Where, after all, do universal human rights begin?

“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt

Our New Mayor Teresa Barth and the rest of this new city council brought a flesh and blood example to Eleanor Roosevelt's quote to the Dec. 19th meeting. Starting with the mayor requesting a moment of silence for the women and children murdered in Sandy Hook School shootings and deliberating over safe walks to schools it felt very close to home.  In the planetary scheme of things, this little city council is a very small place close to home. But in item after item we got to hear conscientious regard for individuals and neighborhoods, schools, boards and community volunteer groups. The city clerk, city staff, city manager and city attorney were helpful and efficient. Yes, I'm gushing because I'd begun to think this simple reality might never be.

Concerted citizen action gave us this excellent opportunity of a council bent on dignity without discrimination. Even when this council disagreed with a public speaker, the speaker's ideas were regarded in discussions and future agenda suggestions. There is no clip because the entire meeting is worth a resident's time.