Well, first of all, one of the side effects of world-wide, free communication is that we find out that most of the rest of the world has it pretty bad and it comes as quite a shock. We think, "my God, it can't always have been this way, it must be something new," but it isn't really new, it's just that we've only now been directly exposed to it.
I consider myself an idealist in some ways, I'd like for the world to be a better place and I think it is possible. But I've never been an activist. I've spoken at exactly one rally (to keep the JAG program from recruiting on campus when they violate BC Law's anti-discrimination rules). I've donated to one voter initiative (to get rid of grey hound racing in Massachusetts). Everything else I do, I do at the very local level. I mean the very local. I can't save endangered species, but I give five bucks a month to the local pound. I can't stop child abuse, but I'll talk about it with other people who need someone to talk to. I can't change world politics, but I do vote.
The thing to remember is that 1) mass communication of ideas means that a lot of people know about these problems and 2) people are basically good and will try to do something about them. Okay, most folks would argue with my second point, but I'm sticking with it :) And if everyone does something small on a local level, then everyone will end up benefiting from several people around them, and the world will eventually become a better place. It's a better place now in most parts of the world than it ever has been.
It is mass ignorance that has caused us to panic now that we suddenly have knowledge, and it is mass knowledge that will eventually be the solution to our problems.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2004-10-07 02:31 pm (UTC)I consider myself an idealist in some ways, I'd like for the world to be a better place and I think it is possible. But I've never been an activist. I've spoken at exactly one rally (to keep the JAG program from recruiting on campus when they violate BC Law's anti-discrimination rules). I've donated to one voter initiative (to get rid of grey hound racing in Massachusetts). Everything else I do, I do at the very local level. I mean the very local. I can't save endangered species, but I give five bucks a month to the local pound. I can't stop child abuse, but I'll talk about it with other people who need someone to talk to. I can't change world politics, but I do vote.
The thing to remember is that 1) mass communication of ideas means that a lot of people know about these problems and 2) people are basically good and will try to do something about them. Okay, most folks would argue with my second point, but I'm sticking with it :) And if everyone does something small on a local level, then everyone will end up benefiting from several people around them, and the world will eventually become a better place. It's a better place now in most parts of the world than it ever has been.
It is mass ignorance that has caused us to panic now that we suddenly have knowledge, and it is mass knowledge that will eventually be the solution to our problems.