An inspiring conversation on a post by my friend Marc Winn sparked some challenging thoughts in my head.
Lately, I hear many people around me talking about "they", the crooked leaders, the controlling organizations and governments who want to dominate "us", the people. But aren't "they" people too? Aren't these organizations made of people? Aren't "they" sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, friends, neighbours of someone like we all are?
Sometimes, I feel we talk about leaders as if they are from a different planet.
But they are not.
They are human beings.
They are us, too.
And if that's true, then when do "they" become something different from "us"?
And then a thought hit me. What if there is no difference? How can I be sure I will behave differently in the sit of one of the leaders we all despise so much?
What if the only difference between me and "them" is that I don't have a position of power in my community?
Talking about "them" instead of us is comforting. It makes us feel that we are not responsible for what's happening. It's all "their" fault.
As Marc wrote in his post, "We are only as strong as our weakest link, and that weakest link could be the perpetual story and belief that there is a 'them and us'. In the end, we are all in this together, and for me, there can only be a sustainable future if we collectively believe and act in that way."
We all have a role to play in creating the future.