As residents of the Hill Country, we are struggling to maintain the ecological health of our environment. As we search for ways to find an adequate defense system, we keep bumping into an “inconvenient truth” . . .
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By Dorothy Knight
WIMBERLEY – The memoirs of Africans who were brought to the US as slaves, especially the memoirs of black women, frequently speak of covering with a veil the events too horrific to describe. “Drawing the veil” is a euphemism that denotes a boundary beyond which many writers in the 1800’s stopped short. Such notions have not limited modern biographers; in fact, they are often compelled to not only lift the veil obscuring the truth but to shred it into pieces in the process. However, the search for truth and truth telling is still precarious in the political realms of today.
As we begin an era that is being defined by a call for transparency in political dealings, the need to know truth is manifesting: The economic policies that we followed blindly have resulted in financial chaos; the wars we are fighting in the Middle East are costing far more in human life and national resources than we ever intended; and the state of the environment is more precarious than ever. We are pinning our hopes on a new leader who can bring about change through his personal and political clarity. And he happens to have a genetic background that identifies him as an African-American. As individuals and as a country we will have to go beyond the perceptions that have limited us for so long in order to find new solutions to old problems.
On a local level, the need to know truth is also manifesting. As residents of the Hill Country, we are struggling to maintain the ecological health of our environment. As we search for ways to find an adequate defense system, we keep bumping into an “inconvenient truth”: Many of the people we have trusted to help us protect our natural resources do not share the perception that development will endanger not only our water and land but the quality of life we came here seeking. And unfortunately, the public discourse needed to clarify these perceptions is missing. The result is a sense of betrayal that is sometimes both overwhelming and disheartening.
As individuals, we are facing distinct choices: Will we take a stand for what we believe is right and will we follow through with effective action? We all have a significant part to play in the movement to transparency and functional political policies. The biblical observation that we see “through a glass darkly” is as accurate today as ever. If we truly want to see more clearly and understand more deeply, we will have to “lift the veil” with a personal commitment to not only search for truth, but empower it with our actions.
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Editor's Note:
The hills of western Hays County, Year 2018
Will this be the fate of our hills and dales in southern and western Hays County after the surface water from LCRA arrives? To find out, drop State Rep. Patrick Rose a line. Ask him what progress he's making in clearing the way for an inter-basin transfer amendment in the state water plan that will allow this to happen . . . patrick.rose@house.state.tx.us or info@patrickrose.com While you're at it, you might want to ask Mr. Rose if he plans to run for a 5th term in 2010. Word has it he'll be skipping out while the gettin's good.
5 comments:
Ms. Knight: opening this dialog is most appreciated. Indeed so many of us keep bumping into inconvenient truths...that those we elected in good faith are definitely not what we expected them to be. That they have monies filtered into their pockets from outside sources. Monies to be used in ways to that will ultimately deplete our neighborhoods of its quaint and natural beauty and its water...all in the name of more money...for those outside sources. We all need to have our eyes and ears open for what is going on behind that veil and we can look behind that veil. There are ways. See that picture posted with the original article...that will be our neighborhood if we don't pay attention!! Here in the Wimberley Valley, there are forces at work right now that want to change its face with another "new" subdivision...The Ridge. With the help of Winton Porterfield, Will Conley and his cohorts on the Commissioner's Court, there is platting, replatting and plotting for possibly 140+ homes. The water for these homes is being promised by AquaTexas. Where exactly is promised water coming from?? An LCRA pipeline possibly? How much longer can that entity continue to supply water for all that drain from it?? It has been suggested that Wimberley Springs Partners/Quicksand/The Ridge is planning to sell its lots for upwards of $40,000 each if it is allowed to continue with the development of its "master plan". Of course, they will tell us that this plan will follow environmentally safe guidelines. After 7 1/2 years of deception, are we now to believe what they tell us? The inconvenient truth is NO. The power of our voices is necessary to keep our elected officials and their financiers in check. As stated by Ms. Knight not only must this veil, that so many greedy, evil people hide behind, be lifted but it needs to be shredded before the environmental integrity, health and beauty of the Valley is destroyed. Look beyond your day to day "stuff" to see what could be on your "stoop" tomorrow if you do not make yourself AWARE!!
I've had some very unsatisfactory conversations with Rose. He is very, very pro- growth. He wants more water brought in, bigger highways and toll roads, and what is becoming massive suburban sprawl.
He must figure that his stature in the Texas house will only be recognized if the counties he represents are more "on the radar screen". So that his cohorts will hear more about the towns of Dripping Springs and Wimberley, and Blanco and Caldwell Counties.
He knows that the tipping point has arrived now for Wimberley. It remains to be seen if the poor economy translates into slower growth. He's done nothing on the Aqua Texas situation; helped create the M.U.D. for the True Ranch area; very slow and only reactionary in helping the rich/poor situation with WISD; in short, I can't see where he's done anything to help our area.
His campaign recently brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars. He has a standing stockpile of cash. He uses no volunteers; he is able to afford to PAY many staffers all over his area during his campaign. His everlasting smile on his face hides the fact that he's not for us; he's for himself only. He's not a Dem., he's not a Rep.- he's an opportunist.
Here's what happened Wed. night , Thursday morning on the Chamber of Commerce site, visitwimberley.com, Open Conversation Forum. The administrator published an admonishment to newly registered members, about following "the rules" of the site; including a statement that no other blog sites can be referred to. A reader had recently posted a very favorable comment regarding the Hays County Roundup.
The admonishment went on and on, and was condescending. Two participant members objected to the admonishment, with one long-time participant very articulatly saying he was done with the site. The other participant objecting to the administrator's admonishment agreed with the first response.
Well, here's what must have happened next: the moderator showed up for work Thursday morning, around 8 - 8:30 a.m., saw the 2 members objections (including 1st amendment rights, schoolroom-like rules)- and wiped the whole thing out- the admonishment and the 2 objectionable comments!! It's all gone!
Dorthy, talk about lifting the veil.....
Re: Patrick Rose...hmmm... Family owns Rose Realty in Dripping Springs. Pro uncontrolled growth. Loves Aqua Texas, loves Developers. Loves money.
Re: Visit Wimberley blog is this a sweet spot for Realtors and developers..sure seems that way...thus the big take-down of the truthsayers on the blog this morning...hmmm?
I don't know what you liberal tree huggers are complaining about. Just let the developers have their way and turn the Wimberley valley into Hill Country Sugarland. Then, sell your house to some burned out Republican from Houston and move yourself to the only remaining place where the greedy Texas real estate industry hasn't screwed up - Myanmar.
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