Remember that party lines can evaporate to accomplish a common goal.
And what better goal is there than finding a way to cross that bridge by working together?