One-third of our world lives on less than $2 a day. Over 9.3 million people live in poverty, and nearly two in 10 African children die before their fifth birthday—mainly because of flippant viruses that can easily be prevented. One billion people don’t have access to safe drinking water. Some Indian girls are aborted because of their sex, and other female students in Afghanistan are taken out of school or denied the right to vote because of backward tribal-invented ideas of “woman's inferiority.” And our earth withers away a little more each year because of maximized consumption and minimized conservation.
I named my The Washington Center blog after my goal in life … “to make an impact on this world.”
Simple? Yes. Easy? No. Impossible? So I’ve been told.
To those whose dreams match my own I say choose your cause—the problems are myriad. In my own nation—the epitome of liberty, freedom and equality—over one-quarter of Americans live without healthcare or with minimal coverage under Medicare. The gap between rich and poor grows as citizens flourish wealthily and ignore politics lacking moral reasoning for the common good, simply for pocket gain. Throughout the world, the blessed remain indifferent, and if there is one thing I’ve learned from my education thus far, it’s that this world is very far from perfect. But more importantly, humanity is in dire need of courageous people to care for and confront that which is too often ignored.
I’d found my cause in life—to make some change for good. Yet I also recognized my dream’s greatest challenge: insighting sympathy from an apathetic world. In a sea of blank faces living comfortable lives, how does one go about making an impact or changing anything? I’d been told both friends and family that any effort to promote understanding is a waste of a life. But I learned a new perspective in D.C., and to pessimists, I offer new insight:
During my all-to-brief sojourn in D.C., I witnessed the change a single person can promote. I heard several U.S. senators change their perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, empathizing and supporting true peace after students spoke with them on Capitol Hill. I was there when a group of young professionals from around the world marched on the Indian Embassy, demanding to speak with diplomats and urging the nation to take action against religious intolerance and inequality in India. I spoke with people who dedicated their lives to reducing poverty. I heard strong women speak for their abused sisters in war-torn countries, and Pakistani journalists tell tales of threats and floggings for reporting where closed-minded extremism reigns and government mutes protests.
These were the heroes I met in Washington. All these people taking a risk to promoting a change from apathy to sympathy … true American values in our capital.
My conclusions are these:
For me, it started there on the steps of Washington, where decisions can affect not only 300 million American lives, but the remaining 6 billion worldwide. And to any who say making a difference is impossible, I invite you to come to D.C. where students lobby for change, NGOs show stats and further plans for improvement and IGOs fight tooth and nail for implementation of natural law. Come meet my heroes, the ones making a difference.
As an American living in a democratic system, and blessed with a Constitution that bestows me with freedom, I have the ability to influence social changes for the betterment of our world. Further than the ability, I have a duty to speak and help those who lack my blessed wealth of education, equal rights and a meal whenever I’m hungry. This is my goal… to make an impact on this world.
Yes, politics will always be twisted, and the mass of problems may be discouraging, but turning a blind eye does nothing.
To the pessimist who says promoting change is time wasted, I say “one.” It may take thousands to hold governments accountable and promote social change, but I learned it only takes one to point out the failures of a system. One to question values and suggest adjustment toward morality. One brave person to brave criticism. One person to insight discussion, and one to speak for people to listen. One person to start a lobbying group. One person to give a speech. One person to start a new movement.
And one could be me. Who I help, who I influence—whether it be one or many—makes no difference. A simple change for good eliminates one problem for someone somewhere. Thus, I have decided to return to D.C., where TWC brought me for a short semester.
My impact began on the steps of Washington. And by God’s grace I’ll return.
