Four months have passed since news was leaked to the public of Wal-Mart's "imminent" arrival to the Town of Wawarsing, and in that time winter has come and gone, another factory has announced it is closing, and the local business community has struggled with a particularly slow off-season. While Mr. Tso and the other, unknown owners of the Napanoch Valley Mall have remained mostly silent about the status of the negotiations, the community has most definitely not stayed quiet. A lively and illuminating discussion is underway, and if nothing else the prospect of Wal-Mart has at least spurred many of us to think about what we want for where we live.

As the available facts about the potential development grow stale, and no new information seems to be forthcoming, the discussion has turned quite negative on all sides of the issue. Those questioning Wal-mart have offered no real alternatives besides thinly veiled strategies to halt the development, or to create obstacles that disrupt an already fragile project. Government officials, terrified to be associated with any action that could jeopardize this apparently popular deal, have largely stepped aside and will allow the developers to call the shots. Worst of all are some of those who are strongly for it, who badmouth anyone with a different opinion, dismiss most local efforts as woefully inadequate and characterize the entire community as a complete failure. Their self-righteous display of entitlement has made us all look petty and desperate.

If Wal-Mart were the only thing going on in the Town of Wawarsing, life would indeed seem bleak. But Wal-Mart is not the only thing going on, if it is at all, and those invested in the Wal-Mart fight would be wise to look at what actually is happening, and perhaps change their attitude, or their tactics.

The list is long and very encouraging: An outdoor farmer's market is being organized, two new restaurants will open soon, an economic development group has formed, Lippman Park is slated for some major improvements, the hospital continues its expansion and work on a new senior housing development is soon to start, a few new stores have opened and more are planned, and the summer's Arts initiative is underway. These are real. They are happening now, initiated by the community for the community, and as an argument are much more compelling than talk of socks and Chinese factories.

Regardless of whether the Wal-Mart dust cloud on the horizon is an invading horde of barbarians or the Calvary coming to save us, in all likelihood the cloud is just that - ­dust. In the meantime, good things are happening, done by our friends and neighbors, making progress one small step at a time. Perhaps instead of squinting into the distance and arguing over what might be coming, it is time for all of us join those who have their sights set on something far more real.

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