money is the root of all evil

Almost everyone wants more of it, yet many of those who have it are not happy.
Money may make the world go 'round, but it is essentially the root of global political problems. Why do people fight? They want more money - they want more for their country and for themselves. Money controls governments and allows them to push one another around - it funds armies, which in our case go to Iraq to 'stabilize' the area. And what for? Many would say we went for oil - an expensive fuel; controlling its production would lessen the cost for Americans and thus give the US more to spend on other products.
Worldwide, countries are judged not only by their standards of living but by their GDP. Those countries with low GDP wish to raise it, yet countries abundant in jobs and money want to stay at the top rather than risking falling on the charts. By buying products for more from countries in areas like sub-Saharan Africa, their standard of living could improve. Yet we Americans continue our outrageous spending on our inflated salaries that everyone wishes were higher. Perhaps if we were less obsessed with perfecting our lives and thought more of improving the lives of others – and by we I refer not only to the US , but to al people and all nations considered 'affluent' – anyone who owns a computer (or two, or three), who can afford a cell phone with text messaging, who is attending college (especially without the help of a scholarship) – can certainly give more to those in need.
In America alone, millions are spent by politicians in order to spread their views so that they may win the election. Why spend so much? A position in the House or Senate gives them a say in how money is allocated. Becoming President means approving the country's budget each year – a huge power. The downside to such power occurs when large deficit builds up over the year, when the country has promised billions of dollars that it does now have to spend abroad. It is incredibly problematic that we can be indebted so much money while others struggle to survive because they cannot work off what they have and cannot like us, have such large loans.
Poverty is (according to dictionary.com) "the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support." No money. Many people live in poverty, as Lauren discusses in her blog and it is definitely a serious issue. Money, as an issue, goes hand in hand with poverty; since one is a serious issue, the other is too. Despite the problems that money causes as it controls and/or relates to every aspect of our lives, there is no way to abolish it. Though an issue, it is a necessary one that we must continue to live with. Perhaps humanity could tone down their obsession, but that may be asking for too much...

Global Warming: Crusade of the common man

I would hope that the picture to the left is easily recognizable. The Grand Canyon is the greatest representation of natural beauty in the country, and perhaps the entire globe. Last April I was fortunate enough to take a trek through its wild landscape. Seven days without television, radio, or any kind of outside contact allowed me to emerge with a great sense of the natural world around me. When life slows down and all you think about is eating, sleeping, and walking, you get to thinking about what really matters. I concluded the following: Global Warming is a serious issue and if we as Americans don't clean up our act these environments we hold dear will not survive. With that said, it is not our responsibility alone, nor can we be expected to solve it withouth the cooperation of the entire international community.

As I walked into Bender Arena this past Friday I did not know exactly what to expect. I knew that I was going to have the chance to listen to author Mike Tidwell talk about his experiences in the African nation of Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. What I did not expect was a lecture rooted in a much deeper and broader place. It became apparent that what Tidwell learned through his writing of The Ponds of Kalambayi was still relevant today.

What struck me most was his passion for global warming and climate control. He noted that third world nations in Africa and the Middle East, while contributing nominally to carbon emissions, are paying the heaviest price for climate change. It's true that the world is a large place and therefore it is no surprise that some countries never seem to see prosperous times. However, as reiterated many times in should-have-been-president Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth, and by Mr. Tidwell himself, this issue of global warming a moral issue, the single greatest obstacle our generation faces.

While nations toil over religion, political power, oil, or nuclear power, we must ask the simple question, "Why?" Why waste all that energy when instead we ought to unify our intellect and technology in solving this issue. It's not hard and we have what it takes. It's not solely the responsibility of businessman, world leaders, or MIT scientists. This is an issue that rests with every citizen in every country. The new Simpons Movie pokes fun at this issue with a satirical film they call, An Irritating Truth. Painfully enough, this is the reality among most people; that this issue is just too big or little of a deal for them to make a difference. In fact, it is quite the contrary. Anyone who has seen the Vice President's film would be hard pressed to sit back and do nothing while the world melts around them. In fact, a simple visit to the Climate Crisis website http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ yeilds simple, no brainer ways to make a positive impact. My top three personal favorites:

1. Adjust your thermostat a mere 2 degrees warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter. Seriously, when was the last time you went outside and said, "Gosh, it feels like 75," only to look and realize that indeed it is 77 degrees. That's what I thought, you haven't.
2. Change out you incandescent lightbulbs and use compact fluorescents. They save you money and energy. That's the thing about working toward a sustanable climate...it doesn't cost you extra money! In fact, most of the things that are helpful save you money in the long run. Solar panels mean less money spent on fossil fuels. Hybrid cars, while perhaps more expensive out of the gate will be invaluable when you go to fill 'er up. When I visited Denmark, I couldn't go a mile without seeing a crop of windmills. This kind of stuff just makes sense.
3. Turn of lights and appliances when not in use. I know this sounds stupid but if you count how many lights are on unecessarily, you'll see what I mean. Likewise, leaving your computer or hair dryer plugged in when your not using it also takes extra energy.

