Perspective.

Often we can get caught up in what we don't have, what we hope for, what we want to happen. Very seldom do we take time to realize what we do have, what we have accomplished, what we are in the midst of accomplishing - big and small - and how when we think we've got it bad, somebody near or far is wishing to have what we have at this very moment and are taking for granted.

As I read [ this ] I began realizing that some people's journeys here in New York City are coming to a close, while mine is just beginning. For the past few days I have been focusing on finding a job, a permanent place to stay, and self-pity for not having any friends or family around in which to share these moments. What this person wrote, his love for the City, and sadness in having to leave, made me realize that I need to focus more on the fact that I'm HERE. After years of research and talking about it, I made it happen. I've gotten a few responses on Facebook telling me how lucky I am to live here and how they wish to one day visit the City. I take for granted that many people, much like Disney, spent years saving up to be financially able to visit this place. Even in less than a week I already take for granted that I can walk down the street and see the skyline that most people in their lifetimes will only see in photographs.

And then there's the ability to make change. The ability to assess one's circumstances and when coming to the conclusion that they wish for things to be different, take the necessary steps to make them different. Not everyone has this freedom. Some look at me like I'm crazy or whisper under their breath while shaking their heads that I have such deep feelings for people around the globe. Many, without even saying anything at all, judge me for this and inquire why I even bother to worry about something that I can't change. The reason that most of these inhumane situations go unchanged is because of that very apathetic attitude that nothing can be done. Something CAN be done. The people should not fear their government, government should fear the people. But most sit back with their luxury items and believe everything that the media tells them, when the media has ties to the government and bring us only what they want us to hear. Why are we never hearing about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict in our media? Why is the United States funding Israel to mass murder innocent Palestinian people, many including children? Foreign policy aside, take a look around at all the things that are wrong in the United States! Why are we funding wars when our people are going hungry and so many are homeless?! Why are the people that WE (supposedly) elected bickering back and forth when the entire global market is on the line and these idiots are worried about taxing the rich?! WHEN ARE WE AS A PEOPLE GOING TO GET PISSED ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING?! Or are we going to sit back and wait for this country to be occupied by military enforcement, as well? All I'm asking is to do some research. I know it appears boring, but when you learn what they are trying to do to YOUR rights, to YOUR freedoms, it becomes different. Let's not wait for it to effect us, let's do something before it does.

I did not mean for this to become politically driven, and although I could go on and on, I will stop here. I'm just really passionate about people that deserve more than what they're given while the top 20% of the population in the United States alone owns over 85% of the wealth. THAT LEAVES 15% FOR THE BOTTOM 80% OF THE U.S. (Source) The top 1% hold most of that wealth. And our elected officials are worried about taxing these people?! Are you f****** kidding me? Have each one of these assholes contribute a few million dollars and bam, balanced budget. But no, they're cutting Social Security and Medicare, because we all know it's the poor and the elderly that started this mess, and dammit, they're the ones that should pay. Anyways, I'll leave it at that, but I'm sure I'll revisit it in the near future.

World peace and equality is not going to happen in my lifetime, but I can do what I can to steer it in that direction. At times I wonder what if this is just the world's fate, if we are just destined to destroy ourselves. But I can't sit back and wait on a 'what if.' I must do my part as a human being. I'll leave you with these questions: How are we letting the minority (people who believe in war, domination, and inequality) overrule the majority (those of us that want peace, equality, and believe in basic human rights)? Money didn't always exist. There has to be a way to stop them, and it can start by soldiers refusing to carry out duties that they know are unjust and inhumane, as well as the rest of us boycotting products and businesses. Why are many turning a blind eye toward the conditions of the rest of this world? It could have been us born in another country, fighting for food and the lives of our children. Would we want the rest of the world to turn away from us or to help us by doing what they could?