Finding harmony amidst the noise

- Sean Duade is a founding member of the Sarasota Young Professional Advocacy Group. In addition he serves as the Membership Chair for the Sarasota Young Professionals Group, and serves on the board of the Sarasota Farmers Market. Share your thoughts with Sean in the comments box below, or by e-mailing [email protected].

I attended the public meeting on city sound regulations last Wednesday evening, and observed that the noise ordinance issue is not about noise. It is about two sides on opposing shores separated by a great gulf.

The sides stand at opposite shores, attempting to change each other's opinion by shouting across the gulf, yet the distance is too great---so all the two sides hear is the angry muffled tone of the other. On one shore stand the Classicists, revering refined arts and courteous entertainment; on the opposing shore stand the Bohemians, celebrating the avant-garde and reveling in eclecticism.Both sides fail to notice a conspicuous solution to their communication gap: They needn’t shout at all to communicate. They simply have to take a few steps back and realize there is a bridge right next to them that spans their divide.

There are many reasons why John Ringling’s name was chosen as the name for the bridge (Sarasota’s most iconic landmark), but I would like to posit one more. He spanned the divide of the Classicists and Bohemians. He was a fervent supporter of both, and Sarasota is more vibrant and storied for it.

If we only step back and call upon the memory of Ringling the progressive, I believe we will recognize that there is a great opportunity before us to build upon Ringling’s example, as opposed to resting on it.

Building Sarasota’s tomorrow can begin with a small step that will take a big effort.  I firmly believe there are parties on both sides with the will and desire to take that step and invest that effort.

The passage of a new noise ordinance can be that step. It can serve as an endorsement for a new direction for Sarasota. A direction in the spirit of Ringling; a direction towards growth and renewed courtship of our graduating university students, as well as a direction towards continued cultivation of our city’s philanthropy and renowned support of the arts.

It will require compromise, and through compromise we will civilize, and with our new civility we will recognize we are not Classicists or Bohemians but above all Sarasotans.

The price of continued lethargy is too costly to endure, the rewards of progress too great to ignore. So let’s get to work. Ringling gave us a bridge---let us walk up it and meet one another halfway.