Watching the television accounts and reading newspaper stories about the earthquake in Haiti makes a person want to hop on a plane, go over there, and help those poor people.

The U.S. is sending more than $100 million in aid to the country, which is admirable.

What if there was a catastrophe in Marion, Kansas? Who would come to our aid? Would Marion people be willing to help their own neighbors?

This community is going through a “catastrophic” event right now. It’s a disease that has affected us before. Like a cancer, it spreads and continues to destroy.

It’s a condition known as apathy.

We look toward the city government to have all of the answers. We expect other groups — not us — to come up with brilliant ideas.

Well, guess what? It’s not any one person or group’s responsibility to save this town. It’s all of ours — from the retired person to the corporate president.

Marion school superintendent Lee Leiker gave a sobering talk Friday to Marion Chamber of Commerce members about lagging enrollment numbers and a shortage of state funds.

So, what can we do? We need to get involved. Let’s put our heads together and come up with plans instead of sitting back and doing nothing.

One of my favorite sayings is, “If you’re not part of the solution, you may be part of the problem.”

So, what are you?

— susan berg