I tell people all the time that the town I grew up in, known for its mineral water, no longer brings healing. Not very many people outside of Martinsville, Indiana know about the rich history of the area. We see landmark buildings dotted around the state and historians will share stories of international travelers coming to towns like Martinsville and French Lick as a therapeutic destination spot for healing mineral waters. But that seems so very far removed from where we are today. We cannot reimagine a future if we are disconnected from our past.
One of my first jobs out of school was at a nursing home. There were several memorable residents, especially for someone young and impressionable. One woman in particular stands out. In her youth, she had been an employee at the Homelawn Sanitarium formerly on Washington Street (it is now Costins Funeral Chapel).
At least that is the story handed down from her family. It held particular interest to me because I was living in the building that was formerly that world-famous sanitarium. But more importantly, she had at one time been the private nurse to Clark Gable and had a giant picture of him, signed, on the wall beside her bed. She couldn’t communicate much beyond whispered sounds, but sometimes I’d ask her about Mr. Gable. She would turn slowly and intensely gaze at me, her lips forming a “Mona Lisa” smile. Her face told secrets that I would never audibly hear.
I think of her when I see the elderly no longer able to speak. Their stories are locked inside. I think this is one of the reasons I’m drawn to people. I want to hear their stories and wisdom while they can still communicate. We have so much to share with one another. While many wish to reminisce about how the small towns they grew up in look different today or how the once gravel roads are now paved and wider than single lanes, what I often hear is concern that their grandchildren and great-grandchildren will not experience the opportunities they have had.
There are very few with living memories of the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Very few navigated the challenges of environmental, social, and economic hardships caused by the severe dust storms, droughts, and crop failures. But most of us know someone who was shaped by these events. I think it bears remembering that time period, which historians collectively say was caused by a combination of natural and human factors. A natural drought and high winds combined to wreak complete havoc on farms. However, economic pressure to produce and unsustainable farming practices created the “perfect storm”. We seem to be living in similar times. There is economic pressure to make a profit at all costs. Every aspect of our lives is becoming a commodity to be traded on Wall Street. And the past two years have seen the highest recorded temperatures globally. In 2023: July 3rd, July 4th & July 5th and in 2024: July 21st and July 22nd. We have seen the result of deregulation and lax environmental protection favoring corporate practices that are unsustainable. Water is not an infinite resource. Knowingly poisoning our waterways and soils and polluting our air is immoral. When we cannot breathe, drink, or eat safely, we cannot live. Many farmers are using cover crops and actively engaging in practices preparing for adverse weather conditions. Families are conserving water and advocating for renewable energy. Young people are crying out for change. But they can only do so much if our electeds refuse to listen to them.
That’s why we are reaching out to Hoosiers to hear their feedback on issues like the state of our environment in Indiana. Groups like MADVoters and Citizens Action Coalition have shown us how the groundwater in several counties has been contaminated by companies like Center Point and Duke Energy, who continue to focus on fossil fuels and lobby to protect profits over people. Their exploitative practices threaten our drinking water. We also have commercial logging practices that are harming our state forests. Extensive damage to our state forests impacts the air we breathe. In the last legislative session, further declassification of our wetlands means Hoosiers are more vulnerable to flooding. The list goes on and on. That is why I’m running for office. Unless we have a change in leadership, we cannot expect different policies. And leadership begins by asking questions.
Some of the questions we are asking fellow Hoosiers include:
- What, if any, opinion do you have on the status of Indiana’s ecosystem?
- Do you believe restoring our waterways and prioritizing our water as an essential resource is important for Indiana?
- Do you think a positive impact can be made on our environment and our economy by starting long-term investments in renewable energy now?
If you’d like to weigh in, email campaign@voteformichellehiggs.com
To continue reading this week's issue of Mondays with Michelle, click HERE.
