Mark Platte, Editor of the Honolulu Advertiser wrote a long article “Homeless reflect our humanity” in the 10/15/06 issue. In it, he said “we are not doing enough for the more vulnerable among us.” And later “It falls on all of us”. In conclusion, he states “It is said that a measure of society is how well it takes care of its most vulnerable. Using that standard how do we measure up?”

His lecture reminds me of an extraordinary sergeant I once served with in the Army. He was very smart but poorly educated. Our commander had a penchant for demanding “we” do this and it is up to “us” to do something else. At the end of one such speech about how “we” need to be sure to keep “our” equipment clean, the sergeant famous for clean equipment in his unit, raised his hand. Once recognized he said “Sir, who am dis we? It sure don’t include me or mine.”

The commander, speechless, closed the meeting.

Government is not society. Society is not government. A society is made up of individuals. In a good society individuals, not government, do good things.

So, Mark Platte, who am ‘dis we? Have you as an individual, adopted a homeless family or some such? Or, are you going to let the government force you to do it and then say “society performed" when it obviously did not? Humanity is reflected one person at a time, responsibly.

Richard O. Rowland is president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. He can be reached via email at: dick@grassrootinstitute.com