Community

OP-ED: What is the True Price of Failure?

Published

9 years ago

April 4, 2015

By Richard Johnson, Folsom Prison

A casual glimpse at our surroundings will provide us with a clear depiction of the obvious dismal conditions that we find ourselves locked into.

We’ve lost respect for the concept of the greater good as being the quintessential guiding light that provides sight, vision and direction in life. And, none of us are without fault when it comes to having actionable oversight of our lives and seeking that which gives light in our lives.

For some, this complacency with just existing with the norm, results within a condition of just daily muddling along, lost, with no thought of the present or the future.

And, more importantly, they often have an even less thought of any religious devotions, which functions as the pedestal that gives us some sense of perception, knowledge and awareness to live a meaningful life. What we accumulate becomes the measuring stick.

Failure has become the norm rather than the exception. It’s no anomaly or peculiarity, simply because the allure of not measuring up has become so enticing that we gravitate toward it, instead of elevating beyond its reach.

This doesn’t mean that we seek out failure, but rather we must do more in our lives to not only improve ourselves, but also improve life itself. This is why I write these columns to warn our youth and others to avoid the pressures and pitfalls of “getting over at any cost.”

Failure, whether for the individual or society, is never an isolated incident. It’s a system of interrelated events that fall short of its potential for us.

We’re a family of people, even with our diverse religious beliefs and objectives, yet the commonality that connects us to one another is our humanity, and the “Price of Failure” that resonates in all of us becomes our signature of living.

You don’t have to be a mathematician or an academic scholar to understand that when one facet of life is defeated, it also affects other aspects. Simply said, your failures are mine, just as mine are yours.

This, for me, is the meaning of the “Tree of Life,” a community of family.

It took me a while to understand this meaning, because in this society, we’re led to believe that everything centers on individuality while collective thought is characterized as being wrong and inconsequential.

This is why chaos and turmoil prevails as the standard, allowing failure to rule. The ultimate price of failure demonstrates that we as a community are failing, and the only way to success is for us to understand that it takes a tribe to sufficiently raise a family.

It matters not of your status in this world, for in the eyes of the one deity and in the presence of God, the supreme creator of our universe, what counts most is that we’re all equal.

Failure, in actuality and thought, limits us from long-range successful outcomes. You can be the determining factor between failure and ultimate success, if you so choose.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Felicia Bridges Hosts Student Voices on “Talk 2 Teacher” Radio Show

Don't Miss

Young Women Explore the Future at Women’s History Event

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

1 week ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.