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How do people make a difference?

AreaCode707

AreaCode707

Lifer
I was reading the flamewar about the holocaust in the other thread and it got me thinking along slightly different lines.

We may gasp in horror at the holocaust and slaughter of so many people, the horrific depravity of the event and the people involved, and it's easy to wonder how it managed to happen and why it wasn't discovered and stopped sooner. But the same thing goes on in our world today on varying scales. Obviously it wasn't acceptable during WWII for something like that to continue, and it's no more acceptable today. Apathy back then must have played some role in allowing it to get as far as it did. But how do we avoid apathy today, and what is there for us to do to prevent and interfere with similar inhumane events?
 
Originally posted by: HotChic
I was reading the flamewar about the holocaust in the other thread and it got me thinking along slightly different lines.

We may gasp in horror at the holocaust and slaughter of so many people, the horrific depravity of the event and the people involved, and it's easy to wonder how it managed to happen and why it wasn't discovered and stopped sooner. But the same thing goes on in our world today on varying scales. Obviously it wasn't acceptable during WWII for something like that to continue, and it's no more acceptable today. Apathy back then must have played some role in allowing it to get as far as it did. But how do we avoid apathy today, and what is there for us to do to prevent and interfere with similar inhumane events?
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umm this stuff is still happening look at africa thier is massive amounts of genocide going on down thier. we don't care because they got nothing we want so we let them do what they want
 
Originally posted by: Falloutboy
Originally posted by: HotChic
I was reading the flamewar about the holocaust in the other thread and it got me thinking along slightly different lines.

We may gasp in horror at the holocaust and slaughter of so many people, the horrific depravity of the event and the people involved, and it's easy to wonder how it managed to happen and why it wasn't discovered and stopped sooner. But the same thing goes on in our world today on varying scales. Obviously it wasn't acceptable during WWII for something like that to continue, and it's no more acceptable today. Apathy back then must have played some role in allowing it to get as far as it did. But how do we avoid apathy today, and what is there for us to do to prevent and interfere with similar inhumane events?
Click to expand...

umm this stuff is still happening look at africa thier is massive amounts of genocide going on down thier. we don't care because they got nothing we want so we let them do what they want
Click to expand...

I SAID that it's still happening - I also said it's no more acceptable than in WWII. Speaking from a personal rather than a political (they don't have anything we want) level, what is there to do to try to help and put a stop to things?
 
People make a difference one day at a time, one thought at a time, and one heart at a time. Mother Teresa is an exmaple of this. Making a difference in one self's life takes change, but one person making a difference in the world takes so much more.
 
I think the ultimate key is speaking up when you feel that something is wrong. People seem generally afraid to rock the boat in any way, especially when it might focus unpleasant attention on you for voicing your opinion. Idleness is the enemy.
 
You need something that changes people on a fundamental level. As Mos Def says, When are things going to get better? When people start getting better. Anything less is like the Dutch boy sticking his finger in the dike. Of course there will be different opinions about how people get better; speaking personally I think it has to do with faith, and being changed from the inside by God. But the 20th century has been all the evidence we need to see that people are not "basically good." There is cancer at work in humanity, and it needs to be dealt with on a personal level.
 
Originally posted by: Adam8281
You need something that changes people on a fundamental level. As Mos Def says, When are things going to get better? When people start getting better. Anything less is like the Dutch boy sticking his finger in the dike. Of course there will be different opinions about how people get better; speaking personally I think it has to do with faith, and being changed from the inside by God. But the 20th century has been all the evidence we need to see that people are not "basically good." There is cancer at work in humanity, and it needs to be dealt with on a personal level.
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I agree with that, myself. But once it's been dealt with on a personal level, what then? Where do people go and what do they do, and what impact does it have?
 
Originally posted by: Adam8281
You need something that changes people on a fundamental level. As Mos Def says, When are things going to get better? When people start getting better. Anything less is like the Dutch boy sticking his finger in the dike. Of course there will be different opinions about how people get better; speaking personally I think it has to do with faith, and being changed from the inside by God. But the 20th century has been all the evidence we need to see that people are not "basically good." There is cancer at work in humanity, and it needs to be dealt with on a personal level.
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It goes both ways. People of "faith" use their "faith" as justification for violence, discrimination, etc. against certain groups of people.
 
