BEMIDJI — We're now in the time of year in which many fairs, city festivals, parades and other outdoor events take place. Some involve amusement rides, most involve food, and almost all of them bring out the best and the worst a community has to offer.

Let's first focus on "the good." Festivals are worked on by many individuals in a community bringing people together, and are a great source of pride. They are a gathering place for friends to enjoy each other's company, food, beverages, the summer sunshine, and to forget the everyday troubles of the world.

Then there is "the bad." Unfortunately, wherever people are gathered in a relaxed atmosphere, there are always a few who will take advantage of the situation. Over the Fourth of July here in Bemidji, for example, an unsuspecting individual had his billfold "picked" while walking in a crowded amusement-ride area. Those things have happened for years and probably will continue to taint fun events.

Finally there is "the ugly." This is the area that I would like to focus the rest of the discussion about. I am not talking about physical ugliness, but rather "social ugliness."  These are the people who too many of us (and I will include myself consistently in this confession) don't want to admit are part of our community. It may be the overweight person who is eating deep-fried cheese curds. It may be the pregnant woman who is smoking a cigarette. It may be the tattooed teenager with the black clothing and spiked hair. Or maybe it's the shabbily dressed lady who is buying her kids armbands for unlimited rides at $18 each.

Comments circulate
We have to be very careful and considerate in our attitudes of these individuals. This is not the same crowd we are going to see at the Lion's Club or at Chamber functions. Comments at these community fairs and festivals begin to circulate pretty freely.

"I never go down there, just look at that crowd."

"They don't have money to dress but can come down here and spend like crazy!"

"My tax money is being used to take care of someone like that."

Some refer to these people who are different from them, people whom they disapprove of, as "wood ticks" — meaning they are a nuisance and come out of the outlying areas in the summer. They may not be like me, but I think we have to keep in mind they are still part of our community. The very definition of community is: "A social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government and often have a cultural and historical heritage."

An obligation to help
I think we would all have to agree that in today's economic climate, the socially ugly "wood ticks" are an unfortunately fast-growing segment of our community that we have the obligation to help. It has been said that most of us are only six months away from being homeless if a catastrophe would strike.

This is not about Democrats or Republicans or liberals or conservatives. This is about being human and considerate. We need to be careful not to judge quickly or harshly.

So when you're enjoying a fair or festival during the next few weeks, sit on a bench for 15 minutes some evening and look, notice and try to understand everyone and their situation. Put yourself in their shoes for a moment. They are all part of our community.

Mike Beard, who works in retail management, is currently chairman of the board of the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce. He writes a regular blog for the Bemidji Pioneer, from which MinnPost adapted this article.