Seven Continents, One World.

So many tragic things have happened in 2011 that it’s hard to believe that it’s been just one short year. Take a quick look through the photographs. Some may move you to tears.

A conversation with one of my friends earlier this week had me questioning what the point of life was. He wanted to know why anyone bothers working so hard to achieve what he could only assume would be a minuscule impact on the world as a whole. Statements like, “the world’s problems are too great for any one person to fix” surfaced. And so I asked myself, what is the point? Even if I achieve my goals, I still won’t make a big enough difference. People are selfish. It’s a problem that is embedded into every human act (even the “good” ones). So why not just live your own life and let the world sort the rest out?

Then I was reminded why. To my friend who shared this with me, thank you for reigniting a dying fire. Sometimes living in North America, the world’s problems are something so distant that it’s easy to just turn a blind eye and ignore others’ suffering. Just don’t watch the news, don’t go on twitter and above all else, do not interact with socially conscious people. In this way, you can lead the simple life. Get a good job, have a family, never want anything more for yourself or the world and just do whatever you can to avoid the guilt that may come with that lifestyle.

It’s so simple.

But then look through these pictures, open your eyes and hearts to get a tiny fraction of what others’ must endure across our planet. And once you do that, just ask yourself, how could I not care?

My answer? I do.
Result? Do something about it.

It’s not about how large a difference you make. It’s about actually caring enough to try. (Ever heard of, shoot for the moon, even if you don’t end up there, you’ll still end up among the stars?) I can guarantee anyone, you will have an impact. As long as you try.

This is one of my favourite photographs of the bunch.
Christians protect Muslims during prayer in Cairo, Egypt.

One of the the things I always do when working with kids is befriending the children who are generally treated badly by others whether those people consist of peers, teachers, counsellors. I’ve seen bullying at its finest (and yes I do mean adults bullying children too). Making those kids feel special and genuinely offering up my friendship means that the difference on the world was small but my impact on that child’s life was enormous. In fact, I am pretty sure that doing this is actually the only thing I’ve ever done that I can say has had a true impact on the world.

If you don’t like what you see, just remember, you can do something about it!

oforganon:

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This post in particular is addressed to men, not because women don’t rape and women don’t make/laugh at rape jokes and not because men can’t be raped, but because, by nature of the existing gender disparity, men are in a unique position to be taken seriously when they raise objections to…

One Word: WATCH.