Joy. Alderman Jack Purvis and Stephen Marshall met up with me in the parking lot of Branson City Hall to send me home with some good news.
We don't need no stinking press....
It's the best news I've heard all day. Purvis believes the press could do a better job of delivering the good news about Branson. Purvis is talking about a community of believers. He's talking about a place where the community comes together to help each other - without tax increases - without an official resolution - without official prompting - doing the right thing because it's the right thing to do.
As we grow, it's possible that some become disconnected with the core values that made Branson such a great place to live.
Purvis talks about the families who the community gathered together for a benefit because something happened - perhaps an act of God - counteracted by another act of God dwelling in the citizens hearts.
We, the press, sometimes miss these stories.....this is where Marshall sets the record straight. "The twelve apostles didn't need it."
Good happens - and sometimes we fail to report it. Marshall and Purvis remind me that we're blessed to live in this community.
----------------
Personally, I think the whole story is important. If you pay attention you'll notice Branson is a really bad place to commit a crime - they're usually solved very quickly. We need to address problems so we can solve them as a community. We report them - good and bad - some stories are easier to obtain. I can study crime reports daily. Can anyone tell me the current trends of community goodwill towards men?
Acts of compassion, though as common (maybe more common) than some of the crime stories you see below, happen everyday though most citizens fail to report them. As a result you don't see them often in your daily paper.
But, we need these stories - the community needs these stories to strengthen their faith.
Hearing Purvis and Marshall was story enough for me to take time to write tonight. They're right, we don't need no stinking press to do the right things.
