I particularly enjoy this question from chapter seven. If I asked "Our most fundamental responsibility as citizens, is to love not only our own children, but other people's as well--including children we will never meet, who grow up in situations we'd prefer to ignore.", the response would probably not be a positive one. I notice that much of our thinking today is centered around “I, me, and my”. Through talking with classmates and friends in the past, the thought pattern used is not great. Most often I heard the response “If “I” make it through life successfully with “my” family, and friends, then that is what matters.” Through talks in the past, my parents had responses that were different. My mom and dad both agreed that “you have to help yourself before you can help others.” My parents both work an awful amount of time each week, but still have found some ways to give back. My dad has cooked food for soup kitchens before, and my mom consistently donates that the Christian Broadcasting network. I saw this response as the most logical approach to community activism. In relationships you have to love yourself before you can love others, and I believe the same holds true for helping others.
The lesson that we must learn from the Stanford student is to become aware of the problem as a whole when in service, than to focus on your small situation. Instead of wishing for his grandchildren to see the homeless shelter, the Stanford student should have been thinking what causes others to be homeless. The problem that we face is controversial and complicated. I believe that to overcome a society that contains homelessness would be to overcome human nature. Whether we see it or not, it is human nature to think that we deserve more than every one else. Even in governments where people are supposed to be equal to every one else in wealth and stature, a few always end up with more wealth than others. Where do these people acquire this wealth you might ask? It’s from other people that they take. When you end up with more, some one ends up with less, some times to the point where they do not have a home. I definitely do not think we will overcome this by the time my grandchildren come along.
I really like your blog, and I agree with your point that most of us would change the subject towards themselves because they might not have enough experience about the world or different stories other than theirs. I feel that I do than frequently without noticing, and hopefully I will change. I also agree that we have first to love ourselves in order to love others, in order to accept others, and in order to understand what love means. Good job Jordan :)
ReplyDeleteJordan,
ReplyDeleteI greatly agree with you, on the fact, that it is easier for an individual to shrug away an issue like homelessness because it does not immediately or personally affect that person. While that behavior seems an unreasonable approach to life, it is understandable. It is an extremely hard thing for people to accept the reality of every social issue in existence; that thought alone is overwhelming.
The example that your parents raised you with is a great benefit to you because you understand how important it is to be socailly active. That within itself is a true blessing. to have. :)