The tears started streaming down my face last Friday afternoon at my work-study job at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Somehow the world had become too much to bear for the lowly student that I am. Today, I look out into the world and I see no future, no light at the end of the tunnel, no hope, and I am in no way talking about homework or petty college drama. Instead, I am talking about the world I live in or rather, the world WE live in. I live in fear, not for my own personal security or national security or homeland security but rather, I live in fear for the direction both this planet and humanity are heading. Our willingness to take a road without once looking at our destination or a map for that matter installs a great fear in me and indifference and ignorance become my greatest temptations. The potential to waste my life unsuccessfully fighting for human progress gives new meaning to the phrase "Ignorance is Bliss." Boy does it ever. I wish for hope and faith that I will never become so hopeless as to stop fighting for dignity, justice, and a world that not only sees when something is morally wrong, but acts on it.
My parents and grandparents mistakes Post WWII and my generation's perpetuation of the ingrained problems those mistakes gave birth to is sickening, and I truly hate that I am just as much a part of it as any. Ignorance, consumerism, environmental degradation, war, nuclear meltdowns, climate change, unemployment, human rights, genocide, poverty, drugs, thugs and the fierce debate over a looming government shutdown over Planned Parenthood above all else, is a huge stress in my life as typical college student. I am angered that senators and representatives act like children. I am angered that there are not morals in politics and that the long-range moral repercussions are rarely considered and I am angered at myself for my helplessness. Morality must drive human action. Consciously considering all options and repercussions is necessary towards maintaining America’s national security both domestically and internationally. The stalemate between the house and senate right now is stoicism at its very best, it is heartless, childish, and it is not what we need as nation or as a part of the global community.
I consider myself liberal, if that hasn’t become obvious already, but that shouldn’t matter, and the fact that it probably does to you dear readers, whoever you are, is just another example of childish behavior that we should have been rid long ago. This country is in trouble and we need to have fiscal responsibility now more than ever. Yet, part of responsibility means taking care of our people and ensuring that they are safe. We are not doing that. Providing social services is part of our national security too. It is standing up for injustice, and part of simply having a heart. We have fallen behind as a nation in having a heart, the world is polluted, dirty, violent, and there are just as many human rights violations in our own country of our own people that are happing overseas. These humans rights violations at home come in the form of pollution that gives children the highest rate of Asthma ever, as well as in the form of homeless veterans with chemical dependencies stemming from never treated PTSD, and finally comes in the form of pregnant women without access to healthcare. This is what we face, these are people that have hearts and their situations and situations like them demand that our governments have hearts as well. Deficit aside, we are guilty of so much as a nation and as people in general. Despite this negativity, I have faith in our abilities. We are innovative and I know in my heart that we can find ways to be moral in politics and reduce the debt at the same time.
My name is Anna, I am 21, and I am guilty. Admitting we did something wrong must be the first step. I contribute to our deteriorating planet and I am sorry. I will try my best to do better. I don’t always recycle, I buy fast fashion, and when my computer started getting a little slow I got a new one. I will try to have a heart both for people and for the planet. When will people realize that all the world problems are correlated? That one is a direct cause of the other? The path we are on both nationally and globally is like a game of dominoes and we are falling one after another after another. This must be stopped and admitting we aren’t acting in moral interests is the first step.
That same Friday that tears welled up in my eyes at the office, two girls outside of the office I work in were talking about going to the infamous "Mall of America" this weekend to purchase some new "spring clothes." I was listening intently to their conversation about what stores are the cheapest. "Charlotte Russe? No, Forever 21, they have 10 tank tops for 10 dollars. Really? What a good deal!" I found this troubling because there is no way those clothes are made fairly or that the companies themselves act in any moral way. However, even more troubling was the fact that I have a closet stuffed full of designer denim, and that is overflowing with brand name goods. I realized then how similar this situation was to what we need to do as a nation. It is time to clean out my closet and time for the country to clean out its closet as well. We must purge entitlement and stubbornness and finally embrace morality and heart so we can see the future more clearly and make smart fiscal, environmental, and social decisions. If we first see, we will then be able to care with our hearts and this will both save the planet and simultaneously save the people who live on it.
All my Wishes,
Stitches
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