Reject the hate Humboldt

Living in Humboldt County  often seems like being caught in the battle between the Sharks and the Jets. For Generation Z and other people who may be thinking of sports teams, let me clarify. I am talking about West Side Story, the American musical which was inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.

The story is set in the Upper West Side neighborhood in New York City in the mid-1950s, which then was an ethnic, blue-collar neighborhood, and explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.

Fast forward to 2014, interchange the Sharks and the Jets with Democrats and Republicans; theists and atheists; progressives and conservatives; and Humboldt County is reliving fictional history and real history. Especially during election season.

Multi-generation and small town nepotism is par for the course in a small-town. Cliques, age old battles and rivalries and the status quo stymie growth. For someone who was not a cradle Humboldtian, there is a dilemma. First, you have to pass the mandatory suspicion phase and maybe a decade plus or more, finally, you are no longer considered transient or an outsider. You are elevated to an outsider that can be trusted.

In New England, unless your ancestors can be traced back to the Mayflower, you remain an outsider forever. Here in Humboldt, there is hope. You can become an accepted outsider. The dilemma “outsiders” face in the interim is not being drawn into baggage of local high school drama and popularity contests that seep into middle age, extreme political partisanship, the us versus them mentality that plagues Humboldt and is more prevalent than kudzu in the South.

It’s time to nip this nonsense in the bud, if we are to achieve anything locally. Instead of the Lost Coast, we may be known as the Invisible Coast soon. Most people I know, even Humboldt natives could care less about the Sharks or the Jets unless they are watching hockey.

Division is encouraged by those who cannot be in power otherwise and those who are insecure. Real leaders are too busy developing, encouraging, creating positive change. Now in political season, the gloves come off from those who do not want the truth revealed. So what do they do, attack anyone who does not fit their agenda. 

For too long, certain voices have dominated the conversation, and they think if they shout the loudest, they are right. The Sharks and Jets mentality is being brought forth by certain people because they know distraction and division detracts from real dialogue. 

We have various  opinions on what it takes to make Humboldt a better place for all and bring about change for the average person.  It is not whether one is an insider or outsider that determines success, a lot depends on the community to look past their entrenched positions and backseat driving for someone to make a difference.

Generation Z, you are the future leaders. Break free from the patterns of the past and bring change to Humboldt that it deserves.

Invest in it, transform it for the better and create a future that rejects hate and build bridges among groups that can see the common denominators.