By Zak Morgan
Junior Reporter
WEST HARTFORD, Connecticut, U.S.A. – There
are approximately 7 billion people living on this planet today.
are approximately 7 billion people living on this planet today.
Eighty percent of the population
lives on less than $10 a day. Nearly a billion
people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.
Water problems affect half of humanity and more than a dozen countries are
under the control of a dictator.
lives on less than $10 a day. Nearly a billion
people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.
Water problems affect half of humanity and more than a dozen countries are
under the control of a dictator.
Currently,the United States alone has approximately 5,000 nuclear warheads. This is
enough to destroy the world four times over.
The
question that arises is: where did we go wrong?
question that arises is: where did we go wrong?
In an ideal world, we
must strive towards the goal of a world community with peace, liberty, and
justice for all.
must strive towards the goal of a world community with peace, liberty, and
justice for all.
As humans, it is in our
nature to dislike differences.
nature to dislike differences.
The reality is that our
species is comprised of millions of different ethnicities, religions,
backgrounds, tribes and countries. The only problem we as humans have faced
over the last several thousand years has been accepting that fact.
species is comprised of millions of different ethnicities, religions,
backgrounds, tribes and countries. The only problem we as humans have faced
over the last several thousand years has been accepting that fact.
One essential task the
human race must accomplish is bonding together as a world community.
human race must accomplish is bonding together as a world community.
In the movie Independence Day, mankind joins together
to fight off the hostile alien invaders. In the novel War of the Worlds, the human race allies to fight off the
imperialist Martian attackers to protect the future of mankind. In the movie Signs, the world teams up to find a
strategy for fighting the alien invaders.
to fight off the hostile alien invaders. In the novel War of the Worlds, the human race allies to fight off the
imperialist Martian attackers to protect the future of mankind. In the movie Signs, the world teams up to find a
strategy for fighting the alien invaders.
Is it possible for
humankind to unite without facing an alien attack?
humankind to unite without facing an alien attack?
In the current world, I
do not even believe an alien attack would do the job. In a world of so much
difference, we must develop acceptance for one another. Only through acceptance
can we move towards a global community.
do not even believe an alien attack would do the job. In a world of so much
difference, we must develop acceptance for one another. Only through acceptance
can we move towards a global community.
Martin Luther King wrote,
“Darkness cannot drive
out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can
do that.”
“Darkness cannot drive
out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can
do that.”
In today’s world, fighting violence with violence has proven
itself to be a largely ineffective method of victory. Hate like this will only
increase if we as a nation continue to hate the terrorists groups of the Middle
East. We must learn to understand each other, and through this understanding,
negotiations and progress can be made.
itself to be a largely ineffective method of victory. Hate like this will only
increase if we as a nation continue to hate the terrorists groups of the Middle
East. We must learn to understand each other, and through this understanding,
negotiations and progress can be made.
During the Enlightenment,
an intellectual movement that swept through Europe during the 18th
century, philosophers introduced the idea of a Utopia, a perfect society in
which all prosper. While this may seem to be an impossible goal, I believe
these philosophers were moving us in the right direction.
an intellectual movement that swept through Europe during the 18th
century, philosophers introduced the idea of a Utopia, a perfect society in
which all prosper. While this may seem to be an impossible goal, I believe
these philosophers were moving us in the right direction.
What happened to these
ideas of the past? It seems that they have passed like wind in the meadow,
leaving us in a shadow of violence. The human race must begin a new revolution,
which is the evolution of the mind. And if we accomplish this, it will truly
be, in the words of Winston Churchill, “our finest hour.”
ideas of the past? It seems that they have passed like wind in the meadow,
leaving us in a shadow of violence. The human race must begin a new revolution,
which is the evolution of the mind. And if we accomplish this, it will truly
be, in the words of Winston Churchill, “our finest hour.”
During World War II,
President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke of four freedoms: The freedom of speech
and expression, the freedom for every person to worship God in his own way, the
freedom from want, and the freedom from fear. Achieving this would be more
realistic than creating a Utopia, but before it can be done, we as a species
must organize and end our conflicts.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke of four freedoms: The freedom of speech
and expression, the freedom for every person to worship God in his own way, the
freedom from want, and the freedom from fear. Achieving this would be more
realistic than creating a Utopia, but before it can be done, we as a species
must organize and end our conflicts.
The time has come to
drop the past, to forgive those that have done you wrong.
drop the past, to forgive those that have done you wrong.
A major problem in
today’s world is the constant lust for revenge – Muslims who oppose the United
States, blaming its soldiers for the death of a family member, Jews in Israel
hating Muslims for their suicide bombings.
today’s world is the constant lust for revenge – Muslims who oppose the United
States, blaming its soldiers for the death of a family member, Jews in Israel
hating Muslims for their suicide bombings.
This hatred is not only
found in the Middle East. Most inner-city killings are acts of revenge.
found in the Middle East. Most inner-city killings are acts of revenge.
The youth of the world
are being taught to immediately dislike certain cultures. When does it all end?
are being taught to immediately dislike certain cultures. When does it all end?
In Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huck Finn, Huck
encounters a family feud that has been going on for generations. Neither family
knows how or when it started, and the only result of the feud is death – this
is our world today.
encounters a family feud that has been going on for generations. Neither family
knows how or when it started, and the only result of the feud is death – this
is our world today.
No one is sure what
began this violence, and the death toll continues to rise. It’s time to drop
our petty differences and no longer call ourselves Americans, Christians, Jews,
or Muslims, but humans.
began this violence, and the death toll continues to rise. It’s time to drop
our petty differences and no longer call ourselves Americans, Christians, Jews,
or Muslims, but humans.
The reality of the
world is that people need to start helping one another. We need to start making
some changes.
world is that people need to start helping one another. We need to start making
some changes.
Let’s change the way we
eat, let’s change the way we live, and let’s change the way we treat each
other.
eat, let’s change the way we live, and let’s change the way we treat each
other.
Tupac Shakur sang, “The
old way wasn’t working and it’s on us to do what we’ve got to do to survive.”
old way wasn’t working and it’s on us to do what we’ve got to do to survive.”
While many Americans
enjoy lives of luxury compared to most of the world, there are people all over,
including in our community, who are facing very different situations.
enjoy lives of luxury compared to most of the world, there are people all over,
including in our community, who are facing very different situations.
When we go to vote, we
look at a candidate’s foreign policies, and how liberal or conservative their
stance is on health reform. Meanwhile, there are places where people care about
food, about water, and about housing.
look at a candidate’s foreign policies, and how liberal or conservative their
stance is on health reform. Meanwhile, there are places where people care about
food, about water, and about housing.
We can no longer stand
for a system that creates such a high separation of classes. So as the
Unitarian Universalist prayer says, let us open our eyes to see what is
beautiful, let us open our minds to learn what is true, and let us open our
hearts to love one another.
for a system that creates such a high separation of classes. So as the
Unitarian Universalist prayer says, let us open our eyes to see what is
beautiful, let us open our minds to learn what is true, and let us open our
hearts to love one another.
And in times of
despair, let us remember that all throughout history, the ways of truth and
love have always won.
despair, let us remember that all throughout history, the ways of truth and
love have always won.
As Gandhi said, “There
have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they can seem invincible, but in
the end they always fall. Think of it – always.”
have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they can seem invincible, but in
the end they always fall. Think of it – always.”
