I received a mail from FP (future politician) yesterday. I must thank him for bringing me out of slumber and make me write here again and also for his input. Well, my friend FP was wondering why we are talking about the education system when there are worse problems out there, people dying of hunger, unfortunate deaths because of terrorism, living as slaves to cruel people and going through unspeakable horrors. That is true. Maybe we need to go up from the worst of all problems and work to make things better for these people who are suffering.
But I wonder - How? Where do we start? We cannot end the problems in Kashmir or in Sudan or in Afghanistan or in Burma in a few days or months or years using the most radical of means. These problems are too complicated for a few people to solve. What means can we adopt? How practical will they be? Who will help? How will even a lifetime of work help cure this disease that is choking the world today. There are many people who are already working wonders to make a difference. They still are not able to do much. We have new problems cropping up every minute.
I read this story on a blog and it helped me get over my misgivings. I do not remember where I read it. (I am very thankful to the author, whoever he is. Thank you.)
Two men were walking on a beach and saw groups of starfish being washed onto the shore. Some were being dragged by the waves. The others were sure to die on the shore. Suddenly, one of the two guys went and started throwing starfish back into the sea, one at a time. His friend asked him - "What are you doing? There must be a thousand of these dying! Throwing one back makes no difference at all." The other guy smiled and said, " It does make a difference to this one. "
What a wonderful message. From this story jumped out th answer to all my questions. If each of us decided to do something for a few disadvantaged people it would make a difference at least to one person. I think that is the only way we can maintain a balance in our world - one person at a time. It is surely slow but it is a sure method of making a difference.
My way of making a difference would be to do something for underprivileged children. I request you, where ever you live, whatever you do make a change in the lives of people around you. Choose where you would like to start to do something to make a change. You could surely afford to gift a few kids with study material, or maybe help getting some aid, help get someone a job, give whatever little you can, even one meal can help. Maybe your actions could help stop someone from becoming a terrorist or help someone realize a great dream. Even if it was for a single person you could start off a chain reaction. In the end, who knows, you could be at the receiving end of the chain that you yourself started...
But I wonder - How? Where do we start? We cannot end the problems in Kashmir or in Sudan or in Afghanistan or in Burma in a few days or months or years using the most radical of means. These problems are too complicated for a few people to solve. What means can we adopt? How practical will they be? Who will help? How will even a lifetime of work help cure this disease that is choking the world today. There are many people who are already working wonders to make a difference. They still are not able to do much. We have new problems cropping up every minute.
I read this story on a blog and it helped me get over my misgivings. I do not remember where I read it. (I am very thankful to the author, whoever he is. Thank you.)
Two men were walking on a beach and saw groups of starfish being washed onto the shore. Some were being dragged by the waves. The others were sure to die on the shore. Suddenly, one of the two guys went and started throwing starfish back into the sea, one at a time. His friend asked him - "What are you doing? There must be a thousand of these dying! Throwing one back makes no difference at all." The other guy smiled and said, " It does make a difference to this one. "
What a wonderful message. From this story jumped out th answer to all my questions. If each of us decided to do something for a few disadvantaged people it would make a difference at least to one person. I think that is the only way we can maintain a balance in our world - one person at a time. It is surely slow but it is a sure method of making a difference.
My way of making a difference would be to do something for underprivileged children. I request you, where ever you live, whatever you do make a change in the lives of people around you. Choose where you would like to start to do something to make a change. You could surely afford to gift a few kids with study material, or maybe help getting some aid, help get someone a job, give whatever little you can, even one meal can help. Maybe your actions could help stop someone from becoming a terrorist or help someone realize a great dream. Even if it was for a single person you could start off a chain reaction. In the end, who knows, you could be at the receiving end of the chain that you yourself started...
