To Be A Responsible Global Citizen
by admin on June 26, 2011by Kynan Witters-Hicks
Sometimes I am a little disappointed living here in America. I read the news in the Middle East and there is so much history taking place with the revolutions in Syria and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that I think, “I want to be a part of that. Why can’t I be a part of that?” Then it hit me that there is a smaller step for me to take before I can tackle the bigger problems. Change needs to take place where I am living before I can branch out and be part of a world-wide transformation. How does change come about in the places that we live? Well, one can start by being a responsible global citizen.
There are certain places in the world which serve as an example of what not to do at home. For example, when I look at the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, there are aspects of the tension between the two opposing parties of which I know that I can change where I live. The Israelis and the Palestinians have long been fighting over a land dispute which has forced hatred and malice into the minds of the people on either side. People from Palestine and from Israel are also of different religious faiths which even further deepen the gap between them. However, many Palestinians have never met an Israeli, and vice versa. The question then arises: how can you hate someone that you don’t even know?
In our own lives, we can take this as a lesson to get to know our neighbor. So much of our society today is driven by assumptions and judgments. What if we could begin to bridge that gap between those we judge and even befriend the man that persecuted you? Can you imagine what our world would like if everyone accepted each other’s differences and forgave one another?
A couple days before Christmas last year, I was having dinner with a group of international Ph.D. students from the Colorado School of Mines. All of the students were sharing holidays that they celebrate in their own countries, and one man from Iran shared a story of how every year, families come together to repent and spend time with each other. He explained that often times, there are disputes among extended family members throughout the year. However, when this particular time arrives, the family members forget any disputes that they have had in the past and dedicate themselves to cherishing their love and friendship with one another. After this event, the problems that were originally present dissolve as if they had never been there in the first place.
In my own experience, I can strive to do the same as this man from Iran. Problems that appear to have substance usually get so caught up in the drama and emotion of the situation that they are blown out of proportion. However, all that it takes is to realize the nothingness that is behind these problems and let them dissipate into their respective places. As citizens, let us strive to solve problems when they are small and meaningless and not let their roots grab hold of our lives. If a major conflict arises, do not fret. It is solvable. To be a global citizen starts at home, and when we are able to solve our own problems at home, we will be able to tackle the other problems with greater ease and with heightened authority.