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Learning from Nature by John W. Gardner L«r £ A former Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, John Gardner is the Founding Chair­ man of Common Cause. There is validity in the widespread apprehen­ sion today. An era is ending. Known landmarks are fading. We are leaving a familiar world behind. The instinct of us humans to stabilize our environment--both outer and inner--inevitably leads us to invest our institutions with a sense of permanence, of sacredness, of unchallenge­ able rightness. This human need for stability leads over the years to an institutional rigidity that is essentially anti-nature. Nature is tumul­ tuous, moving, changing, always in flux. Things are being born, maturing, adapting, competing, surviving, dying. One thing waxes, another wanes. Things ebb and flow. Humans create organizations and societies to serve their shared purposes, and then gradual­ ly rigidify those institutions as though in a vain attempt to shut out the tumult of nature. But nature wins. Eventually, in trying to shut out the great ebb and flow of life, societies and organizations smother themselves. Almost no one is hostile, in principle, to the idea of renewal. Why is it so difficult? Partly because decay starts from within. When indi­ viduals close their minds, stop learning, become set in their ways, it is not--as a rule-- because anyone forced them to do so. They are impelled by inner needs or failings. So it is with nations. Nations aren't pushed into senility and oblivion. They die of their inner rigidities. In short, one must look for the villain within --within oneself, within one's society. Jhat's no fun. That is why the critics who tell us what our trouble is may be fiercely resented. As a general thing, we do not know ourselves and don't want to. It isn't that we ciui't find the truth that will save us. We run from it. We cry "Where is the voice that wiH tell us the truth?" and clamp our hands over our ears. We shout "Show us the way!" and shut our eyes apprehensively. Those who understand what we must do in order to stave off self-destruction are unwel­ come because they tell us to rearrange things within ourselves or our society that we have no intention of rearranging. There's nothing more unwelcome than a savior when you're not ready to be saved. The status quo is a fabric not easily un­ raveled. There are precedents, traditions, customs, written codes and unwritten rules. Some are still useful, and others are the petri­ fied remains of something that was once useful.- There are procedures, techniques, methods and standards, some still sound, some long outworn. There are arrangements that cannot easily be changed because to change them would alter the distribution of power or wealth. There are institutions that cannot be over­ hauled because their long existence has con­ ferred on them a certain sanctity. Renewal involves both continuity and change. The continuity of the generations and of traditions makes possible change that doesn't descend into chaos--or veer wildly in directions no one had foreseen. Societies change in ways that are closer to organic growth than to mechanical restructuring. A healthy society is one in which, at any given time, some things are being born, some things are flourishing in maturity and some things are dying. At the time of World War I, air and automobile travel were in their infancy, railroads were in their prime, and the horse- drawn buggy was headed for extinction. Innovation, decay, renewal and death occur in parallel--affecting different parts within the system. So it is in the body of a living thing. At any given moment, some cells are dying, some are coming into being. So it is with plants in a garden. A vital society is one in which the forces making for disintegration and death are more than balanced by new life, growth and health. It is often true that the only way to conserve is to innovate and change. And it is also true that the only stable society is the society in motion. >MTK» '2 PAGE 7-PL%l\DEU.HR. FRIDO. 4PRIL 15. 1«»T: Calling Colleen Cheating Boyfriend -- Tell Or Keep Quiet? "<6000 WORD /nw the jBtble ̂ Often, the bible tells us. Jesus gave evidence that the message of Christianity was brought to alt people Many times Jesus came into contact with sinners, lepers, outcasts: none was ever scorned, nor turned away. Those who would discredit Jesus never failed to make public issue any time "publicans and sinners came near him Christ s way was not the way of the world He was a missionary with equal time for all. "Many of us follow the rules of the world and ignore the teachings and the examples Of Christ. We have little sympathy for those less fortunate than ourselves. We hesitate to iend a helping hand to someone in need if that person has a bad reputation. We don t want to become "involved." There is no discredit in a Christian attitude toward one s fellow man. The Christian attitude is one of help and con­ sideration; it does not permit us to throw stones, nor to cast aspersions. "Tlw People Pleeeerj" sey.. LET US HELP YOU PLAN YOUR VACATION with AMC'S and MITCHELL AMC-JEEP All American Giveaway! Here's what you get: i ' i t t 1 $400 Accommodations atony Americana Hotel OTFf» iKLUOfS *OOM OHir DC*fHO'NG U»»0* T> S400 Travel on American AirUnes WOT VAO0 D€CfM««« 't *977 TmWCoG" . MUST &€ COef^VfTfC •v JU*€ '5 ) $400 American Tkrurister Luggage SoGGCSIC UST »*>Ct "-*C Sf* WktOM^eC COLOei Yfntr choice with purchase of any new AMC car withfactoryAirConditioning NEW CAR TRADE-INS 1 • '76 CJ-5 Renegade • '75 Ford Bronco $3995 '4195 * '70 VW BEETLE • '76 Mavrick Coupe *795 SIvUK *2495 • '71 Mustang AUTO PS PB • '73 Gold Duster 6 CYL, A.T, PS. nv 1 I •>*•/ 1 »W» *1395 *1995 3-16 Gremlins, 1-76 Pacer AT DEALER COST! McHENRY COUNTY'S LARGEST AMC-JEEP DEALER MITCHELL AMC-JEEP BY COLLEEN DUDGEON How do you go about telling a very good friend that her boy­ friend is seeing other girls be­ hind her back0 I share an apart­ ment with this girl and we've been good friends for several years For the past year she's been dating Rick and has fallen madly in love with him He's always im­ pressed me as a fairly decent guy and I've encouraged my room­ mate in the relationship Now I've found out that for the past four months Rick has been seeing other girls 1 saw it with my own two eyes last weekend at the movies. He didn t see me. but I certainly got an eyeful of him making the moves on another girl Now I can't decide if I should tell my roommate about the incident or not A couple of my friends have also seen him running around with other girls Doesn't Want To Be Involved Dear Doesn't: Does your roommate suspect anything is going on1 Surely if he's not asking her oui on the weekends she must know something is up It will probably be a hard test of your relationship with your roommate, but I think it best to tell her what you know about Rick Perhaps your news will help her confront what she surelv has had hints of alreadv I've been depressed over the littlest things lately and I can't figure out why It just seems like everything and everybody has been getting under my skin I work in a small office and almost everyone there has commented on my lack of patience with others as well as my hot temper over dumb things which happen accidentally. Yesterday I flew off the handle because the coffee machine didn't fill my cup up all the way to the top How can I stop these flings of anger0 I'm not normally an impatient person and I really don't have any per­ sonal problems that could be causing this behavior Confused Dear Confused: Are you overtired0 When was the last time you took a long vacation by yourself0 Do you find it impossible to relax0 Maybe you need to break away from your routine for a few weeks of rest If things don't seem any brighter when you come back, see a mental heaith specialist who can help you find the sources of your depression (It you would Co"aan s comments or your particular Situation or proOtanv write COLLEEN Bo> 639 Frankfort K* 40601 I SPECIAAAN BALLOT To be voted at the City of McHenry, County of McHenry, State of Illinois, to be held Tuesday, April 19, 1977. Ward No. 1 - Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 404 N. Green Street, McHenry. INDEPENDENT • • For Mayor (Vote for One) JOSEPH B. STANEK GEORGE L. HARKER • For City Clerk (Vote for One) BARBARA E. GILPIN • • For City Treasurer (Vote for One) WILLIAM BRDA ROBERT P. BLAKE • • For Alderman (Vote for One) ELIZABETH M. NOLAN LEROY GUNTNER • GRACE C. BLAKE • ROBERT G. SCHMALING 907 NORTH FRONT ST. McHENRY, ILL. OPEN 7 DAYS 815-385-0403