What if?
I wonder what would happen if for one month people were only exposed to thoughts of compassion for other people. Informed only on TV about the damage of war and the harm of corporations. If they read books about history that described the real motivations behind our history. If they really listened to the music calling for people to stand up and care about the interests of the world and it´s people.
If people could forget about money for long enough to do this what would it mean to the world. If every person in the rich world had to make a friend in the poor world and listen to the story of their life.
Would there still be 3 billion people in poverty!?
If people were given concrete ways to make a difference to the way the world develops would they chose the yes option or the no if it didn´t cost anything ?
Surely if we believe that we live in democratic countries we are given this option every election. Surely if we live in freedom with technology we can make the decision to understand the other world.
We must acknowledge this opportunity of how we spend our time what we think about and what our consumer and political choices mean to the world!
It is difficult to learn about the world when we are taught to worry about money and image but in freedom we have power.
Exercise the right. Be water on the fire of raging business interests burning the world!
What a great experiment that would be, that means you need a month long public holiday!!! Everyone is so busy in the 'rich world'. You ask the question "if every person in the rich world makes a friend in the poor world and listen to the story of their life. Would there still be 3 billion people living in poverty? " I think it would make a difference to many lives on both sides of the world( rich and poor), I do think less people would be living in poverty.
ReplyDeleteHow are you going to make this happen Keegan? On your website are you going to introduce me to one person or family living in poverty? How will you make this work? I'm sure you will find a way.
It's a hypothetical but you have a point. How can this link exist? I'm trying to humanise this world on my travels but taking it a step further I will have to keep thinking. If we had governments concerned about world peace I think that some exchange of young people to parts of the world which are poorly understood would work well or a type of 6 month or 1 year conscription like the peace corps to go the third world instead of the military training many countries offer.
ReplyDeleteFinding the time!?.. a personal challenge that could be met by many.