Homework november 1, 2012 personal essay topic if i could change the world if i could change the world i would get rid of cancer, drugs/alcohol, and cheaters. i have personal reasons for this list, and not so personal reasons. Written shortly after september 11th, 2001 » la versione italiana there is, of course, no end to the magnificence and horror in the human drama.

All the while our righteousness lords over other life yet we beseech gods for mercy. So how do we best come to terms with this marble and mud of our existence, most immediately in the glare of last tuesdays horrific assault on civilization? one answer is to pay finer attention to two questions: how deeply do i care about our common future? how do i actually make a positive difference? ben okri, of nigeria, of africa, of earth, observes: there was not one among us who looked forward to being born. We disliked the rigours of existence, the unfulfilled longings, the enshrined injustices of the world, the labyrinths of love, the ignorance of parents, the fact of dying, and the amazing indifference of the living amidst the simple beauties of the universe. We feared the heartlessness of human beings, all of whom are born blind, few of whom ever learn to see. As a gregarious species that enjoys getting along well, most of those differences are positive, driven by our intelligence, our natural empathy for others, our desire to laugh, and the myriad satisfactions of helping make things better. Even when, or especially when, crisis intervenes in our life, we can create moments of grace, moments that reveal a wide range of selfless participation with each other, including not least acts of incredible courage and sacrifice. Most easily, we can pay closer attention to our moral compass, to our interactions each day and rarely do we need someone else to tell us how.

It comes down to reconsidering the ethical stands we take with each other and with all life. We might not have the moral vision of vaclav havel or the moral courage of nelson mandela, but we can foster ethical awareness and leadership in ourselves. Without presumption or attitude, but merely to ameliorate, we each must be a moral guardian of this homearth. Unless we learn to respect and care for each other as neighbors, unless we come to terms with the increasing vulnerability of life on earth, true progress will remain an illusion, mired in the quicksand of greed, violence and selfish intent. Are we watching our lives in a movie, sitting too close to the screen? do we see only red and yellow pixels, flashed by mongers of news or commerce? are we becoming too numb to absorb a larger reality? so many people live in relentless poverty. He braved sniper fire in the marketplace each day for 22 days to play albinonis adagio in g minor to honor the 22 people who were killed there by mortar fire while they were queuing for bread.

Positive change is simply the currency and responsibility of individuals, of you and me. We just need to be even more attentive and curious, even more on the lookout for that one, tiny, quick, wonderfully private, unnoticed moment when you alone create a smile, lend a hand, unfurl a brow, still a cry, or calm a nerve in someone else. Thats power! in fact thats humanitys most powerful force for positive change and you can do it with a wink, as quick as the beat of a butterflys wing. Who knows what transpires from those moments but it does indeed change the world. The more positive energy you give, the more you get its the same need, the same compliment, as breathing in and breathing out. So breathe this earth! soar its surface! know its people! engage this planet, your fragile home, and all its sentient beings in the essential connection of good intent.

While we might think the little things we can do are insignificant and have no effect, with enough people these small things add up and make an even bigger change than any single organization or person could ever do! it all starts with us, and our willingness to help create the world that we dream of.to be the change we want to see in the world,we don’t have to be loud. We don’t have to be eloquent or be elected.we don’t even have to be particularly smart or well educated.we do, however, have to be committed. 212 we just can 039 t wake up one morning and change the world.we need to take one small step at a time.at times we even think, hey, i don’t want to change the world. I just want to stay sane, take care of myself and my family and live peacefully in the confines of my house. The thing is, life is always a contest between the world changing you, or you changing the world.the world pushes you, and if you don’t push back then it will inevitably corrupt you in one way or another.

94 we all know that all significant changes throughout history have occurred not because of nations, armies, governments and certainly not committees. They happened as a result of the courage and commitment of individuals like joan of ark, albert einstein, clara barton, abraham lincoln, thomas edison and rosa parks. They might not have done it alone, but they were, without question, the change makers.the most recent example we can take of is of the great personality anna hazaare who once again revived the spirit of nationalism among the indians and also proved that an individual can make a difference,only we need to be dedicated to our cause.we need to realise that nothing is trivial. Most of the time, we aren’t even aware of what’s wrong or what’s not working.by becoming more aware, we begin the process of change.don’t wait for things to be right in order to begin. Follow teddy roosevelt’s timeless advice, do what you can, with what you have, where you are. If you’re clear on what you want to change and why you want to change it, the how will come.