SOCORRO, New Mexico (STPNS) -- A short time ago, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at the Roswell airport said ?now is not the time to be experimenting with socialism.?

Some people a long time ago realized that by living and working together, they would have greater success surviving and improving the quality of their lives. When we speak of those times, we don?t call it socialism. We call it civilization.

As they say, a rose is a rose.

Being afraid of ?socialism? is like saying you?re afraid of water.  Do you mean shark-infested water, hurricanes, polluted water or having no water? We know we need water to live.



Socialism has made life easier since the first people banded together and moved into a cave for warmth and for safety. Socialism should not be confused with military dictatorships.

Those who threaten you with ?socialism? may honestly believe that all ?socialism? leads to a loss of liberty. It doesn?t. On the other hand, people may try to build a fear of ?socialism? to manipulate you on the theory that you can?t think for yourself. It takes brute force to deny liberty to anyone. Brute force comes with all kinds of packaging and labels.

Most families are aware of the bouncy resiliency of liberty and individualism. Families were the very first ?experiments? in socialism. Sharing services like police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel is socialist. We don?t have to experiment to know it works.

Thanksgiving is a holiday we celebrate that came from one of the first ?communes? in this country. Most holidays are socialist, but let?s look at the Plymouth Colony.

By the time of the first Thanksgiving, they were divided. Half the colony wanted to destroy all the natives so they could ?freely? expand. They were forming an army. The other half wanted to be sharing neighbors.  

Plymouth developed this contract, or commune, for survival. As conditions improved, people went out on their own. This community was planned by one religion but very early on, many people, including women, went off on their own to start new religions or variations. You just can?t keep a dissident, I mean, strong, individual down without brute force.

We can, however, destroy hope, motivation and the very lives of many ?individuals? by denying respect, education, food, health care and working opportunities.

This can happen economically or ?socially.? It happens in Magdalena and around the world.

In Magdalena, businesses offer supplies and services and they in turn need community support.

Interdependence is the socialization of capitalism. It?s an absolute necessity.

The businesses here have often worked hard to help individual families. In turn, the villagers have supported local businesses even when it wasn?t always ?cost effective.? It is that mutual respect and cooperation that helps make us a community.

As we face a major threat, the draining of the aquifer west of us, we need to continue that mutual respect to take action. We need to have community meetings to discuss what civil actions we can take (legally, but loudly) to draw attention to the problem. Can we?

A young white college student told me she was so excited about casting her first vote and how the election turned out. Another college student, a male Native American, told me the election meant nothing to him.  

Two high school students in Magdalena also had opposite views. One was excited and hopeful for the future, while the other was cynical and disappointed.

Thanks for sharing with me.

If anyone has an idea they would like to share or an upcoming event, e-mail Wshireoldadobe@ yahoo.com or call 854-3370.

Notices

? Cathy McQueen will be at the library at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, to meet with people who want to join a food buying club.  United, a supplier to Montanita and other health food stores, could supply the food club with organic and healthy foods.

? The annual Pie and Potholders Sale for the Samaritan Center will be Nov. 25 near Main and Highway 60. The event sells out quickly.



Margaret Wiltshire lives in Magdalena. Her opinions do not necessarily represent the Mountain Mail.