Monologue
For the past month or so, I have been constantly hearing about social justice. At first I saw it as just another cause, another reason to volunteer at a soup kitchen or a nursing home; I assumed it was just an organization’s way of helping out in the community or claiming to do so for their own benefit or ulterior motives. But the idea of social justice left an indelible mark on my mind. What is social justice? Webster’s dictionary defines it as “a state or doctrine of egalitarianism.” But everyone has their own way of defining it. It all depends on your perspective. You might have a completely different meaning of “social justice” when you step into another person’s shoes. I feel like we have been so incredibly blessed in our lives that we take advantage of it. If there were a 100 people in the world, there is only 1 person that has had the opportunity to go to college. Can you imagine that? So you and I are that 1 percent. We’re privileged. The hurricanes, earthquakes, and violence that has been taking place around the world, especially recently, has really opened my eyes to understand that there is absolutely no right for me to complain about my life. All the problems in my life seem extremely small and insignificant in comparison to what others have to go through. But sometimes, the news that we see on TV, or read in the newspaper makes us uncomfortable. We change the channel, or increase the volume of our iPods to tune out the images we see, or the things we hear. Isn’t it just easier to pretend all those things aren’t happening? So we don’t feel the guilt in not doing anything, so it becomes easier to pretend it never existed. How is it that every time I see or hear news like this, I become uncomfortable? So it becomes easier to tune out everything around me and focus on myself. But the truth is, the world doesn’t revolve around me. And if I am too timid to do to make an effort for the betterment of another person’s circumstances or conditions, that would make me an extremely ungrateful person. I have the tendency of waiting around for others to lead so I can follow their lead in doing something for our community, and our people. Forget about going all the way to Africa to build schools. How come I can’t do something right here? There are a lot of things we could do right here, right now. A whole lot of resources or people aren’t really needed. The most important thing that we have to remember is that, if we’re not going to do something, someone else will always take our place. The opportunities are right in front of you. Are you willing to open your eyes so you can see it?
