I started writing this post a while back when I was in one of my “moods”. But a few things have happened and I’ve met a few people that changed my mind just a little. So I changed the ending a bit…
I have always tried to believe that there isn’t an us and a them. That there is just us. That we will all care about each other if we really try a little bit harder. If we just sat still for a moment and looked around us. If we just took the time to share a meal. Or a hug. Or a handshake even. Just start a conversation and we’ll all be okay with each other.
But now I am not so sure. I don’t know about “us”. I think there might be us and them. Maybe we are more fundamentally divided as a human race. More divided than just amongst those fake walls of religion, politics, race and whatever other lies we tell ourselves. I’m not saying any of those are naturally bad – just that we sometimes use them to keep us apart instead of using it to pull us together. A divider and not a uniter. And maybe the divide is deeper than the bridges we can build.
Divided between those who care about the world and the people who live among us and those who only care about themselves and their own self interest. Divided between those who care about the individual in the group and those who believe the individual is more important than anything else. Divided between those of us who believe in the us and those who believe in the me. Ubuntu compared to me-me-me.
I want to live in a world where we all care about each other. Where we care about our actions. And our decisions. But we don’t live in that world.
We live in a world where too many of those who rule rule only for themselves or for those who look/believe/talk/walk like them. Where decisions are made not in the best interest of everyone but in the interest of the few. Where people do what they want to do to get their own fill and damn the consequences. A world of those who have and want more versus those who have little and just want enough to make it to tomorrow. A world where the actions of a few can damn the many into poverty. An economy where those looking after the me can drag us down while they stay on top. A world of injustice. A world of inequality. A world of limited freedom. A world of no liberty. A world of those who have it and will keep it and those who have little but will still share. A world of us and them.
…
And then I met a few people on the road again. I looked at my kids and realized the world is still not black and white. It’s still shades of gray. I walked into a few old friends and made a few new friends. And I realized that we will be okay. It’s fun to fight injustice. It’s good to take on inequality. It’s right to demand freedom. It’s better to ask for liberty. Because us few can change the world. Little by little. And we can live while doing it. We can have life while doing it.
We can save one child and that will be fine. We can work with one farmer to make it better. We can fight one disease ridden community at a time. We can stop one rape and make a difference.
Yes, the world isn’t black and white. There are so many good people out there fighting the good fight. Not just people but companies and politicians and activists. A company I love reminded me of that. Good people. Not questioning whether they should be doing all this but just doing it. Ha! Never thought I would find inspiration amongst the evil money-makers! But they are not evil. Not even close. They make a damn fine… hum… product. And they are good people. On our side.
Some of us will protest in the streets. Some of us will run our businesses to make it better. Some of us will just make a difference without thinking. Some of us will help the old lady cross the road. Some of us will speak up when we see something wrong. Some of us will stand up for justice alone and feel the power of the others. Some of us will share our last meal with the hungry outside the door. Some of us will tell our children. Some of us… Some of us will never forget. And all of us will make a difference in our own way. Nothing is too small and nothing is too big. A difference is a difference… No matter who makes it.
We are together even if we don’t know it. And even when we forget we are together and we are there for each other without knowing. Us. Separate. Divided. Alone. And together…
Together we will overcome. You and me and them. We are few. But we are strong. And we will never give up.
Ubuntu. I am because you are. I am because we are. We are…
April 22, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Amen. Amazing post, but I can’t really find anything to comment. So I’ll just leave this mark that I was here, that I read it and liked it. We can call it a solidarity comment.
April 24, 2009 at 12:39 am
Powerful, beutiful, I loved it!
Stay well there, wherever you are,
Kacper
April 27, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Greetings from the French Alps – as usual, you’ve come up with another amazing and thought provoking post…love it – only wish I had more free time to pop over for a great read each and every time..!
Hope you are all keeping well
April 27, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Your post is amazing and so are you.
You wrote what I’ve always been feeling inside of me. Thanking you isn’t enough.
Bless you.
April 28, 2009 at 8:23 am
When I started reading your post I was disagreeing with you. Yes, the world looks divided, in many evil horrible ways. But it’s an illusion. The truth is – we are one – at the core. Even in our separateness, we are connected. We cannot escape it. Maybe that’s why people seek out dividers? To achieve balance? (Dunno…just waffling now
)
April 29, 2009 at 1:22 am
This post speaks to my wish about our country, South Africa – that we learn that the best way to secure my right to be, is to the let the other be. It is when we differ that the best ideas are born – whatever happens, the conversation must persist. The conversation that reminds us that Nelson Mandela was but one man and in many ways insignificant, that people with no names kept him alive, that children grew up too quickly in his name, that comrades became thugs and enemy to the people in his name, that many different people liberated SA. When we give conversation a chance, fear disappears and we start to see the human being behind the mask and the ordinary man behind the hero. Keep the conversation going . . .
May 4, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Terrific post my friend; I thought I left a comment the other day when I read it…..
Anyway, it is so powerful, so true, and it takes a lot of energy to stay balanced about it all…….
I hope you and yours are well!!!
May 9, 2009 at 8:45 am
We are missining activities from the author of this blog
Hope all is well,
Kacper
May 17, 2009 at 6:10 pm
@thatdudeyouknow – Thanks boet. I use your comments as a yardstick on whether I’ve made it or not…
@Kacper – Thanks man! I’m doing well. Sorry about being so quiet. Started a new job that has kept me on the road. But slowly coming back to life.
@India J – I am still jealous! Me and my wife. The Alps… You are so lucky. And thanks for the visit.
@morganwrites – Thanks! Wow. How do I reply to that kind of comment? Just a huge thank you. But really, I’m just a guy. You wouldn’t notice me in the streets!
@NatzG – Yes we are. Connected. We are damn lucky. But sometimes we forget. I do every now and again. And then people around me remind me.
@MoAfrika – Our diversity makes us hey? That is what I love about our little piece of land. It’s always walking on the edge. But the reason is because we want to live together and celebrate the differences. It’s what makes us who we are. Like bobotie. The best bits of everyone on one pot.
@vanessaleighsblog – Sorry. No idea why it didn’t approve your comment straight away. It should have done it seeing that you are one of my oldest friends. Welcome back. Sorry I haven’t visited. You okay? Love still strong?