Ok, so it may not be a mass alien invasion a la Tom Cruise in War of the Worlds or Will Smith in Independence Day, but it is the next best thing to a Global Crisis. This issue effects everybody and everybody contributes. No one can afford to be neutral. Perhaps I am alone in this wish, but I still want Boston to be above water for the next Wworld Series. In this age of globalization and world relations, priorities need to be set. Otherwise, there will be no world left for us.

apathy

In today's world apathy is the biggest challenge that we face. Apathy is built on ignorance and fear. It has pervaded throughout the history of the world allowing for grave injustices such as the holocaust.
In the 13th century during the inquisition it was allowed to flourish due to apathy and fear that they would be the next ones to come under the hand of the catholic church. In France and Spain the inquisition destroyed almost all opposition to the catholic church through claims of heresy. Very few if any people fought the power of the inquisition and the pope and in doing so allowed for the deaths of countless people. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Inquisition.html
Presently, the disease of apathy still exists. America's Declaration of Independence says "thus the cardinal moral truths are these: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." Today, 200 some years later the Declaration of Independence is still one of hypocrisy. All men in this country today are not equal. Women still do not have full economic rights as men getting paid less for the same job. Furthermore the USA and other countries around the world continually deny gays and lesbians the same rights as those of heterosexual people. For example, say one of your loved ones was in a horrible accident and had to go to the intensive care ward a heterosexual couple would have no problem seeing as how they would have a legally recognized marriage. Now take a gay couple for example there marriage is not legally recognized or valid and the surviving partner would not be allowed to see them until they were moved to a different ward. http://www.advocate.com/
Not only that but racial prejudices still exist today. In many parts of the south the judicial system is still racially motivated in crime. African-Americans are usually unfairly subjected to punishment that a white man would not be. http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/racial-prejudice.htm

I have documented only a couple cases of apathy throughout history and today. There are millions of ways people are apathetic. Democracy's are a huge problem as they foster even more apathy. Apathy or inaction when action should be done is the largest problem facing world politics today. It allows for massacres and holocausts and inquisitions. Furthermore, apathy can lead to the downfall of nations for when citizens no longer care a civilization will fail.

What do I know about you?

If we shut ourselves up in a bubble, do not speak another language, do not strive to travel, to talk to people from other cultures, learn even the most basic word in a new language, try new food, and most importantly, KNOW that there are differences between culture and religion that will never be bridged no matter how much we try, how can we deal in a world today that has so many inter-cultural issues? Most problems in the world today form from miscommunication, specifically language, religious, and cultural issues. At a meeting where the king of Saudi Arabia and the Chancellor of Germany were to debate some issues, there are unspoken differences that are not even part of conscious thought in each individual's mind. For example, traditional dress, food, customary religious observances, and the physical nature of the two countries (ex. in one, you might see soldiers walking through the street, the army is corrupt, and many people are arrested). These attributes are subconsciously part of each mind, and add to each thought and spoken word. Another popular example is present-day Iraq. We went to Iraq without the smallest idea of how society there works and as a result of that, (not understanding that we, Americans, cannot take down a dictator and expect that rival Islamic groups as well as many other factions will be able to live together peacefully and with democracy) we are now in something that could have been planned and dealt with in a much better way. It is impossible for us to understand in a country where all religions are 'tolerated,' that two groups will fight to kill each other over land, a seemingly small religious difference, or just because of history.


Another example that everyone can relate to: if you have ever traveled to another country and talked to the native people there, generally the idea of 'the American' is not a good one. This is something that can be completely true, partially true, or not at all, of course depending on the person. Not all Americans are overweight, love pop culture, eat McDonalds, only speak English, and are extremely wealthy... but do we like to be represented this way and if not, don't we need to get out and explain ourselves, try to see and understandn something other than the United States?? We are a major power in the world and have the resources, therefore, I believe that this applies very strongly to us.


My basic point is that, yes, for much of history, things have been the same in terms of communication on a world-wide scale, but with new technology, new wars, and new risks, I believe that this issue has become more prevolent. Now we do not need to fly to North Korea to see Kim Jong-Il, rather we can see him all over the news, through internet and cameras, and this creates a much more explosive environment. The United States leads the world in many issues and the politics of the U.S. affect almost every other country, as, vice-versa, the politics of other countries affect the U.S.It is important that people all around the world watch the news and understand what is happening in other countries in order to have a basis of knowledge and most importantly, to be EDUCATED!