Desire

As I waited for a phone call last night, I turned on the T.V. and saw a preview for a new show, The Great American Dream Vote. I was, to say the least, a little upset by the premise. It drastically opened up the dichotomy of rich vs. poor for me, of needs vs. wants. It is a show, like so many out there, about desires.

I am sure it is extremely difficult for the 22-year old young man who is balding; is it anything compared to the individual starving on the street near the balding man's town or anywhere else in the world? Granted, that just because the bald young man is not starving physically, does not mean he is not emotionally starved. And so, in comes T.V., the American vote, and 15-minutes of fame to help this young man, who is so embarrassed of his balding head.

In relation to the suffering around the world, these people on the show really should have nothing to complain about. They need one of those purple bracelets. I probably do too, because I'm complaining about the show and the individuals on it! I do have a little criticism of the "complaint-free world" though (ironic, right?). If people did not complain there would not have been an end to slavery, women's emancipation, or independence for former colonial nations. Are those different kinds of complaints, though? I hope 'not complaining' does not somehow translate into 'not thinking.' I hope the organisation just desires individuals to be grateful and to combat negativity.

Back to the show. Like the individuals on the show, I have my own selfish desires: Be rich and travel all around the world. Would I go on T.V. to make that happen, I'd like to say, no. I'm pretty sure I'd say no. However, would I go on T.V. to fulfill my non-selfish desires? Hell, yeah! Would a show like that run successfully anywhere in the world, I'm guessing, no.

My non-selfish desires? They are a lot like the UN Millennium Goals. In fact, they are the UN Millenium Goals: The eradication of poverty, the end of illiteracy, the actual and true belief that individuals of race, color, religion, gender, and nationality are really alike. At my current school, we've been trying to do a lot to help the global community. I know at the new school, in India, I will have more opportunities to help. I hope I can see some of these UN goals achieved in my life-time. That is my greatest desire.