The first principle is an easy one to communicate. Our city is a complex community in itself. The centralized layout of the city, allows for easy communication between residents, as well as interaction. With the houses all on the left side, and all the important buildings such as religious structures being in the center, it almost obligates one to be one with the community. Unity is also shown through this principle, as it is demonstrated through the arrangement of the houses. Despite the class system determined by annual income, the houses are all in the same vicinity, eliminating natural hierarchy that is usually inevitably created. The city’s layout allows for communication and interaction, in a way that brings about relationships.
The second and third principle are strongly interconnected. The layout of the City of Hope allows religion to be a significant and major institution within the community. All of the religious structures are located in the centre of the city. This not only allows easy accessibility but it allows for unity regardless of personal beliefs. The third principle talks about how I plan to encourage individualism while still insuring that seclusion and discrimination are not present. Identity is founded through beliefs, values, meanings, and culture, and while I recognize the many different identities of the residents of this city, I still make it known that cultural differences are accepted and welcomed. I will promote groups that will allow residents to communicate with those related to them culturally, while at the same time avoiding segregation.
In addition to the fundamental principles that this town is based upon, there are also significant values demonstrated in this city. Two of these important values shown in our community pertaining to human vocation include: humans are moral beings and humans are rational and free. In basic terms, these values depict that everyone is given a choice. We have the freedom to decide what is good or bad. Therefore we can direct one another to do our true good. Human vocation is slightly different for everyone, and as mayor, I personally wish to help the members of the community to discover it for themselves. I plan to do so through active teen interaction and youth programs. By doing so, we can get to the adolescence and build them up from a young age so they can be led on the right path in life. I plan to do this by having many teen programs open, as in the recreational centre as well as in-school programs, so they know from a young age that the human vocation is something that is recognised and encouraged.
Furthermore, values related specifically to our community and culture include: culture is public and culture gives us our identity. Through the fundamental principles listed above as well as active community members, I plan to have our city be less of a place of residence, and instead an actual community. Therefore, culture is how we do things not how I do things. The culture recognized in our community will identify us as individuals because we are all unique, however, it will also bring us together us as one. Our city will be based on communication, interaction, and most of all unity, because those are three major aspects of human life.
Moreover, values centered on relationships and others that are displayed in this city include: other people are as important – perhaps even more important – than me and we are all equal. I plan to put the citizens of this town before myself to ensure that everyone is happy and the residents are satisfied with the way the city is being run. In addition, I will ensure that every single citizen is treated fairly with respect and offered the same opportunities regardless of nationality, ethnicity, race, colour, gender, age, values or beliefs.
In conclusion, if it is not already evident, our city will be a bright and hopeful one. I plan and wish to have the type of city that others will imitate and strive for, and I plan to stop at no means to get it. The principles and values discussed here are necessities and should be guaranteed to one with life, but unfortunately, that is not the world we live in. Thus I have taken it upon myself to create such a place, I can only hope that others will join me hand in hand and create a utopia with me.
Sincerely,
Kia Neil
MAYOR