Helping the World is Helping Yourself
Humans do things because it benefits them. This is not necessarily a
bad thing. It becomes bad when people see personal and individual power and
wealth as the only benefits of doing things.
Any person who is involved in a cause does so because they will
benefit directly, indirectly or because they will benefit both directly
and indirectly. A black man who fought with the Black Panthers was
fighting for direct gains. He was fighting for his right to be treated
equally. He was also working for the indirect benefits of his peers.
A man in NOW, (National Organization for Women), is working for
indirect benefits, in that he is striving for a world in which his female
peers will be equal to him. He is working towards a society of which he
can be proud and one in which the females he cares about, (mother, aunts,
wife, etc.) will be treated fairly.
Subtle cynicism is a psychological term which holds that,
"helping people provide people with pleasure of that failing to help
people provide pain." (Sabini, 1995, p. 297) It may sounds like a
depressing term, but what it does is explain the natural human trait of
self-preservation given the kind works of people such as Mother Teresa.
When people tell me that I'm crazy to work for others, I remind them
that not all gain can be stored in a bank. I tell them that I can't live
in this country with a clear conscience unless I'm working to make it
better. I tell them that people I know are directly affected and I want
this world to be better for both them and for my fellow humans. I tell
them that the feeling I get as I realize that I'm changing things is a
rush.
Take a few minutes and think about what you care about, and why
you do. Do so on the way to work, during commercials while watching TV,
right now or any time you have a minute or two. It'll help you be more
sure of yourself, and when you're approached with "why do you do that?"
you'll be able to answer.
Related Pages
The work of each indiviual helps
Once you do something, others will join you
Humans havea moral obligation to help other
humans
Cash on on the great feeling you get
So you're ready to get involved
Please mail any comment or suggestions to kerig@sas.upenn.edu
