By Catherina Nou
Modesto Bee (California, USA)
Peaceful persistence prevailed as the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Wat Cambodian Buddhist Society's plans to build a new place of prayer. The decision Sept. 30 overturned an earlier rejection by the Planning Commission.
The unfortunate Planning Commission decision ended up doing more good than harm. This series of events represents more than just a victory for the supporters of this project; it represented a unification of one community and an alliance of unlikely friends. Moreover, it represents a rarely seen level of civic engagement by a minority community in Modesto.
As a Cambodian American woman growing up in Modesto, I have observed the city's cultural complacency and its overindulgence in monochromatic leaders. This characterization is not mine alone, but is shared by many present and past residents.
The blame for this lack of cultural awareness and ethnically diverse leadership does not rest entirely with elected city and county officials. Rather, it is also the burden of those who do not engage civically in their community, whether this happens in the form of voting, putting up a lawn sign or sharing an idea with a local policy-maker.
With the election Tuesday, citizens and residents alike must make the effort to improve the community they live in and not remain complacent with the decisions made from the top. They are elected to serve us and we must become empowered to fulfill this civic obligation.
This is why I was so inspired to see the Cambodian community, young and old, exercising their rights as citizens by filling the chambers of the Board of Supervisors and voicing their opinions.
One by one, leaders and community members from different religious sects and communities of color spoke at this momentous and significant meeting. Momentous because, though the Cambodian community did not actively solicit their help, these individuals and organizations were compelled to speak against the injustice inflicted on their neighbors and fellow community members. Significant because of the solidarity of strangers who were all advocating for a common cause.
In the hearts and minds of the Cambodian refugee community who fled for safety in this nation, the decision renewed their faith in democracy and the meaning of the words of the pledge of allegiance recited that morning, "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Nou, a former Modesto resident, is a policy advocate. She can be reached at columns@modbee.com.
The unfortunate Planning Commission decision ended up doing more good than harm. This series of events represents more than just a victory for the supporters of this project; it represented a unification of one community and an alliance of unlikely friends. Moreover, it represents a rarely seen level of civic engagement by a minority community in Modesto.
As a Cambodian American woman growing up in Modesto, I have observed the city's cultural complacency and its overindulgence in monochromatic leaders. This characterization is not mine alone, but is shared by many present and past residents.
The blame for this lack of cultural awareness and ethnically diverse leadership does not rest entirely with elected city and county officials. Rather, it is also the burden of those who do not engage civically in their community, whether this happens in the form of voting, putting up a lawn sign or sharing an idea with a local policy-maker.
With the election Tuesday, citizens and residents alike must make the effort to improve the community they live in and not remain complacent with the decisions made from the top. They are elected to serve us and we must become empowered to fulfill this civic obligation.
This is why I was so inspired to see the Cambodian community, young and old, exercising their rights as citizens by filling the chambers of the Board of Supervisors and voicing their opinions.
One by one, leaders and community members from different religious sects and communities of color spoke at this momentous and significant meeting. Momentous because, though the Cambodian community did not actively solicit their help, these individuals and organizations were compelled to speak against the injustice inflicted on their neighbors and fellow community members. Significant because of the solidarity of strangers who were all advocating for a common cause.
In the hearts and minds of the Cambodian refugee community who fled for safety in this nation, the decision renewed their faith in democracy and the meaning of the words of the pledge of allegiance recited that morning, "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Nou, a former Modesto resident, is a policy advocate. She can be reached at columns@modbee.com.
