LETTER: All ideas can help stimulate community

Talk about it

To the Editor:

I want to thank everyone that was involved in the city manager issue, from those in Focus 2020, the petition carriers, the Government Affairs Committee Forum, to all those who researched the issue and voted.

Although I was very disappointed about the election results in the city manager issue, I was more concerned that over 75 percent of the registered voters did not vote.

Change is always difficult, but never be afraid to search for new and better ways to be more effective or efficient — whether it is in your business, home, church, our community or any organization. The saying, “If it’s not broke don’t try to fix it,” can stymie invention and innovation.

We’re fortunate Henry Ford did not say his horse and buggy was not broke so why build a car, or Thomas Edison say that about his gas lantern, or that Alexander Graham Bell did not say “The telegraph is just fine, we don’t need to actually talk to people.”

We often forget the concept President Kennedy stated about 50 years ago. “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country!”

So I encourage everyone to become involved and stay involved to help Mitchell seize those opportunities, whatever they may be, for a bigger and brighter future.

I love this community and Mitchell has a lot of potential and a great future. However, people need to become involved so we can seize those opportunities and build that future. Don’t be afraid that one of your ideas may get shot down, because your idea may just stimulate an even better idea.

And when you do become involved, please don’t worry about being criticized for being “a mover and a shaker,” as this country did not become great through armchair or Monday morning quarterbacks. Those that make a difference are those who suit up and play. So lace them up.

And like a game — if you lose, don’t throw in the towel; but learn from it and move on — no one wins them all.

Tags: election 2011, opinion, letters, mitchell