The World Around Us.

The world in which we live is massive, truly so. Not just geographically speaking but also in terms of our human popultion. With upwards of seven billion people currently alive it’s pretty easy to say the world is complicated. Many of the problems we today face as a global community are exacerbated and compounded when we consider the implications on a personal level. Problems ranging in size from Climate Change to the rush hour traffic where we live. To further complicate things, many problem take root in times long before any of us who are alive today. This is the quintessential issue that humans have always faced and continue to do so. A laundry list of inherited issues and quarrels which we vaguely seem to understand the cause of and seldom care to consider the implications of, while nonetheless being plagued by such problems. That is why I consider it imperative that we all pay attention to the greater world around us, not just for the sake of understanding how it effects us, but also how it effects those around us. Becasue what does a nightclub shooter in Orlando have to do with the invasion of Iraq? And what does Chinese naval aggression in the South China Sea have to do with the amount of money it takes for you to power your computer to read this paragraph?

Quite a bit, actually, in both cases. Reading the news isn’t just about how to keep your mind occupied as you down a cup of coffee while the sun rises, it’s about the world that surrounds you, where you live, work, and build your entire life. That is why it’s so vitally important, because as a global community of humans we couldn’t possibly fathom solving our immediate issues if we barely understand them. As my math Professor recently pointed out to us, one couldn’t solve even the most basic of math problems if they have no regard to the order of operations. So why do we all self proclaim our knowledge and credibility on topics we couldn’t even explain to ourselves? That is where it really starts. Becasue I hold firmly the belief that we as people are capable of amazing things, but we routinely stifle our innovative ability by getting stuck in the same traps as people have for generations. Traps of war, disease, famine, etc. These traps are easily avoided with a little bit of forethought, knowledge and concern on a wide range of academic, theoretical and practical subjects. Edmund Burke once said “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it” and I think he set forth a very solid principle. Because what happens today will be tomorrows history, so lets do ourselves a favor and know what goes on today, that way tomorrow it will be easier to remember and rectify.