I don't just mean "faith" as some broad virtue that is good in itself; I mean faith in something worth having faith in. Despite a current in pop culture that seems to put all faiths on the same level, saying all have equal access to truth, and all are equally responsible for good/evil being done in the world, I believe there is bad faith and good faith. So, you say people use their "faith" as justification for violence, discrimination, etc. and you are right, and I would say that whatever those people are putting their faith in is bad. But true faith in Jesus Christ involves our hearts being changed for the better, and therefore if someone who's "faith" is in Christ is doing violence and discrimination, his faith is not true. Faith is not a virtue in itself, it is good insofar as it's object is good. My $.02.
 
Originally posted by: HotChic
I was reading the flamewar about the holocaust in the other thread and it got me thinking along slightly different lines.

We may gasp in horror at the holocaust and slaughter of so many people, the horrific depravity of the event and the people involved, and it's easy to wonder how it managed to happen and why it wasn't discovered and stopped sooner. But the same thing goes on in our world today on varying scales. Obviously it wasn't acceptable during WWII for something like that to continue, and it's no more acceptable today. Apathy back then must have played some role in allowing it to get as far as it did. But how do we avoid apathy today, and what is there for us to do to prevent and interfere with similar inhumane events?
Click to expand...

People are like sheep. You can lead them to do whatever you want them to do. Its not a matter of apathy, its a matter of really good leadership - however evil that leader may be.

 
This is a tough one, especially since many people don't really want to be saved by outsiders, at least not on the outsiders' terms (see: Iraq). In the paper today, I read that many Zulus reject Western AIDS medicine in favor of tribal cures, so they will still be infected and will pass it on to their children.

Right now I donate to a statewide food bank program, since I know the money will help moms feed their kids and it will have a direct effect on the world.

And I vote for the people I think will do the most good in the world, or at least less evil.
 
"Civilized" nations need to speak out publically about genocides, condeming those countries who allow it. But we don't condem our political friends who allow it, much less those who are not our friends.

And nations often reflect their collective peoples: if we don't care about each other and treat each other with respect on a daily basis (ie, driving,etc), why would we care about some people thousands of miles away?
 
I doubt the tribalism of human nature will ever change ever; the evolution of the human brain has changed very little if any in 50,000 years seems we are hard wired to be as we are. As a teenager I believed in the Music of the Spheres that harmony was the nature of the universe. Now however, I feel chaos is the order of all things in this universe and just hope it?s not my tribe gets wipe out next!
 
How can you change the world? I don't know. Maybe it starts out with an interest in doing something positive. From there I guess a person can find ways to do good for something they are interested in. There are a lot of people who need help. People right here in Nort America need help so odds are there is something you can do to get involved. Ask around, I am sure that there are people with information that want to share it to make things better.
 
Originally posted by: HotChic
Originally posted by: her209
He who saves one life saves the world in time. 😉
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So where do you go to do that?
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Of all the people to ask how one can save another person's life, you are one whom I would never have imagined asking that question.

Would have thought you'd be answering it.

ZV
 
Originally posted by: HotChic
Originally posted by: Adam8281
You need something that changes people on a fundamental level. As Mos Def says, When are things going to get better? When people start getting better. Anything less is like the Dutch boy sticking his finger in the dike. Of course there will be different opinions about how people get better; speaking personally I think it has to do with faith, and being changed from the inside by God. But the 20th century has been all the evidence we need to see that people are not "basically good." There is cancer at work in humanity, and it needs to be dealt with on a personal level.
Click to expand...
I agree with that, myself. But once it's been dealt with on a personal level, what then? Where do people go and what do they do, and what impact does it have?
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Think of chaos theory kid. The smallest effects compound in ways that seem completely illogical.

We don't have to "go" anywhere. There are plenty of people around us who need help and saving and some are brought to us through unlikely paths, but those who are willing to help will always find that people who need help will always seem to come into their lives.

ZV
 
The only way to start is to start with ourselves. If you can't get further than that, you have still done good.
Do the right thing; have integrity, self-respect.
Treat others as you would like to be treated (and don't look for recognition--just do it and move on).
You'll feel better about yourself and what you have done, and who knows, it will probably rub off on the most unlikely people. And slowly spread. You don't have to "change the world"--just your own sphere.
 
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