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Our View
New beginnings
We reflect on what matters now\ and
what may come in the future
Spring has come to Rappahannock County, and with
it, many of the rituals of planting, clearing away
the debris of winter, and spending more time outdoors in the environment we love.
Our citizens are involved in a number of springtime civic endeavors — from the Trash Free Rappahannock effort, to the annual Fodderstack Race, to the Miss Rappahannock pageant.
In many ways, life goes on. But this year, new concerns loom on the horizon. These are things we can’t avoid dealing with, let alone escape.
One is what effect the Y2K computer glitch will have on Rappahannock County, and the rest of the state and nation.
For the moment, the situation is looking a lot brighter than it did last year, or even earlier this year. Locally, much has been done by the public and private sectors to get the word out — including a seminar this week conducted by the Rappahannock National Bank.
Another more troubling issue is what is happening in the Balkans. Who could have imagined the Suffering that is taking place there now?
Military initiatives we have taken in recent years in places like Somalia, Iraq and Sudan pale in comparison to what our involvement in Kosovo may become. The risks seem to change by the day.
While many — including world religious leaders — cannot agree on what should be done in Kosovo, the number of civilians displaced by the fighting continues to grow. The suffering is unimaginable.
What can be done? The United States has offered to open its shores to 20,000 refugees. Some of these people will find homes with others from their country already living here, while others will be place in safe — if not comfortable — surroundings.
Nearby, a local effort is underway to open unused housing at the closed Vint Hill Farms Station in Fauquier County, which could temporarily accommodate as many as 250 families.
What can we do here in Rappahannock?
We can take individual responsibility by contributing money to the relief effort. Call the American Red Cross at (800) HELP NOW; UNICEF at (800) FOR KIDS; or CARE at (800) 521-2273to find out how.
And if the opportunity presents itself, we must open our hearts as well as our wallets.
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