Dare to Dream of Something Different

The world we live in is less then ideal to say the least.  We live in a world of hate, fear, and violence.  We live at a time in which a small minority of rich people are able to continuously grow wealthy on the exploitation of many.  The gap between the rich and the poor continues to grow at a rapid rate.  In the world today medical epidemics run ramped.  Millions of people in Africa are dying from malaria, typhoid, yellow fever, and AIDS.  how can the world let this happen? With all of the medical technology and advancements of our 'modern' world it should be impossible for so many to be left to simply die.  What kind of world do we live in where it is worth more to a drug company to give a white man an erection than cure a black man of AIDS? How can we put a measure on human life like this? How can so much discrimination still be alive and thriving in our world?  We live in a world where many are forced to go hungry.  How is it that the world can produce such an abundance of food yet so many are left without?  We live in a world where some women are unable to walk outside alone without being in danger, a world where girls simply walking to school have been attacked with battery acid.  We live in a world where it is "honorable" to kill a daughter/sister/wife/cousin who has brought 'shame' to the family or has been 'promiscuous' in some way (this includes refusing to enter into a forced marriage).  There are little if any consequences for the killers of these women.  In fact if the killer is actually prosecuted it is rare for them to receive more then a 3 month sentence.  We live in a world of great connectedness, yet so many are forgotten and pushed to the margins.  Over 3 billion people (almost half of the worlds population) live on less then $2.50 a day.  Even in Canada 1 in every 6 children are poor.  How is this possible in a country that supposedly has such great social assistance? How do we fail to see the needs of those in out own communities?  In Canada 57,000 families occasionally have nothing to eat.  This should not be happening in a country of such abundance.  It is so twisted that we over consume at an alarming rate while others around us have nothing.  

It is impossible to deny that the world we live in is a bleak place.  Disappointment and discouragement lies around every corner.  However, we have two choices.  We can choose to lie down and accept the way the world is, accept the disparities and injustices as just a fact of life... OR We can Dare to Dream of Something Different!  If we cannot imagine a different world then we cannot work towards creating change.  Change is not something that one person will implement, rather it is something that must be created by a collective group of people working together, sharing visions and supporting each other in action.  It must be the 'oppressed' coming together to overcome their oppression.  It is like it says in the Pedagogy of The Oppressed, oppressors cannot 'liberate' anyone.  Liberation and change must come from a collective effort.  

So go ahead, dream of something different.  I am not joking! Close your eyes and think of what you wish the world could look like.  Is there a particular color, sounds, taste, or smell? O recently spent a significant amount of time reflecting on this and simply imagining what I wish the world could look like.  I am going to try to explain the vision I held with you.  When I first closed my eyes I saw green.  Green in my mind represents sustainability, a renewal of our connectivity with nature.  A harmony of balance found in sustainable growth and a re-found respect for the nature around us.  It represents the idea that we inherit the earth from our parents, it is a gift, yet at the same time we are borrowing it from out children.  It is our responsibility to leave the earth the same, if not a little better then we found it.  Next I heard the sound of water rushing in a nearby stream.  Fresh, pure, clean water.  In my mind this represents everyone having equal access to resources.  No one should hold a monopoly on natural resources that are vital to human existence (such as water).  Not long after, I heard children laughing.  there is something so precious and beautiful about the laugh of a child.  Certain things need to be in place in order for a child to laugh fully and freely.  A child needs to feel safe and secure.  They need to be provided for (not sick and hungry).  In my mind, hearing children laughing fully and freely represents a world where the innocence of children is respected and protected.  There are no child soldiers or children being trafficked; no exploitation of child labor.   In my vision there is also no distinction of race.  It is not that people are not of different ethnicities and races, however it simply does not matter.  Everyone is human and due to this fact everyone should be treated in the same manner.  Among the older population there is a diverse range of conversations taking place.  However, throughout all of these conversations there is a common theme; respect.  No matter how different people's opinions are there are no raised voices, no one dominating the conversation, no one speaking in a patronizing tone.  There is a strong sense of community.  A sense of caring, compassion and love the infects everyones actions.  

In my imagined world everyone would care about the well being of others as much as their own well-being.  In order to create a more hospitable, loving and caring world we need to begin to care about others more.  We need to be more conscious about how our actions effect those around us.  The phrases survival of the fittest and every man for himself need to disappear from our vocabulary.  Until we truly learn what it is to live out the golden rule in all our actions there will continue to be hate, fear and violence in our world.  We need to move beyond our individualistic society and learn to operate as a whole.  We need to recognize and address the needs of those in our communities.  And we need to STOP OVER-CONSUMING!! 

Change is possible, but first we must dare to dream of something different!