So, the right courses of study are happening at the right time, and some thoughts popped into my head. War, poverty, famine, and wonder. I know I'm in high school, so pardon me if I sound immature and foolish.
I don't like wars. They are a waste of time, money, and resources- in my opinion, and lives, too. I'm reading
Going After Cacciato right now for AP Literature, and the point could not be more obvious to me how much the characters and author dislike the Vietnam War. Historically speaking, it was indeed a war fought for nothing. Then, again, I think most wars are pointless to begin with. I would be the first to run from a draft, the first one to go AWOL, and the first one to stage a mutiny. I believe in being a conscientious objector.
On that note, I started asking a few questions: If people oppose a war, why are they fighting in the first place? Nobody is forcing them to? Even with a draft, nobody is forcing you. You always have the option to not go- to just say no. If you do the statistics, there are more civilians than armed forces, worldwide. Politically and in the media, it looks very bad for a country to shoot their own people and physically force them into a draft. The people are only bound by the words of law to participate in the draft. Law is flexible. It emanates from the will of the people, the consent of the governed. When
enough people saw no, things can happen; it is self-evident throughout history. When the will of the people changes, the laws must change accordingly or risk losing popular support. When consent (i.e. popular support) is lost, governments risk losing power and being dissolved and getting replaced. Change in government is essentially obligatory.
Which is why I dislike the book
Going After Cacciato, The entire book seems pointless when the people on both sides could have just said no. They could have refused to fight. Nobody is forcing anyone to. There are always other options, and better yet, you can choose the option not given- make your own option. Sure, yes, break a few rules here and there, but the rules can be changed, too. That is the nature of the game, isn't it? We are all players and rule-makers at the same time.
As I see it, wars (and many other problems) come from the following causes: poverty, famine, disease, lack of access to education, and a generally unfilled Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. When I view it from this perspective, none of these items seem to be anything out of reach in this day and age. With that understanding, it frustrates to no end that there are still wars going on, people dying of treatable things, and people without food or
water or
shelter.
Currently, I still need to go to college, earn my BS, get a job, and earn money; however, there is still stuff that I can do right now. I can talk here to try and inspire people. I
volunteer in my community, doing what I can do with my schedule. I can't quite do what I would like to do- least not yet, like guerrilla
gardening and doing gardening-activism, or afforestting activism, or some other ecosocial type of activism.
But the types of things I want to fight for are, in my opinion,
common sense things like the right to see and protect wildlife, the right to good food, the right to be at one with nature and your community, the right to be healthy, and the right to be yourself. These are things I care about, and I have trouble seeing why momentum hasn't built up quickly to support them. Everything is connected; maybe connecting the dots would help others see it.
One person can make a difference, like
The Man Who Planted Trees. One person planted
trees for many years, the trees grew, the
land was restored, the land was protected, and communities and nature ended up living in harmony with themselves and each other. Could we possibly become "The People Who Planted Trees"? I know it sounds silly, but don't many good thoughts start off as silly, too?
Lawns and the industries that support them seem to me like war, too. We waste money and time and what not for nothing. Pocahontas would be quite upset, and I am, too. It just doesn't make sense! It's illogical! I don't like it when things are illogical and don't make sense.
Yes, I know. I live in one of those crazy neighborhoods where they will place a lien on your home for not obeying the contract that states you must have a neat
lawn. My parents don't want to break the rules, but I do. The rules do not make sense to me.
Here is the wonder part: we can have the kind of world we want. Isn't that beautiful? Just break a few rules or change them or both, which ever, and things can happen.
