State of the World

I never understood people choosing to not become parents because they didn’t want to bring children into this world.

I could understand not having children because it just wasn’t a desire. I could relate to forgoing the responsibility of child-rearing because of how burdensome it can be. I could even wrap my head around choosing not to have kids because you’re not sure you’ll be a good parent.

But until fairly recently, all I could do was listen when people questioned bringing children into this world. I would nod and acknowledge the emotion but I couldn’t relate to a hopeless view of the world. I still had faith in the humanity of the world; I believed that we would figure it out as a collective even if it wasn’t in my lifetime.

Now, I understand. The world is a hot mess and most of my optimism of a global revolution has completely faded. The childhood hope of making the world a better place is a distant memory. What was once vibrant hope for change, has now been replaced with clear realism to just do what you can to not make things worse.

We went through a global pandemic and instead of helping one another, we chose to argue over the validity of the virus and our personal freedom to not wear a mask.

We are currently facing the possibility of World War III because an egotistical, power-hungry leader decided to declare war on a neighboring country that is literally begging for mercy.

But then that same country begging for mercy is leaving all of the foreigners behind to fend for themselves. Those begging for mercy are now extending that mercy only to their kinfolk. Where do we go from here?

Let’s not forget the only reason this is even being considered World War III is because of the fear that this emotionally crippled leader might invade a majority white, NATO nation. The fact that peace of mind in this world is still so very much tethered to eurocentric power dynamics and the bad behavior of a few is truly abysmal.

Map of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

So I ask again, where do we go from here?

Fuck if I know. What I do know is that all I can do is try to share some inkling of light daily. The focus of sharing my light may no longer be global but the domino effect of kindness does still exist.

Treating others the way you would like to be treated is still a very valid form of exhibiting humanity.

If those Ukrainian officers treated foreigners the way they wanted to be treated, you wouldn’t have a sea of hopeless black and brown faces being pushed to the back of the line.

If our leaders had a desire for service, instead of a desire for power and self, maybe we wouldn’t be discussing Putin’s need for therapy during a potential world war.

All I can say is, we all need to do better and be better. Let’s support the acts of kindness we do see, like Russian citizens risking their lives to protest this very unnecessary war.

Russian citizens protesting and a man holding a sign that says “No War”

Let’s support the efforts of neighboring countries accepting evacuees of all nationalities.

Photo of foreign students waiting in line to evacuate Ukraine

Big ups to those enlisting to defend Ukraine.

Newly enlisted volunteers training with wooden replicas of guns

And, let’s hope that Europe (and Putin) do not become the downfall of the global community. Even though I no longer have faith in global humanity, I do still have faith in individual humanity.