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The importance of remaining neutral
Kathleen Johnson 9/17/06
Volunteers by nature are the ones in the crowd who stand up and get "involved". In this artificial environment, created by Katrina , it is important to stand in the background and remain neutral. And what scenario is that you ask? To remain politically correct - the one thing you should not do as the visitor, who has been invited to dinner, is to discuss politics and religion. Thats what my Pappy always taught me anyway. And he was always very active in politics. Took me years and years to understand what he meant by that.
As we approach the November political season here in the Gulf Coast - some of us have been volunteering here going on a year. We have made friends, networked into the community, met all the players, and of course, met most the candidates in the local elections, and in some cases, we are their advocates Case Managers and volunteering to re-build their homes. We become personally involved - how can you not?.
Despite the instinct to "get involved" in the politics, as we have prior in our own home turf, here we are the visitor despite the length of stay. We are here as ambassadors of goodwill for our faith based groups, non profits, and other philanthropic organizations. Given that - we need to take care and adopt a policy of neutrality in these very small close knit communities in southern Mississippi that are so politically vulnerable because of an excessive number of "outsiders" who are here as vo/06lunteers, contractors, and consultants and so many of the locals are still evacuated.
We, the Katrina relief volunteer, are here to "rebuild" not remold the community like it is "back home". We have to accept this temporary home with all its local heritage, traditions and colorful nuances. It is up to the local residents to decide their political future.
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