Posted 8 months, 8 days ago in 
Loading ...
Flash: 94.5 percent of the work force in Mesa County is employed. 92 percent of the U.S work force is employed.
Is our backdrop still the Grand Mesa, the Bookcliffs, Colorado National Monument? Did we weather a far worse storm of Black Sunday in the early ’80s? Don’t we have the finest service clubs in America, I dare say even the world? We have over 30 different churches committed to service projects again for ShareFest ‘09.
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. “ The Dalai Lama.
Because our community gives compassion it will continue to prosper. Some naysayers say there are too many homeless, turnkey kids, meth heads, gangs. I say we recognize those in need and have an incredrible community of activists and businesses who step up to the plate regularly and take those problems on, head on, instead of sweeping them under the rug. We see incredible stories daily of problems solved, not a community of naysayers.
We are still Americans, who live in the land of opportunity. In history, have we ever suffered a permanent defeat? We are still the country that the world looks at as a symbol of success, but it is our compassion that feeds that success. We are the one country people regularly attempt to gain access to for a brighter future, whether legally or illegally.
Americans, we still live in the melting pot of dreams, rags-to-riches stories, medical breakthroughs, inventors, poets, writers, artists, entrepreneurs, secret Santas, Good Samaritans and an endless list of all that is good in men and women. We are the richest people on the planet when we are at our best and real.
I think Einstein said it best: “The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth. The trite subjects of human efforts, possessions, outward success, luxury have always seemed to me contemptible. ”
I dare say we are still the Grand Valley, and we are leaving the lights on because we care!
GREG MERSCHEL
Grand Junction
20 Responses to “Valley continues to prosper due to compassion”
Posted March 17th, 2009 at 3:48 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Well said. Thanks!
Posted March 18th, 2009 at 10:00 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Mr. Merschel carries the message of the “9-12 Project” - which is to re-focus on the the reality of our collective compassion.
Principle #7
“I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.:
Charity: “It is not everyone who asketh that deserveth charity; all however, are worth of the inquiry or the deserving may suffer.”
George Washington
http://the912project.com/
dc -
Compare Mr. Merschel’s honest message of hope to the following message about “our collective failure”.
Which is the message of hope and faith in ourselves and our Community that has seen us well and will see us through?
“That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land—a nagging fear that America’s decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.”
Barack Obama,
January 20, 2009
Posted March 18th, 2009 at 10:21 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
“Mr. Merschel carries the message of the “9-12 Project” - which is to re-focus on the the reality of our collective compassion.”
Maybe I had better re-read the “9-12 Project”. I see no correlation to Mr. Merschels’ letter there. But, I also try to never underestimate the creativity of chronic Obama bashers.
Posted March 18th, 2009 at 10:53 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
One difference appears to be that Mr. Merschel is presented as having a solution while the quote from President Obama merely states the problem, thus giving the impression that he has no solution. Somewhat disengenous, don’t you think?
Posted March 18th, 2009 at 1:18 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
“On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.”
Barack Obama,
January 20, 2009
Somewhat disingenuous don’t you think? When the phrase “….we inherited” has now become the newest PC suffix to just about everything. As if the current Congress sprang lily-white out of the ether? Or we didn’t just commit almost a trillion dollars “stimulus” that wasn’t even read by most of Congress, let alone given to the American people to review (one of BO’s promises).
dc - please do re-read the “9-12 Project” with an open mind.
Posted March 18th, 2009 at 1:39 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
No, I don’t think it is disingenuous. He is stating that things are going to change. Where the current Congress came from is irrelevant. The fact that everything didn’t change on January 21 is irrelevant. Of course, I’m prepared to give him a chance to change things, rather than assume he will fail from day one.
Posted March 18th, 2009 at 3:18 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Scott - fail with what? What do you think his own version of “success” is? What you are failing to see is that BO’s vision to replace “trickle down wealth” with pulling the plug on corporate America can’t help but end up in anything but “trickle up mediocrity” or worse.
