Community

Community

John McKnight tries to take a stab at the question "What is Community?" He goes about this question needing the help of Tocqueville and uses his three observed features. His first feature is that a group of citizens that decided on what were the problems. The second feature was that they had the power to decide on solving that problem. The third, having the need to add themselves as examples to the decision. McKnight added that a community is much different from a series of friendships. "A community is more than just a place. It comprises various groups of people who work together on a face-to-face basis in public life, not just in private" (McKnight 118.) I found that this is the best way to define what a community really means. I agree that a community is much more than a place, it has to involve some type of inter-related work and integrate all the special skills that everyone has to offer.

I remember when I wanted to be part of the "cool" group at my old middle school. They were all athletic, smart, and cool guys; they all hung out with the good looking girls. Everyone wanted to be part of that group and have some of the fun that they had. However, it wasn't easy to get in there you had to prove and display that you were just like them and had their similar characteristics. This is what McKnight brings up when he talked of including the excluded. It is a rare occasion that a new comer joins a community. Although it does happen, it is of course a hard path to take to finally get in and be accepted as one of them. Having something special that is noticeable and appreciated by the community is helpful for entry into that community. When I tried to get in the "cool" group at my school they saw that I focus on one sport and they all respected that sport and wanted to learn from me about it. It was basically the same as applying for a job. They tend to look