A community without lights

I feel compelled to first express my love and passion for community. Creating a support among people who are living together and sharing resources, passions, and space is of utmost priority. It is one of those things that makes Ashland such an attractive place to live.

Ashland is known for holding community events, fairs, rallies, and gatherings. We have seen people come together lately for peace, solidarity and to protect our natural world. It is inspiring, really.

Now, with the holidays coming, those gatherings are increasing which is what I feel these times are really about. An example is the Festival of Light. A community gathering, yes. Representative of our community? Not so much.

I am concerned about the frivolity of lighting millions of lights not just for the festival, but for the month-plus that follows. Again, these times should be about community, not consumption (which is so often the focus). This does not represent the resource conscious and environmentally concerned community of Ashland that I know and love. There are other ways of forming community around the holidays that are both celebratory and efficient. We are well-versed in music events, dancing, singing, low-impact crafts and story telling. I have faith that Ashland could find a more acceptable way to celebrate our love for the season and for our community.

Elizabeth Crosson

Ashland