COMMUNITY OR COMMUNISM

Let me tell you a story. 

Recently, my daughter and her family moved into a new home.  Her husband had knee surgery just prior to the move and they had not been able to unpack and settle in as they would have liked.  My daughter is also an accomplished musician and music teacher.  Because of the move she had been unable to set up her studio.

The family went out for the evening, and when they returned they found her studio not only unpacked, but the room repainted and beautifully decorated with curtains and artwork.  You can see pictures of the finished project on her blog at http://sunshine-sentiments.blogspot.com/

Scroll down to the Dec. 16, 2011 entry. 

This project was done by her friends in the community. 

The word community has been trivialized in recent years.  There are no rules about such things, so it is perfectly alright that those who speak the English language change the meanings of words.  But on the other hand, words are the way we think, and when words are unclear, meaning is unclear. 

At one time, commune meant to talk together with some intensity, perhaps implying some intimacy, and face to face.  This, of course, required a physical presence, or a community.  But now we speak of communities as groups that share similar interests or connections, whether they are in physical proximity or not.  These connections may be ephemeral such as the internet, or theoretical such as in the co-ownership of goods.

However, it is difficult for me to imagine my internet community redecorating my studio.  They simply aren’t there to be of any real help at all.  It may be even more difficult to think of the city council, county commissioners, state legislature, or federal government coming into my home and making it more attractive and functional, right at the time I need it. 

I think this story demonstrates the shallowness of technological community, and more importantly illustrates the difference between community and communism.