Minnesotans Clear Away after Snowstorm, Expect Bitter Cold

[MineralMan]

2. You're right of course, and that's what's sad.

That's why I said "More's the pity." For most of us, it's hard to think beyond what's familiar. In most neighborhoods, including my own, I don't even know the names of people who don't live next door or across the street. I see them. I say hello to them when my wife and I walk our dogs, but I don't really know them, or much about them.

But, they live nearby. When an ambulance shows up at a neighbor's house, I'm concerned, even if I don't know that neighbor by name. As in most neighborhoods in Minneapolis and St. Paul, mine is very diverse, with about half of my neighbors being second generation Hmong people. There are a few other ethnic minorities also represented. I like my Hmong neighbors, but they're not all that inclusive socially. That's OK, though. But...they're like everyone else. They're out helping their neighbors when there is a need.

So, we identify with those who live near us, to a greater degree than those who live a bit farther away. And for all those faceless people who we never see and who may live many hundreds of miles away, our concern is diminished for day-to-day problems.

But, the thing about being a Democrat or a progressive is that we have in common a concern for all of those people, including the ones we will never encounter or meet. We're willing to help them through taxation and other methods, and we rely on the government to administer those programs. That's why we're progressives or Democrats.

So, you're right. Neighbors help neighbors. But we're all neighbors, really. We forget that often, though. We shouldn't, but we do.