Community as People

By Keith Frost
Nonprofit Studies Program, Rhode Island College
Providence, Rhode Island

In our society of “Save the Bay,” “Save the Whales,”and “Save the Trees,” why is there no outcry for “Save the People”? When I think of community as people, I think of the homeless person who has no one to turn to. I think of the family who just lost their house, Dad lost his job, and they are living in their car.

Community as people includes moms, dads, grandpas, grandmas, brothers, sisters, people of every color, race, ethnicity, size, shape, etc. This idea of community is us. It matters because if there were no people, there would be nothing. Yes, we have plants, animals and other living things, but people are the good and bad of the world. We have the power to do good, but unfortunately we have the power to do bad. People and the idea of "community as people" hold the keys to the future existence of man.

Let’s imagine a world without people. What would it be like? What if there were never people to walk the earth? Why are we here? What is the purpose of our existence? Do we have a purpose? Is that purpose greater than us?

These are just the beginning of "community as people." We have the power to build and destroy, so I believe we need to protect the planet, animals, and all that is living and breathing on it, and that includes people. We as community must rise to help our fellow brothers and sisters in this journey of life.