Thoughts
Never in human history has the pace of change been so rapid or so overwhelming. In my particular area of concern -- artistic and architectural heritage -- it can be said that we are losing touch with the past, with the accomplishments of other ages that give us a vital perspective onto who we are in the present and who we wish to be in the future.
Paradoxically, making the world -- our habitat -- a better place may in some instances involve protecting it from forces of 'modernization', at least when they threaten cherished buildings and familiar landmarks and sites. It is heartening to have seen, over the past few decades, the development of many forms of local, national, and international response to such threats. It almost always begins at the most personal and local level. Residents of a small hamlet find a common cause in protecting their old railway station, the congregation of a church ravaged by fire is drawn together in their determination to rebuild their sanctuary, and whole neighborhoods in larger cities rally together to defeat a proposed highway or an ill-devised redevelopment scheme. Most importantly, they discover that their actions can and do make a difference. That they can help to determine what matters. This type of immediate engagement is a very basic form of philanthropy, of working with others for a shared good. It is magnified beyond all imagining by well-focused nonprofit organizations that channel human and financial resources to benefit our lives. |
