We're Just Spinning On Some Granite That We Like To Call A Planet

I was watching Larry King Live last night with Oprah and Friends on it talking about life, spirituality etc etc. My attention was caught by one particular topic. That is if you are pessimistic or optimistic when it comes to viewing the world today.

The party line for the most part was "Hey I have an intellect, of course I am pessimistic." Looking at the world today, it is damn hard to argue against that. Our government is a disaster and that goes for both sides of the aisle. Our environment is hosed. Our people are angry, marginalized, tired, or, worse, forgotten completely (Katrina, anyone?)

Then the spiritual side of the coin was flipped and I have to say it really spoke to me. How can you NOT be optimistic when people are actually engaged in this type of discussion? How can you not be optimistic when you look around and see that yes, there are problems everywhere, BUT...people are talking about them. What is more, people are doing something about them. But more need to become involved. By more, I do mean you :P

I hear people say that poverty, AIDS, Darfur, and the environment are just too big for one person to fix. They are right, of course, but they miss the point. Each time one person signs a petition, or donates to a charity, or writes their congressman, they become one of many. THAT is where change comes from. Ignoring that fact is just a cop out.

Which brings up charity in general and peoples attitudes in particular. I find it funny that people get all irate at folks like Oprah, or Sean Penn in New Orleans, or Bono. It's almost as though they are PISSED off that these celebs have the power and money to make such grand gestures. The root of that, of course, is jealousy. But to denigrate the causes these celebs champion or their contributions to them is disgusting! It's the "Me Generation" concepts at it's very worst. It's like not watching shows such as An Inconvenient Truth because it is too much work to try to change or "When The Levees Broke" cause it is too depressing. I shit you not, I have heard people say that. I'm sorry but when people live through that, the least you can do is watch and never forget, and work to make sure it never happens again.

I am not rich. I pretty much pay for everything kidlet needs up front and get pay back from her dad when and if I ask 50 million times. But I am so much better off that so many other people. I give blood, I donate to soup kitchens several times a year, I give to the Katrina and Tsunami funds to this day, and I donate time and effort on the Charity Auction here at work. I never, ever walk by a salvation army red bucket without tossing in a dollar. Every time from Thanksgiving on to the New Year. That one dollar is not going to make or break me. It may make or break someone else.

That's my whole point. It does not take grand gestures. It does not even take a ton of money. All it takes is your voice. Pick something that matters to you and tell someone that it does!