Anyone who thinks that the “middle class” here in Grand Junction, CO (or anywhere else) is where BO’s experience and vision lies, think again. The problem is not that we should ignore the problems BO has studied, but the inner city problems on the South side of Chicago are no more representative of the vast majority of America than are the lifestyles of the rich and famous.
http://www.edwoj.com/Alinsky/AlinskyObamaChapter1990.htm
Think BO was far removed from the politics of Blago? Think again: http://sweetness-light.com/archive/the-questionable-rise-or-barack-obama
Posted March 18th, 2009 at 3:42 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
You don’t want to see my point, JMH. Never mind.
Posted March 18th, 2009 at 4:45 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Time to fess up, JMH - we thought you were just another puppet promoting FauxFam ideas for lord Dobson, but, as it turns out - you’re apparently on the LDS payroll for Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign.
Guess what - we ain’t buying what you’re selling - especially this Glenn Beck 912Project BS. Beck is yet another confused snake-oil marketer, self-promoter and heaven-hopeful Mormon. Sort of describes Jos. Smith, no?
Give it up - it’s all one big charade, and you’re a sucker to fall for it.
Posted March 18th, 2009 at 4:57 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Letter writer Merschel makes a decent point; however, there’s always that churchy undertone….as if the self-righteous and pious are the only ones contributing to betterment of place. It just ain’t so - and there are no special undergarments needed, or laminated church cards required, for those of us who are truly charitable.
And, twisting the letter writer’s closing remark a bit: “I dare say we are still the Grand Valley, and we are TURNING THE LIGHTS OUT because we care about Mother Earth!” You know - this fine place also known as heaven on earth.
http://www.earthhour.org/
Lights out for one hour (or more) on Saturday March 28!
Posted March 18th, 2009 at 5:18 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
You know, Chancho, I don’t think the “churchy undertone” is too bad. He does quote the Dalai Lama and Albert Einstein. For balance, I guess.
Posted March 18th, 2009 at 6:04 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Perhaps, perhaps. Still trying to come to terms with a staunch Marine quoting The Dalai. Maybe there is hope for humanity after all….
Mirabile visu!
Posted March 18th, 2009 at 6:37 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Yeah that churchy undertone. In regards to ShareFest, unfortunately there are not a couple thousand atheist volunteers tackling hundreds of projects in numerous neighborhoods across the county. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to pitch in and donate their time not just the churchy types.
Some of the help will build a handicapped ramp, paint a mobile home, tear down an unsightly building, repair fences, transfer trash, rake lawns, hook up the swamp coolers of older people who can’t climb up on their rooftops, and helping older people with other odd jobs around the house.
In addition to turning out your lights for an hour or more on March 28th how about show up and help out April 19th and 20th.
Posted March 18th, 2009 at 7:40 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
“…unfortunately there are not a couple thousand atheist volunteers tackling hundreds of projects in numerous neighborhoods across the county.”
How do you know? Maybe they just don’t blow their horns about it?
Posted March 18th, 2009 at 8:10 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
I know many atheists or agnostics who regularly help their community. They are part of many different organizations that work tirelessly to help the less fortunate.
Faith and spirituality are a non issue here..IMHO
Posted March 18th, 2009 at 10:18 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
It was a tongue in cheek reply to Chancho’s…
I agree Faith and spirituality are a non issue here
Posted March 19th, 2009 at 12:24 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
“This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.”
Barack Obama
January 20, 2009
Posted March 19th, 2009 at 6:00 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Some of us just have confidence that we can shape it ourselves.
Posted March 19th, 2009 at 9:55 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
dc: “Maybe I had better re-read the “9-12 Project”. I see no correlation to Mr. Merschels’ letter there. But, I also try to never underestimate the creativity of chronic Obama bashers.”
And it will not be found. Looking at the contents, and the focus of that project, it does not reflect any type of broad thinking but is a regression by those who, knowingly or not, have allowed the events of the previous day to become the center of their world; their world either ended or began on that day.
Posted March 19th, 2009 at 10:54 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
JMH, “This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.” Barack Obama January 20, 2009
I know, I can’t believe we voted for a Christian either, I thought he was an atheist until he said that….
Damn Fox news…
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.