Ritzville needs to recover

Growing up an “east coaster” I have witnessed many death and regeneration cycles of neighborhoods and cities. As we know Detroit, Cleveland and Gary are facing these cycles now and eastern Washington towns have had their share of past boom times with more to be revealed. I would like to see the town succeed – it has tremendous potential.

The last 40-plus years of human activity, decisions and behaviors on the International, National, State and local levels have delivered a number of outcomes that seem to be resulting in the Perfect Storm and appear to have affected Ritzville very negatively. The first step in recovery is admitting there is a problem. For this town the problems are numerous but never hopeless and since I have nothing left to lose (literally) I’ll have a go at it.

People have to be willing to do whatever it takes – even if it means being outside of their comfort zone. In a cultural atmosphere that fosters disdain, suspicion and contempt for each other, new residents or new ideas this is a Ritzville paradox to be sure. A negative pattern; the rush to judge from a limited, narrow minded, cliquish, perspective no matter what the roots of the particular dogma might be; political, religious, cultural or otherwise, is a pattern that becomes entrenched.

This creates a dilemma if we can’t solve the problems with the same tools (beliefs) that created the problems in the first place. Albert Einstein spoke to this.

What this means is there is no future in the past. None. In relation to history and a full understanding of what systems got us to this place the past can be valuable ONLY because we can learn from it and adjust.

Hiding fear of change behind the premise of limited growth “memories” leads to paralyzation. A paralyzed community is a community that doesn’t survive. The 12th step adage “change or die” holds true.

So what can be done? I might suggest letting go of addictions even if it feels extreme. Addicts and alcoholics know that in order to be able to have choices they must let go of self-destructive behaviors. Self-destructive behaviors run the gamut; over eating, over consuming, suspicion, debt, gossip, watching TV, being victims, being angry, holding onto the past…

The Dali Lama suggests “know the rules so you can break them effectively”. Sometimes, like MLK in a Birmingham jail, we have to be “creative extremists” to find new solutions to old problems. Creative extremists have nothing to do with bombs or violence. In fact the opposite is true.

It just means they are willing to think differently and venture outside their comfort zones and give up their cocoons of limited vision, empty titles or the need for immediate ego gratification.

What would unlimited growth look like for Ritzville if it had nothing to do with GDP, sprawl or over regulation and everything to do with diversity and vibrancy of businesses, people, religions, ideas, concepts and results? I guess we’ll never know as you’ve already dismissed this LTE as “crazy”.

Shelia Grace, Ritzville