Most of us have heard about the misery existing in many parts of the globe. 3.5 billion people live at $2.5 a day. According to UNESCO, every day 22,000 children die because of poverty. Why is it so easy to forget that? Good people end up by concluding that we do our best we can, because “we have it good here,” and we must be given credit for the care we provide to our families, communities, parties, and regions. Really, is that it?
In our Western “developed” societies we enjoy global services, we read international news, and we travel to most distant places. We imagine danger lurking from other continents and from people of other races. Although popular media’s priority is not to educate us on real issues, we still get enough information between all the advertisement and distraction that gives us in minimum a clue how to complete the picture around our feeling that there may be something wrong. So why are we still ignoring or forgetting the overwhelming exploitation, destruction, and poverty in our earthly neighborhoods though?
I rarely hear overt statements trying to explain the suffering of people in poor environments with their individual laziness, stupidity, or own made weak education. So, it seems we are capable of understanding and caring, but with a rather narrow scope when it comes to admitting where help is needed most from our own side. But again, nobody would hustle to provide an already rich with even more unnecessary luxury when confronted with the decision whether to help a dying child instead, right? And yes, there were enough resources to keep all bellies sufficiently filled. The wealth of a couple of dozens of dynasties equaling the worth of around half of the world’s population indicates that it isn’t a natural law that we already lucky ones would need to starve too to feed the 1 billion children who live in severe poverty in our modern times.
I have found and tested over time a scoping model that clarifies what it means to be truly human(e) and how we can identify erroneous scoping and re-focus ourselves feasibly on the combinations of time-relational dimensions that are the ground for developing universal human clear-, fore-, and farsightedness.
The intra-past: In contrast to using history for legitimizing inter-personal (-national, etc.) conflicts, the past is where we can come to terms with ourselves, i.e., understanding your psychological and spiritual world. Take the lessons-learned, but forgive and move on.
The inter-present: ‘Living in the present’ is good advice for interdependent (vs. independent or dependent) relationships. Rather than relating to others in a transactional way as we are so much taught economically, don’t expect anything in return for your love and don’t sell your soul for what you don’t unconditionally mean.
The extra-future: If we define ourselves not just as how much we consume and amass regarding material and financial wealth but as what we intend to achieve for the next generations to come, we evolve from a liability to wise heroes. Sadly, many elderly are honored mainly for their economic status. There is never a better moment than now to sow the seeds for a healthy future for all by being guided by values of equity and sustainability.
If you scope your human being and becoming that way, you will inevitably get your view cleared up to a panoramic horizon that sets free your full human potential. Follow these ambitions and your doubts will vanish soon. We don’t need to abstain from the progress we were born in as some mean arguments of the sort of “Don’t complain about capitalism if you use it” want to impose guilt on us. However, we are only guilty at humanity if we are not constantly trying to innovate, change, and commit for a better future for all. Better conditions for even more people are possible. We might find a lot of such examples that we are enjoying right now, which our grandparents did not yet (i.e., achievements like advanced democracies, improved gender and racial equality, etc.).
What’s in for you when you engage in finding better solutions for all? What’s in for you if not material gain, especially not in the short-term? A deep satisfaction and fulfillment, motivation to get up and do important work, and compassion and love from being close to what really matters: service to humanity, including the well-being of our children and their children. The world needs every one of us! Now! Enjoy!
My friend, it’s an “inside job”. If each of us would commit to the ideals of which you speak we would indeed eliminate poverty, oppression, and injustice. Unfortunately, that change cannot be legislated…it begins within our inner being. I like what you say and I believe the world you envision is the ultimate destiny of our evolution.
Hi and thank you very much for your great comment!
I partially agree with you. We should not force change upon people; it indeed has to come from each individual.
However, what happens “within us” is very much influenced by the environment and the environment is designed by the ones who have the money to do so. Instead of constantly advertising and persuading people for commercial goals that cause results from “inside jobs” such as addiction, unnecessary fears, brand focus, fashion preferences, etc., efforts could also be put more into promoting behavior that is more favorable for mental well-being and social spirit than consumption and artificial entertainment. This can be legislated. Already now violent games for young children that cause aggression, or Alcohol advertisement in certain countries, are restricted by the legislator.
The following “joke” illustrates well how it works: “A banker, a worker, and an immigrant sit around a table with 20 cookies. The banker is taking away 19 cookies and warns the worker ‘Watch out! The immigrant is going to steal your cookie.'” If it were not yet legislated, all 20 cookies would be gone:-). If people/workers start to realize that this happened and happens all the time to them, then change will come from their “within” as you mentioned. That’s why we should continue writing and fight for better legislation. But that’s also why people are not told these logics in politics and education. Thanks a lot!
So very true. The world does need everyone of us and we must stop and listen in a peaceful manner because when we do we can begin to see truth so much clearer.
Indeed. But efforts and money are invested into distracting people rather than to promote pauses that would allow for peaceful listening, as you so aptly mention. … because the economy needs to be kept rapidly growing to satisfy investors profit expectations.
The ole greed factor. Its great though we are stopping to really look and listen. Great insight by you.