I thought I would share for my blog readers an Op-Ed I wrote for this morning’s Seattle Times. It seems to have created quite a stir, hopefully for the good.
Here is the link: [button color=”#COLOR_CODE” background=”#COLOR_CODE” size=”medium” src=”http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2022117313_philipeatonopeddowntownseattle36xml.html”]Seattle Times Op-Ed[/button]
Originally I called the piece “What Great Cities Do When The Windows Are Broken” (editors seem wont to change titles, not always for the best). In any case, I am deeply troubled by the disarray and disintegration in so much of our society. The disorder on our streets in Seattle, I argue, offers tangible signals of the deeper brokenness within our society. For me, as always, the starting point is culture. For me, as well, to push Christians to the sidelines of any influence, as my great city has surely done, means trouble ahead. We see the results of this secularization project.
The problems are complex, no doubt about it, and I am no expert on urban solutions. But I believe our hearts must be broken by the brokenness we see on the streets of our cities. If we put our best heads together, along with the deepest parts of our hearts, perhaps we can offer up a new way to begin again.
Interestingly, Sharon and I are on an plane heading for New York City. Perhaps I will share some thoughts over the days ahead comparing the two cities. Having been there any number of times, I get the feeling New York has much to teach Seattle.
Let me know if you have any thoughts about this piece in The Seattle Times.
Principled leadership, I should write.
Dear Dr. Eaton, Thank you for your thoughtful and perceptive comments on the state of downtown Seattle. What is needed is a coalition of concerned organizations and individuals who will advocate for the proper policies to the city council. This is the only way to keep this issue at the forefront of the city’s agenda. Otherwise the agenda gets hijacked by those who are interested in the types of things with which the council currently concerns itself. I nominate you to be part of the leadership for such an effort. The “coaltion for downtown Seattle”, or something like that. We desperately need principaled leadership. Let us know if we can help.
Dear Former Pres. Eaton, I deeply appreciate your perspective as I was an adult learner under you leadership at SPU 1996 to 2000… graduating with an English B.A. and Secondary Education English License. I pray that God will strengthen and guide you to be a “voice” as I served in Seattle Public Schools and saw first-hand many things that broke my heart in a city of great wealth. I now live in the midwest, but still care deeply about Seattle; we have grandchildren there. I know that you are respected and have a strong moral compass informed by the Good News of Jesus Christ. You are also a man of vision and ideas. May the love of all our brothers and sisters empower the community of Seattle to pull together for the well-being, safety, and good health of all. God bless you in this conversation and call to action. Respectfully, Alice J. Ellis
Thanks for your insights, Phil. We need to make the city safe and pleasant, most of all for those who are the neediest. They suffer the worst from crime, disorder, drugs, litter, pollution, and the other things that make life harder for those who are already suffering hard times.
Dr. Eaton,
I’m not a resident of your city. My interest in seeing Seattle progress beyond it’s trouble is due to the fact that two of my kids live there. One choosing to stay after graduating from SPU in 2011. Thank you for saying what needs to be said. Hopefully, as one of the most ‘educated’ cities in our nation it’s leadership will listen, it’s residents will act and you will see the civic, private and religious entities come together to ‘fix’ the broken window. Thank you also for walking the talk. It means a lot.
I completely agree. What happened to Seattle being a “world class” city?
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your honesty. You are 100% correct in your statements. This once great city is about to become a wasteland. The votors who have elected the spineless “leaders” need to make the change. However, I doubt they will. Typical for the weak.
Re: The Seattle Times October 25, 2013
Downtown embodies a broken city
Dear Mr. Eaton,
Thank you very much for publishing your opinion! This is exactly what I was thinking and voiced my concerned at police community meetings in the past few years. It seems the city do not have a very strong leaderships at all. Sometimes I wonder if the city officials were taking the matters seriously. Beside Westlake Center park, there is another young group causing fear for the bus riders at the bus stop, by the Dollar Tree store in U-district. The problems have been going on so many years. So much for the Seattle raid-back approach. I read the Seattle police said they do not want to remove them because it is a violation of their civil rights. How about our civil rights to be able to walk downtown streets or anywhere in the Seattle without fear. I too living in downtown and I love the area as you and your wife.
Very well said, and yes, we could learn a lot from NYC
bw