Hearing emulates democracy

For Grand Forks and its neighboring cities, this week has been eventful.

Residents of this beautiful and peaceful city believe Wednesday and Thursday could have lasting impact not only on daily life but also on the economy and culture of the city.

As hundreds of people stood along the roadside and swelled UND’s Chester Fritz Auditorium to welcome the Base Realignment and Closure committee members this week, it seemed to me that it was a “now or never” battle for the residents.

But as an observer from India, a democratic nation even larger than the United States in terms of population, the episode reflects a beautiful and cordial relationship between the people, government and military in any democratic setup.

In fact, it is a relationship between three crucial wings of any democratic nation, reflected through the developments Wednesday and Thursday, which is worth emulating by any democratic country of the world.

Around the world, governments consider the military as a secret society in which letting people get involved in the decision-making process even from a distance vehemently is opposed, as many believe it would endanger national security.

In the United States, national secrets also are guarded. But at the same time, the United States gives the people the chance to have a say in affairs of its military, at least when it comes to opening, realigning or closing a base.

The public hearing by the BRAC committee members, in the presence of hundreds of people who had gathered in support of Grand Forks Air Force Base since early morning, only indicates how much the government respects public opinion.

In a large number of developing countries, people are not even informed leave aside the question of seeking their opinion about such decisions. They simply are asked to abide.

In India, people might move to court, but then the government has its say in the name of national security. However, the majority of people likely would not show any interest in the decisions, even if it is likely to affect them badly. “This is the government’s decision, we can’t help it,” tends to be the common complaint.

The same thing could have been done here in the case of base realignment and closure. But it wasn’t. What impresses me is that from the very beginning, in fact at every stage of it, cities and people have been given a chance to express their view and present their case. While in India, I never had thought such a thing could happen.

Even after the report has been submitted, the affected people have been given a chance at a public hearing.

The preparation by the people of Grand Forks in run-up to the public meeting was impressive. Volunteers moved from one part of the city to the other and even neighboring townships, asking people to show their support. Even the Herald came out with a colorful flyer requesting people to come along with it to public hearing.

But more striking was the coming together of political leaders, forgetting personal rivalries and party lines, on the issue as they believe this is more important for the people of Grand Forks. Such a thing would be a rare phenomenon in India, even for a national cause.