I'm sitting inside my house surrounded by a quiet suburb, listening to Modest Mouse, surfing the web on my personal laptop. Behind me there are boxes from the move we made this weekend, from a 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom house to a 3 bedroom house where I have to share the only bathroom with my brother and mom. I'm the best at complaining, even though I know how lucky I am. I sit here with everything I could ever need, yet I am unsatisfied, unhappy. My mother and brother have disappeared. I'm alone on my computer in my new house.
Lately I have been exposed to different cultures. I did a project about the recent war in Kenya, where tribal rivalries have turned innocent people into victims of war. I watched a movie in English about Afghanistan and read "The Kite Runner." (Which I HIGHLY recommend by the way.) I learned a lot about the Taliban and the character of Muslim people. I even learned more about America's culture- shocking facts about consumerism and the media and what it's effects are. I have developed a love for knowledge, learning, and the endless opportunity that is the future.
My friends now know me as the, "radical philanthropist", the good-do-er. The one who's probably too honest and caring for my own good. My recent discovery and fasination with the plight of humanity has caused me to shape into a new person. I'd like to say that I've emerged, somewhat, from the bubble that is my white suburb and given a thought or two about other people. Strangers. Kids across the world. Anyone suffering. Now I feel that being privledged, I have a duty to serve the underprivledged, until the world is a much safer place.
But to my peers, and even close friends, I am way too idealistic. Just last week, I heard a guy I know say, "To be honest, I don't give a shit about the people in Darfur." Immediatly, I questioned his viewpoint, but only to be challenged by another one of my friends, a girl who took his side. She said that since she doesn't know the people there personally, she doesn't really care what happens to them. Later that day, the same girl and I discussed it again with my boyfriend, who saw things my way but happened to take her side. I tried to explain that we cannot let suffering take place. Kate, the girl arguing with me, said that if a guy and a girl you didn't know were fighting, you wouldn't run in and get involved. You would just walk right on by. I rebuttled by saying, "Sure. But if a mother and father were fighting, and in anger caused harm to their child, you wouldn't just let the child fight for itself. You would save it. In the same way the people of this world need saving." I was so discouraged because here, two of my best friends, were yelling at me in opposition to my cause. I didn't understand how people could react that way when a person only wanted to help others. The negative responce I got from them was baffeling.
The point of all this is that, alot of people in this world DON'T feel that its there place to help. But I realized that I couldn't let them stop me from caring about the world. If everyone thought the same way they did, there would be no one to fight all of the corruption in the world. Everyone would just stay consumed in their own lives, in their bubbles, ignoring humanity's call for help. I used to be like them, and to some extent I still am, but i know one thing for sure. The rest of my life I will be dedicated to helping someone other than myself. Whether its the lonely little boy in my neighborhood with no friends, or the women of Afghanistan, they're not alone as long as I'm around.
So please, exit your bubble now. Step into the world around you and do for others what you would like done for you. Join the cause to protect human lives. That's all I have to ask.
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Congratulations! You've become a fully functioning human! I too am amazed when people tell me they "just don't care.." I think deep down they do, but they are afraid of feeling so overwhelmed by the problems of the world, that they don't let those feelings come to the surface. When I first started really feeling the way you do, I stood up at a youth group meeting and spoke passionately about something going on in Africa at the time; in fact, I got so passionate about it, I began to cry. Most of my youth group responded by basically saying "why do you care? You live here in the U.S..."
I did start a fund for the folks in that conflict at the time, but was disappointed when the youth pastor who lead our group took the small fund I'd started and used it for something else (I can't remember what,) but that broke my heart again. It was as though he was agreeing with the kids, saying "yeah, those people in Africa don't really matter..."
That didn't end my compassion though...today I sponsor a child, I work at a domestic violence shelter, I work at a homeless shelter, I am going to start working with Earth First!, I am in midwifery school to hopefully make a difference there too...basically every part of my life is devoted to changing this world we live in....
So welcome to the flock of people who care...your life won't be an easy one most likely, but when you look back on your deathbed, you'll be proud of the things you did and stood for....
Love ya,
Carrot
I got out! I lived in the tiniest bubble where everybody has money, nice cars, big houses, and some sort of plastic surgery (or at least a personal trainer). I didn't get into my college of choice but I was NOT going to stay at home, I just couldn't do it. My parents knew that too, I had to experience life. So I moved away from my bubble to San Diego, which trust me, is no bubble. I even went over to the border this last weekend, talk about another world. I am glad I got out though, and I hope others get out of theirs!
Après la pluie le beau temps. ♥
Let's see if this works... don't click on it...
Good blog. I hope some people read it and take it to heart.
People are not all that smart, lol
“Darwins Nightmare” is a fine example of how our government play behind the scenes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/27/movies/27Scot.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
A simple question. What do the planes bring to Africa? Is being answered in the end explaining it all!
I spend a few years on the continent, I have lived dazzling experiences, the funny part is that people are ignorant of what is to be found on this amazing continent, lol
Happy to read your blog, that’s at least one step and mind in the right direction.
The only thing which can save us all is to lose our arrogance before it shows up at our doorstep to pop that big balloon of ignorance which is lacking to create some balance!
http://www.loveearth.com/uk/film/
Go for it,
;-)
I read your second blog first, but your first blog ever is equally as awesome. I am baffled as well that your peers react with such coldness. Try to be compassionate and gentle with them and help them see why it is so important to help our fellow humans out no matter where they are. Keep fighting the good fight.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina