On Saving the World

If I had a dollar…

If I had a dollar for each time someone says, "but there is no point in doing that unless we can get everyone to participate" (or the like), I'd be a millionaire.  Ditto for every solution that begins with "let's fix…" or "how to reform…"

No matter where you go on the Internet you are going to run into people who will tell you that certain problems cannot be solved.  You will also find people who will suggest "we just need to do…" as the cure all solution for whatever problem is being discussed.

Neither is right and they're both right.

The problem is the noun.  It is always the noun.

If "other people" would do...

If "they" would do…

If "the President" would...

If "Congress" would…

If "the people" in that country would…

If criminals would stop committing crime we wouldn't have a crime problem.

If women would stop having abortions we could stop discussing Roe v Wade or the pros and cons of illegal or legal abortion.

If parents would stop abusing their children we wouldn't have a child abuse problem and wouldn't need to reform or monitor the actions of child welfare departments.

If people would stop drinking to excess we wouldn't have a drunk-driving problem.

If all people were of equal intelligence and talent, we wouldn't have an education problem.

If all people were of like minds, we wouldn't have anything to talk about.

In every example you can list, the issue is not that we don't all recognize that crime, abortion, education, abuse, or destructive behaviors aren't a problem or an issue needing some correction.

The problem, as I said, is the noun.

You can't fix "the world."  Not being able to fix "the world" doesn't mean you can't do anything or that you don't participate in being part of the solution.

Stop looking to other people to come up with a solution. BE the solution.  

Repair yourself and don't do any of the things you think are bad or broken.

If you think the education system needs repair, divest from it, and find a solution for you that works.

If you think abortion is the issue of the century, help one girl to either not need to consider an abortion or adopt the child she carries to term.

If you think crime is a problem, don't commit crime, don't associate with anyone who does, and try to stop any crime in progress.

If you think there are children who can be helped, help them.

Don't measure success by "the world."  Measure it by what you do.  Are you perfect?  Have you done everything YOU can to the best of your ability?

That's the only measurement of success there is.  

If your world view is that other people aren't doing their share, or that we can only measure success if everything is solved tomorrow, you won't ever leave the starting gate.

It begins and ends with you.  Fix that and "the world" will be a better place.