http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2012-04-13/spare-that-tree/
After reading this article on the fate of an enormous oak tree at the corner of Lamar and MLK, I find myself straddling the line between feeling appalled and pretty tickled. The amount that citizens get involved in local issues is obviously connected to how much the issue affects them personally, and on a daily basis. Whether a tree gets cut down or not is an easy issue to take sides on, whereas (in my mind) more pertinent issues such as public education and sustainability seem to be much more difficult to get involved in. Why is this?
PROXIMITY- I drive by this tree every day. I know this tree. I feel strongly for things I know and understand. Environmental racism on the East Side, however, is outside my daily stream of consciousness and therefore, it is less likely that I will notice daily changes and injustices.
SIMPLICITY- Cutting down a tree is a fairly simple issue. There are concerns that the tree is unstable, but yet it is a long time resident and loved by neighbors. That’s about all the facts one needs to know about it to fully comprehend the issue. Underperforming schools in low-income neighborhoods, is on the other hand an extremely complex issue. There are many factors that affect this problem: lack of funding, violence in schools, lack of parental involvement, etc. My understanding of the issue doesn’t begin to fully encompass the issue; therefore I am less likely to take a clear stand on this issue. Which makes me less likely to act on this.
DURATION- The tree issue will be taken care of in a matter of months. It will either stay or get cut down. It’s a quick fix. I don’t have to devote an unforeseeable amount of time to follow this issue to fruition. Rehabilitating the homeless is on the other end of this spectrum. Helping someone become an independent, successful citizen, may take years and years with huge amounts of money from tax dollars. Just helping one person would require a commitment I am less likely to give, as it has no end in sight.
Reading this article on the Oak tree spurred this train of thought on public involvement, though I doubt it will have much affect on my own involvement in policy… but at least I’m aware of my motives. Awareness is the first step.