Cause and Effect

So, in the last year, we have had a disasterous Tsunami in Asia, a couple of really bad earthquakes in Iran, Indonesia and Pakistan, some monsterous hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, wildfires consumiong America's southwest. It's interesting because for most of my lifetime, as a 27 year old person, I believed that "those things" didn't happen to "us." Granted, there have been hurricanes along the Atlantic coast, occasionally threatening the Outer Banks where my family vacationed, but disasters were something that happened in other places. Same with terrorist attacks, of course.

Things are different now. We have been shown since the turn of the millenium that the U.S. is vulnerable. We know we can be devastated by airplanes crashing into our steel fortresses and by spinning masses of wind and rain flattening all we've built.

I wonder, often, what the long-term reaction to these events will be. Will we, collectively be more inward-turned, more concerned about preserving our own lives, the lives of our own kind, and of our lifestyle? Or will we relate better to global devastations that don't specifically, directly affect us? Will we have sympathy, empathy, even, as we watch people senselessly tear each other apart over religion and land and resources? Will we know we did the same thing? The difference is that we wear suits and smiles while we're doing it, instead of tattered clothes and bloodied faces.

When the winds and rain and fires and floods come...will we accept it as "our turn"? Or will we feel that we should still be exempt?

At a recent U2 concert, Bono wore a bandana that used the symbols of Islam, Judaism and Christianty to form the word: COEXIST.

Why can't we? It all comes down to the decisions of individuals, large and small that create the situations of peace or war. Acceptance or hatred. I know it's complicated, far beyond what my little mind can grasp. But isn't that true? That each person has the power to choose?

Perhaps an important piece is that we don't realize what choices we make that affect the larger community. Such as buying clothes from companies that make their garments in sweatshops, oppressing workers who become so desperate and angst-ridden that they turn to terrorist organizations who promise them not only better conditions, but something to direct their frustration toward. Again, I know it's more complicated than that, and most likely, me and my Gap jeans are not personally responsible for a terrorist attack. However, the choices I make, probably extend further than I realize, or care to think about. Does my shameless use of energy contribute to global warming and therefore the conditions in the Gulf Coast that fuel the hurricanes? Probably. But tell me that when I am dripping with sweat in the summer and have the choice between using the A/C window unit or not.

Example: one story that I've read about here and there (Here, for instance: http://www.navdanya.org/news/04sept19.htm) tells about how Pepsi and Coke are essentially stealing and polluting water in India, a country where water is not especially plentiful, and causing local, impoverished communities to go without. Now, I would not literally steal water from someone who needs it, but if I buy Coke, and they really are doing that over there (how can I know for sure?) then how different is plunking down my 1.49 for a liter, than taking a glass of water out of a thirsty little Indian child's hand?

To stick with this example, supposedly, Coke and organizations like SunTrust, which is Cokes bank are responsible for murders, kidnappings and torture of union leaders and organizers in Columbia, South America. According to http://www.corporatecampaign.org/killer-coke/crimes.htm and other sources, it seems that five union leaders from the same plant in Columbia were killed within a 19 month period. Four others were killed at other plants from 1989-2002. A union leader's young son was kidnapped and tortured in 2003.

Again, I wasn't there, I didn't see it. It's hard to know what to believe. But when there's a side that has a lot of money and a side that doesn't, I think we can reasonably draw at least some conclusions. The point is just that there are all of these things going on around us. All of these decisions to make. Granted, we are susceptible to a form of paralysis if we scrutinize every single decision we make. However, the other side of the spectrum shows us that if we blow through life, glossing over information and ignoring those little tiny tugs on our hearts, in the name of instant gratification, efficiency, ease of acquisition, fast fun, rich taste, cheap thrills....then what? Then what? Well, maybe if nothing else, when the day is done, we'll eventually be forced to look back on all that we bulldozed over without a second thought, and accept responsibility for the literal and figurative graveyards we helped create.