The Power of the Internet

This post is a bit related to Joseph Kony, but not exactly.I recently saw the Kony video for the first time and something the guy said really struck a chord. He said “Who are you to end a war? I’m here to tell you, who are you not to”. We live in the age of communication. Of being able to connect with people in the blink of an eye. What helps us to do this?

Facebook.

Twitter.

Skype.

These and many more communication avenues conveniently located on the Internet. Families can stay connected, friends can be found, and soul mates can be brought together, all with the magic of the internet.

But there is something else, something very important, that the internet can do. It can keep us connected to the world. It can tell us when things are going right, and most importantly, when things are going terribly wrong.

We can gain this information and use it to change the world. But the thing is, more often then not, we don’t use to to change the world. When there is a portion of humanity suffering, we say “That’s too bad,” “That’s terrible,” “I hope someone does something about that.”

Read that again. “I hope someone does something about that.”

Who is that someone? That someone is you. It doesn’t take a trained “world fixer” to change and better the world, all it takes is someone who really does care. But what is helping? Helping is raising awareness, helping is sending supplies, helping is being there for someone who just needs help to survive.Who are you not to end a war? Who are you not to end suffering?

There are fellow human beings out there every single day, fighting for survival, fighting something they shouldn’t have to fight. I’m not saying you have to fly to Uganda and save Kony’s invisible children, what I am saying is, when you see someone suffering, it is your duty to do what you can to help.

Does it mean stopping a war? It doesn’t have to. What it does mean is, most likely you know someone who suffers daily. Lend a hand, lend some love, and help. I have a challenge for you: that person in your life, that person whose life could be a lot better, give that person a hug, tell that person you want to help. Once you do that, the actual helping will be easy. You’ll know what to do.

~Savannah