EDITORIAL: Views from the nation's press

Daily Times-Call, Longmont, Colo.
·2 min read

Dec. 29—The South Platte Sentinel on how we must let past lessons guide the future:

Emerson once advised us that, "The years teach much which the days never know." So as we enter the year 2024, it is our fervent hope that we, as a community, are willing to learn from our recent past; that we are willing to appreciate what we have, build on our weaknesses, and anticipate our future with more optimism than we did in 2023.

While we believe this community is a strong and compassionate one, it is also a community of extremely strong-willed people. And while it is natural for each of us to defend our own ideals, we would like to urge our leaders — at every facet of the community both private and public — to remember that we are all striving for the betterment of the whole.

As we face the new year ahead, we must address many complex and multifaceted community challenges with cooperation and teamwork. We could spend significant time arguing over what could or should have been done in the past year, but finger-pointing is counterproductive and a waste of time. In the end, cooperation will help us do more with less.

Our new year will inevitably bring us all change, so let us learn that two open minds are much stronger than a dozen closed ones. Let us learn to welcome constructive criticism, accepting that it is offered for the improvement of everyone, and not as a personal insult. Let us erase the word "ego" from our vocabularies: Credit or blame is not as important as success. It is much more honorable that people work together as a team than as individuals seeking acceptance and personal glory.

Let us remember that we can learn from each other, and let us never forget — and always respect that we have a citizenry who has shown in 2023 that they care about our future just as much as they honor our past.

Let us remember — and always value — that those people who call this place home are our most important asset.

And as we enter the new year, let us look back at our successes and our failures both with pride and knowledge. Let us learn from what we have been taught, and let us never forget to treat each other with kindness, respect, compassion and tolerance.

Only by understanding where we are today can we ever hope to attain a better tomorrow. We will need this knowledge to help us face the challenge of the upcoming year which we wish is safe, happy, healthy and hopeful for everyone.