The Nitty Gritty
Everywhere you look, day in and day out, current news and events are constantly thrown in your face. Whether it be the terror attack of the week, or updates on those riots you heard your friend talking about the other day, we live in a world that is so connected via the Internet/social media that almost nothing happens on our planet without it being talked about on the news or other media outlets almost instantaneously.
Now this would all be just fine if it weren't for the fact that, well, the happenings occurring around the globe seem to be increasingly horrific and awful to behold. Just the other day a seemingly average Florida State fraternity member not only killed a couple in cold blood, but attempted to eat one of the victim's faces. If the headlines seem to only include awful occurrences such as these, the temptation exists to just stick your head as deep into the sand as possible; after all, how can someone be expected to stay happy and optimistic with things such as these happening? Why make an effort to stay up-to-date and informed when it just makes it that much harder to have faith in humanity?
So....why not hide away?
Well, there just so happens to be a simple answer to this complex question, and it can be summed up in one word: change. It is tempting to believe that the things we see happening are simply out of our control; that the world spins on in chaos and we are just all along for the ride. This thought process, however true it may seem to ring, alleviates us of any and all responsibility. It's easier to view things in this light; the thing is, change is never brought about by taking the easy route. Change is brought about by strength, perseverance, and courage. Change is brought about by those willing to scream in the face of the impossible. Change, REAL change, is brought about by those willing to take responsibility for their surroundings; by those who are willing to say "I don't like what I see, and I am going to do something about it". Change is brought about by that kid who sits next to you in lecture hall, by the old lady down the street, by the cashier at your local supermarket. The point is, change is up to us, the average citizen, the people. If we are constantly passing the responsibility to someone else, nothing will ever get done. It's time we step up to the plate. It's time we take back the world we live in.
That all sounds good...but what does change have to do with me staying informed?
Another simple answer to yet another complex question: how can one fight a battle when they know nothing of the enemy? A country does not declare war before first knowing any and all information about their opponent, and we must approach the fight to positively impact our planet in the same manner. In order to change something, one must first know what they are attempting to change in the first place. Before something broken can be fixed, one must first educate themselves on the manner in which it broke in the first place. Yes, messed up things happen around the planet every day, and yes, it can often be taxing on one's overall happiness. The thing is, in order to make something right, we must first know in what ways it is wrong. In order to come up with a viable solution, we must first be thoroughly educated on the problem. You've heard the saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"? Well, it is broke, and it's up to us to fix it. Talk to those around you, stir the pot. Come together as a community and talk through these issues so that solutions may be created and implemented. Stay up-to-date. Stay informed, so that you may in turn inform others. Yes, knowledge is power, but it also an essential tool; a tool which can be used to maybe, just maybe, spark real, positive, and lasting change. Cliché though it may be, the truth still remains: be the change you want to see in the world.
