I think we are all pretty lucky to be living in the United States. This country can provide us with more opportunities for success than any other in the world. Since most of us live such comfortable lives, we forget that the U.S. is an anomaly, an exception to the rules that govern most of the world.
Many countries, especially African countries, have serious internal problems: civil war, genocide and populations debilitated by AIDS, just to name a few. European colonists left a power vacuum in Africa in the ’50s and ’60s, and since then strong, effective governments have failed to materialize. Instability in the region is so pronounced that territorial boundaries and even the names of countries change so quickly it’s not unusual to find inaccuracies on a map.
Most countries in Africa are rather unpleasant places to live, and millions are suffering because the prosperous nations of the world see no point in becoming involved financially and militarily. The United Nations, though it attempts to alleviate bad situations every so often, is neither effective nor meaningful at this point, and it is up to individual countries to lead humanitarian efforts.
I’d like to believe the rampant apathy around the globe stems from unawareness and not from the decision that the problems aren’t serious enough to warrant any attention. True, the whole world knows about the horrible situation in Darfur (which still remains a big problem, despite the media coverage), but there are plenty of other crises screaming for attention from the international community.
For example, consider the current situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Instances of sexual violence in this country are simply astounding; in 2006, people reported 27,000 sexual crimes in one DRC province. The sad part of the crisis, other than its sheer magnitude, is that only a little assistance from the international community is needed to solve the problem. A small donation of either money or supplies could eradicate the problem, but it is unlikely that many governments will care enough to actively pursue a solution.
This is where the general population becomes important. People forget they possess the ability to influence the government. This is the great thing about democracy; we can (theoretically) have a say in our country’s policies.
People can still make a difference even if their governments choose not to wave a magic wand to cure the world’s ills. Since when do citizens need to wait for their governments to act? After all, bureaucratic red tape and general impotency are huge barriers in the realm of world saving. Ordinary people can often raise awareness and funds for worthy causes more efficiently than governments can anyway. Look at Bono. Yes, he is a superstar with a bank account worthy of jealousy, but his money is not responsible for the dedication he shows to solving the world’s problems. Anyone with enough drive and motivation can make an impact.
Point of the story: Start caring, be vocal and be active. Even if you are just purchasing cookies at a bake sale or casually mentioning an issue to your friends, it can make some sort of difference, and your actions can inspire others to help a worthy cause.
—Aimee Sobhani is a freshman in the College of Arts and Science. She can be reached at aimee.f.sobhani@vanderbilt.edu
