For a creative writing class. It has a terrible ending, be warned.

I believe in activism over apathy. Apathy is probably the phenomenon that upsets me the most in our world. In a society where there are so many cultures, so many problems, so many differences, so many crises, it angers me beyond words that so many people can share the attitude that a former roommate of mine and even our own president brag of having: the refusal to be informed about the world. I admit, I don’t like to watch the news either, it’s too exaggerated and dramatized, it’s propaganda. I do, however stay informed. I read the newspapers, I utilize the Internet and all its wonderful information capabilities.
I believe in a global community. The problems in our country should be solved, but not with any more priority than the many problems of the developing world that are unquestionably significantly larger in magnitude. I don’t deny that our own country has many internal problems. I respect the viewpoint that we must solve the problems in our own country before we can help other countries. However, I do not understand why a “hanging chad” should take precedence over the 1,000 people who die every week in displacement camps in Northern Uganda (real statistic, find it at www.invisiblechildren.com). I believe that the world is bigger than U.S. and that we should start acting accordingly.
I believe that creative writing and thoughtful photography are my means of spreading awareness and creating a contagious inspiration and motivation to go out there and do. We are a society of short-attention spans and instant gratification, and that must be considered when trying to inform. However, quick fixes in developing countries don’t work (it’s been proven, read Easterly’s The White Man’s Burden for more), and that must be considered when trying to assist. I don’t believe in easy answers.
I believe that by the time anybody finishes reading this essay they will call me a dirty hippie. I believe they are right, and I am okay with that. It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it. I believe that wearing my t-shirts and wearing my bracelets makes people ask questions and that I have more answer than they really want to hear. They should want to hear them. I promise I can make it interesting even though I know this essay isn’t very interesting.
I believe that all people, deep down, are willing to help. I believe that they are either a) just intimidated by the apparent vastness of global issues, or b) uninformed. I believe that if everyone just came together, if each person capable gave only 10 minutes or 10 dollars, the problems could be solved. Solved! I also believe that people can’t care and can’t help if they don’t know. I make it my mission to make them know. I can raise all the money I want and do as many walk-a-thons as my legs can handle, but if I’m the only one doing it, my efforts are, despite my reluctance to use the word, worthless. I believe I should, therefore, spend as much time spreading the word as I do doing good works.