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Page 16
Golden Valley New ;
May 14, 2015
N. D. Matters
By Lloyd Omdahl
Time to broaden definition of success
While serving as a professor of
political science at the University of
North Dakota, I was privileged to see
many students who later joined the
ranks of the successful.
I have had a U. S. Senator, a U. S.
Congressman, a couple of elected
state officials, the Republican
Speaker of the Minnesota House of
Representatives, a number of district
judges, attorneys, educators, entre-
preneurs and scores of others who
met society's common definition of
success.
All too often, however, our defi-
nition of success consists of a short
list measured by money, business and
politics. In the process, we overlook
outstanding folks who dedicate their
lives to filling the gaps left by our
economic, social and public policies.
They are successes in their own way.
Among them are workers for the
charitable organizations that raise
funds to feed the poor, run food
pantries, counsel addicts, and salvage
the unsalvageable. Their success is
found in helping others left stranded
on the Jericho Road.
One such success is Nancy Jo A1-
bers who was raised on a ranch in the
Mandan area and first appeared in
my classes in 1970.
Nancy Jo is now working in the
slums of Lost Angeles where she
spends her days as a Catholic Worker
serving addicts, the homeless and the
hungry.
When she referred to herself as a
"Catholic Worker," I thought it was a
generic term describing her role. But
then I discovered that the Catholic
Worker movement was launched in
1933 by a couple in New York City
who felt called to implement the
Gospels and Catholic social teaching.
In a recent communication, Nancy
Jo described her work.
"There is every manner of human
suffering and social breakdown on
full display in this teeming colony of
the destitute and desperately ill," she
reported.
"I have seen people in the grips of
full blown psychotic breakdowns.
Sirens wail and drug dealers rule.
"The heroin addicts tend to gather
on one side of the street and crack ad-
dicts on the other side of the street,
many of them medicating against the
horrors of mental illness.
"The hungry and the sick huddle
by the hundreds at the door of the
Catholic Worker soup kitchen, and
then file in for a bit of sustenance be-
fore returning to their tents and card-
board encampments.
"It's as though there's been some
war or natural disaster and the
wounded, shell-shocked and penni-
less have been herded into the hold-
ing pen with nothing left of their
self-respect."
Nancy Jo's narrative should pull
us up short, forcing us to acknowl-
edge that there are huge gaps in the
American dream being filled by
courageous volunteers, caring
churches and charitable organiza-
tions.
If Baltimore is anything like
Nancy ]o's Los Angeles, we should
get an idea of why people with noth-
ing to lose break out against the sys-
tem. It doesn't include them.
This observation doesn't mean
there is any justification for stoning
the police, burning neighborhoods, or
stealing property but it should give us
some insight in the rage that is rip-
ping through slums where hopeless
people live out lives of nothing.
If the current economic trends
continue, the gaps in government
safety nets will become larger and
more inadequate. Both political par-
ties are spending all of their efforts
romancing the voting middle class
so neither is offering much hope to
the slums of Los Angeles or Balti-
more.
In the future, society is going to
need a definition of "success" that
goes beyond politics, economics and
government.
In full bloom
Many trees in Beach are beginning to bud and the city has many colors to enjoy. (Photo by
Jane M. Cook)
Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering to be held May 23-24
MEDORA - The 29th annual singing is also free to the public and
Dakota Cowboy Poetry Gathering begins at 9 a.m.
will be held Memorial Day week- There is an admission fee for the
end, Saturday and Sunday, May 23 Saturday and Sunday evening
and 24, at the Medora Community shows which begin at 7:30 p.m. and
Center. feature cowboy poets and western
A free open mic session begins at singers.
1 p.m. each afternoon. For those The Sunday night show will be
wanting to participate, registration hosted by Poetry Gathering founder
for those sessions is between 9 a.m. Bill Lowman.
and 11 a.m. on May 23. The Sun- if you are interested in entering
day morning cowboy gospel the photo contest, held in conjunc-
tion with the Poetry Gathering, con-
tact Paula or Kriss Enzi at (701)
872-2809, or Lyle Glass at (701)
623-4599.
Put Your Money
Where Your House Is~
: