For anyone who has
ever realized how messed up the world is and that reality hardly
seems to live up to ideals they grew up believing in, it's only
natural for their first reaction to be to wonder why on Earth no one seems
to see these horrible problems very clearly. Why don't more people
care? Why don't more people do something? Do people really want to
live like this? These are the questions that plagued my mind when I
first started to truly, deeply question the culture I've lived in all
my life. I had doubts before, but it was too terrifying to look at
them closely. Because it goes without saying that changing the world
is more than a one-person task. I eventually chose to look at the
world's issues despite my fear because the world's problems are my
problems; they affect the choices I make and the quality of my
life... and everyone else's.
So for years I
questioned my preconceptions, started looking at life from as many
different perspectives as I could think of. And as of late I've even
started to whole-heartedly believe that a more humane, meaningful and
connected life and community is possible. However, one thing I
haven't done much of is act. Action towards forming a new kind of
culture or community requires not feeling alone. Not feeling alone
requires seeking out others who are also willing to look at and
question the world's problems. And here's the important point, the
thing which has thus far kept me from action: many of the people I
personally encounter who are willing to look at problems are like me; wondering
why other people aren't waking up.
The thing is, amazingly, I never
consciously realized (or perhaps admitted) just how many other people
are “awake”. It's more than a case of chronic preaching to
the choir; it's not even being aware that you have a choir, and a large one at that.
Granted, they may not be singing in the same key, but that's not the point. The Occupy movement, for example, has been one of the most beautiful affirmations
of humanity I have ever witnessed. And it has certainly redefined my
conception of how many people are not only conscious of a broken
system, but willing to speak openly about it.
Continuing with the
“waking up” metaphor, I'm starting to think that maybe it's not
so much that more of us need to wake up, but that more of us need to
get out of bed, walk out our front doors and say hi to our neighbors.
(It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to do this literally, either.) So
here's what I intend to do: stop feeling so alone and give people
more credit. The number of conscious but lost humans will always be
underestimated simply because we assume we're more alone in our fears and goals than we really are.
Perhaps convincing
everyone there is a problem is not a required first step.
Perhaps all the resources needed to make a change are already in place. Perhaps we can start right in on talking about and finding solutions.
After all, “the masses” may be much more willing to wake up and
join in if they see something beautiful being created. Rather than
someone bludgeoning them over the head with guilt trips
and horror stories. It's like waking up to the morning sun peaking
through the window, the sound of chirping birds and the faint smell
of someone making coffee and maybe some bacon... instead the incessant racket of a
blaring alarm that just makes you want to hit the snooze button repeatedly or
possibly have done with it already and smash the blasted electronic
contraption to smithereens.
In conclusion, I'm
going to stop beating my head against a brick wall, go find others who are currently beating their heads against brick walls and
suggest an alternative :)
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