City of the Future: Education, Family, & Government

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"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples." --Mother Teresa

What constitutes a strong society? When I use the term "strong", I don't mean physical might, instead implying stable, happy, balanced and prosperous. All of these things most often grow out of a society that has their basic needs met, solid family units/values/support, and access to education, as well as job opportunities. Family values is a political buzz phrase that I hesitate to use here even though it's applicable, because it has become completely watered down by politicians who schmooze their way into whatever office they're running for (and no, I don't believe all politicians are bad, but there's certainly no shortage of ones driven by greed and/or self-interest). So, how would my city of the future address these issues and promote a strong citizen base? I'd begin with the foundation...family.

No government can legislate values, nor should it, but what they can do is provide a safe, fair, stable environment for its citizens to flourish. This involves allowing freedom for people to live, love, and learn, while lending support to those in crisis. It also includes a place where there's a climate of hope for a better future. There are places around the world, including here in the United States that attempt to do this, but you need only watch the news to see that we are still failing to care for our people. Many families worldwide are living at or below poverty level and for them just living one day to the next is a huge challenge. We have to do better. We have to have programs that are actually useful and work. And while it may sound as if I'm promoting a world with a socialist agenda, the truth is my city would take a Humanism approach.

Humanism here is defined as a "progressive philosophy of life...that affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity" (...from the AHA pamphlet, and found at www.humanistsofutah.org/what.html). While I do not agree with all facets of the dogma contained in the American Humanism Association, like all other philosophical schools of thought, I believe the "truth" is a bit of this, and a dab of that in terms of "rightness". Another part of the Humanism philosophy that I firmly believe is "...in a morality that holds its highest goals: happiness, freedom, and progress for everyone irrespective of nation, race, or religion." If these goals are maintained as the cornerstone of my city's purpose, all choices made to help see them attained, then I believe the climate for those things can be achieved! That's the place I want to live in, grow old in, and belong to. I'd like to think that the possibility of such a place is not as far-fetched as, say, living in a world full of unicorns!

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