Make a Difference...or just hit DELETE! (standard:non fiction, 526 words)
Author: pjt	Added: Feb 16 2001	Views/Reads: 4019/3	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A commentary on a thought provoking piece of writing by an anonymous author...and a challenge to make a choice!

The following message was contained in a letter written by a Columbine
student (USA) who experienced one of the High School massacres in 
America. 

I would like to share its message with you today because, after a
perusal followed by a careful read of it, the wheels of thought started 
whirring softly in my head. As I reflected further, the thoughts forged 
links with personal experiences and I found a deeper meaning in the 
saying that “the more things change, the more they stay the same”. 

I am, however, well aware that many of you will say that none of it
applies to you; that it contains too many un-supported generalisations; 
that all it does is pander to the pie-in-the-sky aspirations of 
hand-on-the-heart do-gooders. That’s your prerogative in this so-called 
democratic society. 

Nevertheless, let me throw down a challenge to you: read the piece
carefully, thoughtfully and objectively, then take some time to reflect 
on its meaning. Then ask yourself which parts of it (if any) you can 
relate to, based on personal experience, social statistics, media 
reports and anecdotal evidence from welfare agencies. 

You may then be surprised how much of it provokes thoughts and feelings
within you that you have never before considered. Here it is... 

“The paradox of our time is that we have taller buildings, but shorter
tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but we 
have less; we buy more, but we enjoy it less. 

“We have bigger houses, and smaller families; more conveniences, but
less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but 
less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less 
wellness. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. 

“We talk too much, love too seldom and hate too often. We’ve learned how
to make a living, but not a life; we’ve added years to life, but not 
life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have 
trouble crossing the street to meet the neighbour. We’ve conquered 
outer space, but not inner space; we’ve cleaned up the air, but 
polluted the soul; we’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice. We have 
higher incomes, but lower on morals; we’ve become long on quantity, but 
short on quality. 

“These are the times of tall men and short character, steep profits and
shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic 
warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less 
nutrition. These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce; of 
fancier houses, but broken homes. It is a time when there is much in 
the show window and nothing in the storeroom. 

“It is a time when technology could bring this letter to you, and a time
when you could either choose to make a difference, or just hit DELETE.” 


Well, what do you think?  Thought provoking insights or “bleeding heart”
waffle? 

If you think it is the former, maybe you’ll find it within yourself to
try, in some way, to make a difference. 

If you think it is the latter, just hit DELETE. 

Anyway, thanks for your time!


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