In college I took a few classes in Leadership Studies. The classes were all taught by the same teacher and even shared some of the same classroom exercises. One that stands out in my mind was more or less an informal debate designed to get people to speak up and voice an opinion. The basic premises of the exercise was:
A torch is traveling across the country and is being carried by a person. The torchbearer only carries the torch for so long and then passes it off to the next torchbearer in line.
As a class we have the choice of either blowing out the torch or letting the torchbearer continue on with his or her journey.
If we blow the torch out the world will have 100 years of peace, but blowing out the torch also kills the torchbearer.
If we do not blow out the torch then the torch continues on and is passed to the next torchbearer.
At the start of the discussion we were given no information about who the torchbearer is. But, each time the torch was passed the story would provide more information. Throughout the debate the torchbearer ranges from an average ordinary citizen, a woman dying of cancer, a murderer, a rapist, etc.
For most people in the class the focus was on whether or not to kill the torchbearer. Did they want the blood on their hands or not? The reward for doing so was quite nice. 100 years of world peace! How can you beat that? But as the discussion progressed I realized that everyone had a different view of what world peace meant. Some said that all violence would end, others said that all diseases would be cured, and some said that poverty would end. After running through this exercise a few times I got really good at stating my opinion... and pissing people off too.
This utopia that you all have created sounds great. I can actually picture all the rainbows in the sky and the unicorns prancing through the unpolluted fields. Oh, look over there. Off in the distance everyone is holding hands and singing "I want to buy the World a Coke!" I hate to say this but you are all wrong. This is not an issue of if we kill the torchbearer. Its about what the 100 years of world peace would really be like. None of you can guarantee that your vision would come true. There is just no certainty in anything. If you are looking to cure diseases and help those in poverty why not put some actual effort into doing that right now? Go join the Peace Corps. But no, you all are too lazy to actually do something on your own. You just want a quick fix for all of the worlds problems. What's to say that after the 100 years of peace that it would not just switch back to how it was before?
To which a fellow student replied "Don't you think that after 100 years of peace that that way of life would be instilled within everyone and they would just want to continue living in peace?"
I responded No! If a magical wizard can instantly change the world from what it is today to a world that is at peace then I can easily see that same wizard switching it back at the snap of finger, regardless of what the people of the world are comfortable with. If you really want world peace I challenge you to do something today about it. Don't be a hypocrite and say "Yeah, I'm for world peace" when you actually do nothing to help. If we all were to leave this classroom today and go out and do one thing to help one person and then that one person goes and helps one person the effect over the next 100 years could be huge.
Last night while I was watching TV there was a commercial with a bunch of celebrities talking about helping to end poverty and AIDS and starvation etc. I started to ignore it, but then I decided to check out their website (www.one.org). In order to not be a hypocrite myself I looked over what the organization was all about. There are some things I like and there are some things I don't like. But all in all I feel that this organization is making a step in the right direction to help change the world without having to blow the torch out. So, check out their website and see what you can do to help make a difference.
Ok, I'll get down from my soap box now.
8 comments:
i did a little bit of perusing on their website as well, and i definitely agree that it's a noble cause with good intentions. but, i tend to take the cynical route usually, and will do so here. i know there are many people who truly want to make a difference in the world, but there are also those who do things simply because of the celebrities that are associated (see lance armstong livestrong bracelets, which have become more of a fashion statement than show of support for cancer research). based on that, i think this organization is destined for failure based solely on the stars they have in the "who've signed the declaration so far..." banner. 1)eddie vedder...ok, fair enough, most people know pearl jam. 2)bono, pretty recognizable i guess, especially in the activism department. 3)dikembe mutombo, most males will be familiar with. 4)michael stipe, reaching a little bit, but most people alive in the 80's are familiar with r.e.m. but #5 is my question mark. MICHAEL W. SMITH!! you know you have a long way to go when you tie your status to the guy that brought us 80's hits such as "place in this world." i mean, i surely hope this organization is a success, because there are certainly many people in the world that can use the help, but they might want to start by either listing a different celebrity in that banner, or just cutting it down to 4 names. i almost left the website immediately after reading that name. but, i did take the time to sign the declaration, despite their best intentions of scaring people away. anywho, i just thought i'd get my little rant in there. maybe i really do have something to say occasionally...nah.
i agree 100% w/ that_guy. i am very skeptical of celebrities endorsing anything. i see it as a way to improve his or her image. i truly hope that those who are used as figure heads for this organization are doing so for the right reasons. but in the orgs defense using celebs is the best way to market their cause. recognition plays a key aspect in any marketing campgain. if consumers don't want to listen to what you have to say, then you will never get your message out to the public. the one aspect of the org that i did not like was the fact that they were not focused on helping to improve the life of those less fortunate in america. we have homeless people here too. in fact every couple of winters in st. paul the city builds an ice palace in a parking lot across the street from a small park where a lot of homeless people hang out. i think that's a bit mean. it's like saying "ha, ha! we can build a house out of ice, with heaters, and TVs and you don't have anything!" i am sure it's not intentional. but, i have also witnessed a friend give a homeless man a box of leftovers with money tucked inside only to come back later and find the box sitting on the sidewalk and the money still inside. so, maybe the people in the undeveloped countries that the one org is helping out are more receptive to the aid. let's hope so. but the one thing i would like to reiterate is that you don't have to try to change the world by your self. that would be impossible. you don't even have to try and help end poverty. just try to be nice to people. it's as easy as calling an old friend just to say "hi".
Blnd you are right if everyone took the time to be nicer to the people that come in contact with every day it would make a huge difference. Yeah I donated my dollar to the Livestrong foundation, and signed my name to the One.org declaration, and donated $20 to breast cancer research, but I think my real impact comes from a smile and friendly hello to a stranger walking past or sincere thank you to the person taking my order at a restaurant.
Onto something that B said that really hit home with me. The quickest satisfaction you can get or give is by calling any friend just to say hi and let them know that you were thinking about them. I have had this happen and I have called and you really can't beat the feeling you get once you hang up the phone. Sometimes the WTF reaction when they can't figure out who you are and why you are calling makes for a good laugh later.
"Do what you can at least once a day because that is enough to make a difference." -TSBAllStars3
to clarify for Mike: the reference to the wizard was a sarcastic way to make those arguing against me look like fools. it worked. everyone on my side of the debate laughed, and everyone on the opposing side got really pissed off at me. too bad, too sad!
but, if you want to play some d & d Mike, just let me know. i'm a level 23 dungeon master. i will bring a reign of terror down on you!
I know a 7 and 5 year old that would smoke both you fools at D & D, Magic Cards, and any other game that kids that get picked on all of their life are good at.
B good form on pissing off half the class. You have a skill there that you need to exploit. As long as you don't try it out on my when I am close enough to remind you of your role.
Speaking of "Mike" and fads, anyone want to grow a goofy looking mustache to get attention? It replaces any need for game at the local bar scene. Even if you are a "no ball pussy looser."
Nothin but love for ya family
the club that the all star mentioned above already has it's own king...drew
Now if someone could pull Drew away from his game of Towers to read B's blog we would be in business.
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