We can’t change the world, but we can change a few people

The world will hardly ever be as peaceful and conducive for living as we imagine or hope it to be. Therefore, changing the world will continue to be exactly what it ought to be: “A utopian dream!”

We would continually need to readjust ourselves to cohabit with fraudsters, terrorists, kidnappers, armed robbers, rapists, domestic abusers, corrupt politicians, extortionist preachers, promoters of gender discrimination, religious/cultural extremists, and other varieties of criminals we can’t seem to get rid of; humans, after all, aren’t wired to live alone. I guess, that’s one heck of a price we must pay for companionship.

To the few hopefuls (of which I belong) who nurse huge ambitions of changing certain aspects of the world through ideological reforms, it begins with the courageous decision to confront the status quo. Well, a great decision I must admit, but it will be quite naïve to think that the world would hurriedly plunge itself into sober reflection in an attempt to change, just because we said so.

On the brighter side, while we take heavy blows of criticism from conservatives (who either constructively disagree with us or simply hate our guts), we may be getting a few other people nodding along in agreement.

Confronting the political or religious status quo, as well as its cultural and ideological cousins, will assuredly hit some nerves. But in our firm and courageous belief in the need for change, we can’t afford to cower in fright or defeat because no one seems to agree. Two, three or more people out of a disagreeing multitude slowly catching on with our thoughts would be quite an impact.

We can’t change the entire world for the better but, maybe, the few people we reach out to, who likewise interact with other people, can have a good shot at it.

NIMI PRINCEWILL, [email protected]