What do you think is our world's most current and pressing challenge/issue?" ***I am a HUGE fan of the novel "Animal Farm", and I often try to incorporate my adoration of it into everyday conversation, or in this case, assignments. *** In response to this week's FRQ (free response question), I give you one of my most beloved quotes from the book: All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." - George Orwell The case of human rights and dignity has been one of the oldest problems known to (wo)mankind. While we are worlds away from many of the oppressive systems that had ingrained our mindsets yesterday, we as a society still have a long ways ahead of us. This is not a problem to solve overnight, and is an everyday struggle for the individual, as well as the whole. Why should anyone's dignity and rights matter more than those of another? Who gets to make these decisions? Who gives the decision-makers that power, and who can take it away? I do not have the answer to any of these questions. "No one can be authentically human while he prevents others from being so...." - Paulo Freire (Taken from his book "The Pedagogy of the Oppressed" if it piques your curiosity). There are many underlying factors that delve deeper into the crux of the issue, but if I may add a ".5" to my answer, I would say that our world's most pressing issue also has to do with many of us becoming more indifferent to the struggles of others. From human trafficking and ethnic genocides to economic monopolies and child marriages, it is easier to fall into the role of an inactive bystander when you are comfortably suckling on the teat of privilege, not knowing/empathizing with the pain of those who struggle to find their nutrients elsewhere. If you were to type in the key words for any world issue, chances are that at least a few dozen or so articles, pictures and videos would pop up. So why is it that now when we have the ability to see the plights and struggles of others more than ever before (and in certain cases travel to those places in a matter of days), there seems to be cognitive dissonance to reaching out? This is not to say that NO ONE is making efforts to improve their communities or greater society. However, life experience seems to point more towards "for every one person that cares, there are at least three that wont (or wont care enough to dedicate themselves to being a part of the change)". Whatever you may resonate with, if you became a willing force of progressive change in favor of "said cause", wouldn't that inch us closer to our global goals? Some might disagree with me, but if each of us made an effort to not be passive spectators in the face of the problems that ail our communities today, I believe that we would be better off. With all of that being said, I would like to pose a challenge to my cohort of Global Scholars, PTJ and Preston (if any you read this). Step One: Recognize the many privileges that you have in your life, Step Two: Reflect on a thing or an issue that you care about, but seldom "take action" for, Step Three: Make an effort to do otherwise (in a positive way, of course). Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below! -Talia
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Welcome to my Global Scholars Blog! My name is Talia, and I am a first year SIS student at American University.
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AuthorGlobal Scholar. Gullah Girl. Social Entrepreneur. Archives
December 2018
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