Changing the World

I started a discussion today over at www.mylot.com about changing the world. I’ve only gotten two responses so far, but I’m really struck by what these responses seemed to convey.

Here’s the premise I started with:

The world we live in is filled with challenges to our survival and development as a species. These challenges exist on many levels, ranging in nature from the environmental and ecological, to the political, ideological and spiritual. I don’t know what the future holds. Maybe this is how life for human beings has to be…full of conflict, righteousness, and struggle. But maybe not.

If we take the case that it is possible to make a difference in the nature of human life on earth, how do we actually do that? Taking into account billions of different and conflicting needs, perspectives, and beliefs, how do we change the world? How do we build a world characterized by balance, prosperity, and global community? Is it possible?

Response #1:

You cannot change the whole world it’s too impossible, but your own world i mean how you live (lifestyle) is possible to change. You cannot have the power to make all the living creatures live by what you believe and what you want. Ir’s yourself who should adjust to the changes and exicting things available in our world.

Response #2:

Well rome was not built in a day as you know and even God took six days to create the world, it would take a much more time ti change it. may be upgrading it is so difficult that even god is not trying to do so. lol
seriously now we all can change the world by changing th world around us and do little little efforts towqards building our own common societies. Lets say, I can stop being descriminating against others for their economic status and race and lots of other things. we all can create a small niche in our own way and society will see the impact definately. If we all put an effort fro where we are, we can set a chain reaction. So in essence to change the world just change your ownself.

I think both of these responses are valid, and they both point to something important, which is that you have power over your own life. The choices you make, the actions you take, and how you choose to be make a difference in the world around you.

What frightens me is that people seem to say that changing the world is only possible on a personal level. Or, that making a difference on a global level requires dominating others with our own beliefs and desires. This isn’t what I’m talking about at all. What I’m asking is, what would it take to make a global difference in the experience of human life on Earth? People aren’t used to thinking this way. I’m not being naive or utopian about it, and I certainly don’t think I have the answer…it’s the question that I think is worth considering.

I’m not looking for personal growth anecdotes about accepting things the way they are, or making a difference in our own small way each day. Not that these aren’t useful tools and perspectives…not that they aren’t true, it’s just not what I’m talking about now. I’m talking about creating and mobilizing some instrument of global change. What would it take? What would it look like? How would it work? What would it accomplish? Who would we need to get to help us? How much would it cost?

I find it really hard to believe that given the resources we have in our world today, we can’t find a way to build a different kind of world. I find it difficult to accept that people generally consider it impossible to change the world. For most people, I don’t think this is a self-realized perspective. I think it’s a mask of self-realization and acceptance covering up a cesspool of resignation and complacency about the world we live in, our future, and our own capacity to make a difference.

Why is it so hard to imagine building a world of prosperity and balance? Why is it so hard to wrap our minds around the real possibility of making a global impact? Who do we think we are, anyway? Do we really think we’re so small, isolated, and powerless that we can’t create a world that truly works for its inhabitants?

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