Are We Amplifying the Wrong Issues?
When I ask the question “are we amplifying the wrong issues?” I’m referring to hot button issues that we’ve collectively put a lot of effort into without achieving any significant success for our country, nor the world for that matter, at all. Most times, issues that appear to be settled get immediately resurrected and amplified forcing us all to re-live the sometimes-painful journey all over again. The destination we arrived at may have been acceptable to the majority of us, but that doesn’t matter to those that don’t like it and so the seemingly never-ending battle begins all over again for all of us.
I keep watching Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech over and over. It moves me to tears. Why? Because I would have thought that our society would have evolved by the 1960’s that would have rendered his speech unnecessary. But we hadn’t evolved to where we should have, thus making his speech vitally necessary. Unfortunately, there’s plenty of evidence that we still haven’t completely solved the issues brought forth by his sincere and honest speech in the 51 years since he sought to change society’s mindset. We’re better than that…aren’t we?
As a society, we HAVE evolved and improved in several areas. But we keep getting bombarded by small groups that can’t seem to allow positive movement to allow the majority of us to enjoy peace and advancement for a while. In 1976, a movie entitled “Network” came out. The movie had a news anchor telling everyone watching that they should go to a window and yell “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore.” Nominated for 10 Academy Awards and winning 4, the movie’s influence appears to be impacting our culture still to this day…negatively. Why? I’ve witnessed yelling, arguing, and violence amplifying situations and obtaining like-minded-individuals to a cause, but I have never witnessed productive nor positive outcomes as a result. While it may produce “in the moment” success, it doesn’t have any lasting benefit for the good of all people. Okay, enough with the negative.
The media is in the business of making money. The political world is in the business of raising money. Private companies are required to make a profit if they want to stick around. I get it. They all successfully amplify to serve themselves and I support their right to do so. I also believe in the freedom we all enjoy pursuing the life we choose to live as long as our choices don’t negatively impact others to please ourselves. Harming others should never be a result of our own pursuits. That sets the platform for a thought process I want to present to you.
What if we start with a “mile-high-view” and divide issues into two categories. One category containing issues that lead to division (current hot button issues) and the second category containing issues we can all get behind (currently on the back burner). Respecting how smart each of you are, this is where you can focus on a list of issues that you believe pretty much everybody could get behind. Issues like hunger, friendship, and compassion. Nobody wants to see others go hungry. Everyone understands the value of friendship. Nobody could speak against a more compassionate society.
An example? What would our world look like if we could collectively solve the current loneliness issue that plagues our society? Hey… data shows that more people die from loneliness each year than smoking. It seems like if loneliness was the issue that was amplified, it would present us with some simple, and immediately attainable, solutions. What about the homeless? Aren’t we supposed to be an advanced culture? Seems like if we all banded together, we could come up with a solution for homeless people that would prefer not to be homeless. How about we amplify proven paths to better mental health?
What about nutrition? Doesn’t it seem like over the past few thousands of years that we’d all be eating and drinking similarly based on what has been discovered to prolong our life? Wouldn’t all of us being educated on life-long fitness reduce health care costs? A focus on basic financial education from living on a budget to discerning investment of our savings. How about educating all of us to the point that we’re acutely aware of the consequences, both good and bad, of our decisions? Would that bring some relief to our court and prison systems? Seems like if we could chip away at some of these issues that are hiding off on the sideline that we’d be better prepared to tackle the current hot button issues we’re unable to resolve right now. I don’t know if practice makes perfect, but it sure could help.
So, here’s the thing. I’d like you to come up with your own personal list of issues that you feel would benefit our society that currently aren’t on our society’s front burner. Replace the current issues being amplified with your list of issues and figure out ways to get these new issues amplified. Pick some that have the simplest solutions, you know, the ones that may only require a simple shift in our cultures perspective to turn them around. Every country on this earth has the loneliness issue sitting on the sideline, mostly being ignored. Let’s improve mental health in OUR country and share the solution with the world. Then let’s take aim at another and amplify it until we find the everlasting solution. Stay focused on providing the power of hope. It’s a worthwhile provision. Hey…I Believe in YOU! GiddyUp!