How would you feel if you had put much thought and effort into perfecting your presentation for a group of your neighbors and, just before you started speaking, two-thirds of them walked out?

That is exactly what happened at the Kingston Citizens Advisory Council meeting on Feb. 1.

After sitting through county staff discussions about concrete, barriers, engineering and planning problems, when the agenda turned to three Kingston High School students, most people got up and left.

Absolutely appalling and unforgivable.

The students shared not only their appreciation for the town they love but their ideas of how the community and students can enrich each others’ lives through interaction. They were confident, organized, excited and thoughtful. They are committed to our community. The council listened.

Evidently, few in the room besides the council valued them enough to stay and listen. You don’t care about Kingston’s future leaders? You have no respect for what our young people are thinking and feeling? You are so tied to infrastructure that you turn a cold ear to our human future? This is a perfect example of privileged people determining their priorities.

As author Sherman Alexie wrote, “Who said concrete ever equals love?”

Marilyn Bode

Kingston