The best war is the one that never happens.” — Sun Tzu
A new coffee shop opens up across the street from an established one. There are hand grenade insults thrown at each shop from customers showing their team support. This fire fight of words summons a war of best coffee on the block. Online posts ignite into vile back and forth insults. Shop owners talk yet the skirmish continues. What is the best outcome?
“War. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.” — Edwin Starr
A pig farmer spends four years and thousands of dollars attempting to acquire a permit to raise her pigs in a regenerative fashion; humanely process their meat; cure and prepare for consumption; and serve directly from her farm. Exasperated to the point of giving up, she tries one more time. What is the best possible scenario?
“War is hell!” — William Tecumseh Shermon
Nelson, a property owner wants to drive onto his newly purchased 19-acre farm. The easement is underwater, and his neighbors refuse to let him pass on their land. How does this end positively?
“The best war is the one no one shows up to.” — Anonymous
War is in fashion. From Venezuela to Iran to possibly Cuba, we have this unsatiable appetite to fight. Our political representatives driven by ego and the imperial urge to conquer are headed towards a path of more destruction.
War is a distraction for those hiding something. War is a sign of weakness found in our leaders. War is for those who do not know how to negotiate.
“The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.” — Sun Tzu
Starbucks has shown us coffee can exist on every corner. There are enough coffee drinkers to have two shops on the same street or even across the street from each other. So, does one shop need to go out of business for the other shop to succeed? On the streets of capitalism, both shops can flourish. The best-case scenario is having a photo of both coffee shop owners drinking each other’s coffee in the middle of the street, posted on social media with the caption: Coffee for All.
“War itself is the enemy of the human race.” — Howard Zinn
Taking exasperation and turning it into motion was where the pig farmer began. When a roadblock happened, she rolled instead of bounced. This way she stayed close to her objective instead of bouncing farther away from the solution. Within four months, she was in front of the Lake County Commissioners asking for a conditional use permit. The board voted unanimously in favor. No drama. No fighting. No war.
“War is only an invention, not a biological necessity.” — Margaret Mead
As of this writing, Nelson is still attempting to get on his property. He is doing it through legal and communal means.
Working through the intricacies of government. Asking instead of demanding. Rolling rather than bouncing. Jumping through the needed hoops to get to the next step. War is not an option when we have the ability, capability, and desire to be human.
Farmer Banks Helfrich teaches gardening monthly at Florida Blue Clermont and on his seven-acre farm which includes15 different instructional gardens. Farm tours are every 2nd Sunday. Call Banks for more information. (407) 616-9720
A new coffee shop opens up across the street from an established one. There are hand grenade insults thrown at each shop from customers showing their team support. This fire fight of words summons a war of best coffee on the block. Online posts ignite into vile back and forth insults. Shop owners talk yet the skirmish continues. What is the best outcome?
“War. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.” — Edwin Starr
A pig farmer spends four years and thousands of dollars attempting to acquire a permit to raise her pigs in a regenerative fashion; humanely process their meat; cure and prepare for consumption; and serve directly from her farm. Exasperated to the point of giving up, she tries one more time. What is the best possible scenario?
“War is hell!” — William Tecumseh Shermon
Nelson, a property owner wants to drive onto his newly purchased 19-acre farm. The easement is underwater, and his neighbors refuse to let him pass on their land. How does this end positively?
“The best war is the one no one shows up to.” — Anonymous
War is in fashion. From Venezuela to Iran to possibly Cuba, we have this unsatiable appetite to fight. Our political representatives driven by ego and the imperial urge to conquer are headed towards a path of more destruction.
War is a distraction for those hiding something. War is a sign of weakness found in our leaders. War is for those who do not know how to negotiate.
“The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.” — Sun Tzu
Starbucks has shown us coffee can exist on every corner. There are enough coffee drinkers to have two shops on the same street or even across the street from each other. So, does one shop need to go out of business for the other shop to succeed? On the streets of capitalism, both shops can flourish. The best-case scenario is having a photo of both coffee shop owners drinking each other’s coffee in the middle of the street, posted on social media with the caption: Coffee for All.
“War itself is the enemy of the human race.” — Howard Zinn
Taking exasperation and turning it into motion was where the pig farmer began. When a roadblock happened, she rolled instead of bounced. This way she stayed close to her objective instead of bouncing farther away from the solution. Within four months, she was in front of the Lake County Commissioners asking for a conditional use permit. The board voted unanimously in favor. No drama. No fighting. No war.
“War is only an invention, not a biological necessity.” — Margaret Mead
As of this writing, Nelson is still attempting to get on his property. He is doing it through legal and communal means.
Working through the intricacies of government. Asking instead of demanding. Rolling rather than bouncing. Jumping through the needed hoops to get to the next step. War is not an option when we have the ability, capability, and desire to be human.
Farmer Banks Helfrich teaches gardening monthly at Florida Blue Clermont and on his seven-acre farm which includes15 different instructional gardens. Farm tours are every 2nd Sunday. Call Banks for more information. (407) 616-9720
Banks Helfrich
Candidate for Florida House,
District 25
As a native Floridian, I love this state. As a resident of South Lake County, I love farming and teaching sustainability to this community. As a Candidate for State House, I love finding solutions to the issues of our time.
I'm With Banks!
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