<p>Watching the news in Iraq, Israel, and Ukraine lately has made me more aware of my privilege than ever and guilty for how badly the people in these and other places suffer on a daily basis. Obviously, no single person can control these kinds of conflicts but I still feel like such a wasteful, ignorant American lately. Since i lack the historical perspective and experience of you parents, what can I reasonably do to make a difference? </p>
<p>Make a difference in your back yard.
Reduce your carbon footprint.
Have you tried volunteering in your community?</p>
<p><a href=“What is your carbon footprint? | Carbon Footprint Calculator”>http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/</a></p>
<p>Good for you, kmac. My son is the same way. This talk by Peter Singer on effective altruism was helpful to him. </p>
<p>Look around. I live in a wealthy town … that has a food pantry because some people and some families here are very hungry. My mom served for years on the board of various organizations, including a sanctuary for children who had nowhere to go and for women running from abuse. </p>
<p>Go into neighborhoods where you see lots of social services agency offices; those places don’t have much money around. </p>
<p>In other words, first world is what you see while the realities are far more complex. </p>
<p>1 in 5 kids in America go hungry. I’d start there. 
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<p>There’s a solution to feeling ignorant - inform yourself. Read history, periodicals and literature. Make it a life-long habit; the more you know the more you’ll know how much there remains to learn. But you don’t need to look as far as Iraq or the Ukraine to make a difference. It’s like that saying think globally, act locally. If all of us did that, the world would be a better place. </p>
<p>So maybe you are a wasteful, ignorant American. But at least you and other wasteful, ignorant Americans aren’t beheading people because of their religion, launching thousands of missiles at another country near civilians homes and schools, or shooting down civilian airliners just because you have the technology.</p>
<p>Why not look at the atrocities, horror and stupidity of what is going on in some of these other countries, and realize that you are living in a pretty good place. There’s a lot worse things than not learning your history books and using too many plastic bottles. There are people that are truly evil out in the world, that would be thrilled to kill you just because of your religion (or lack thereof).</p>
<p>Study those who have made a difference. ML King, Norman Mandela, as well as groups such as Quakers and Mennonites who are committed to a life of conscious work toward righting wrongs. </p>
<p>One of the values of international travel is learning some of the details as to why the USA has many sterling qualities. The ideals upon which we are founded were and still are outstanding. </p>
<p>Norman Mandela? Gotta love autocorrect! Am guessing thats Nelson.</p>
<p>It is good to be aware what’s going on around you and try to help out. At the same time, don’t let a lot of those ugly events to get you down. You shouldn’t feel guilty about being happy. </p>
<p>You can recognize how fortunate you are to have found yourself in the US in the 21st century, getting a good education and having the right to see and question your country’s shortcomings. And, understanding that good fortune, you can use it as a springboard to make the world a better place, even if only in a micro sense. Few people will be a Nelson Mandela - that’s why he was so remarkable. </p>
<p>Sheer dumb luck is a great gift. Don’t feel guilty that you just happened to be a middle class, 21st century American - you had no control over that. But acknowledge that it makes you luckier than the vast majority of human beings, and strive to deserve it. You don’t have to be wasteful, or ignorant, though I would never question that many Americans are those things. Many Americans are not - and you can choose to be one of them.</p>
<p>Compassion is a good thing, but self hatred, guilt, and condemnation of others in your situation aren’t productive. You didn’t choose what situation you were born into. You can choose what to do with the gifts you have. This doesn’t just mean where you live or what economical situation you were born into- it also includes your talents. Does a fantastic musician need to feel guilty that his friend who is great at writing can’t carry a tune? Each person has unique gifts and can contribute them to the world. </p>
<p>Start in your circle and move outward. What can you do to improve yourself- the talents you were given? Can you study harder, practice longer- at what you are good at so that one day your talents can make the world better for others. How do you treat those nearest to you- family, friends- and what you have- do you keep your room neat, take care of your things, help around the house? Do you take care of yourself? What can you do to improve yourself- and also to help your family and friends.</p>
<p>Then your community. Do you have a neighbor that needs help? Know some kids who need tutoring? What ways can you volunteer at school? Is there injustice in your community- someone being bullied- can you stick up for them?</p>
<p>By now, you have probably accumulated a list of things you can do to make a difference. I think we all feel helpless about things that are far away from us. None of us has the ability to solve all the problems in the world, but each of us can do a part to put good in the world. If you were put in a situation that allows you to do something to help others near you- then that may just be where you can start.</p>
<p>Start with gratitude then help others out of a sense of desire and compassion, not guilt. </p>
<p>Learn the history of these places. Don’t be an ignorant American.
As for the second part–help those around you. Learn about your own community and the people in it.</p>
<p>Change starts inward. Start with yourself. Empathy and gratitude is a great start. </p>
<p>Read history, and get some perspective.</p>
<p>For the first time in the short history of the human race we have the technology to see, often in real time, awful, horrible events all over the world. Watching 24/7 news can make you feel like the world is coming apart at the seams. But in reality, and speaking generally, the human race is living in a small blip of time right now of (general) safety and prosperity. That isn’t to say that awful things are not happening out there, but that the awfulness is exaggerated in our heads because we can see everything everywhere now. </p>
<p>Just a few decades ago, TV news was on for an hour, once a day,with brief updates on the radio in between, and a (perhaps) more in-depth coverage on a few radio stations and in a daily newspaper and weekly news magazines.</p>
<p>A few decades before THAT, international news in the paper was a day or more old. Not too long ago, news from the world beyond our own village was weeks or months old, if we ever heard anything at all.</p>
<p>For most of recorded history, our news was very, very local. You wouldn’t have known about the Ebola outbreak in Africa because you would have been dealing with the black plague in your own village. War atrocities in the Middle East? You were dealing with the inquisition and tortures in your own villiage. </p>
<p>So, as others have stated, the best way of dealing with your feelings is to get involved locally. Very, very locally. Find small acts of kindness to leave the world a little bit better every day, by treating others within your own little villiage as you would like to be treated. Help the young and elderly and those in need, clean up after yourself, treat every person with respect.</p>
<p>(Probably just gave a few historically incorrect examples. Have patience with me. I probably need to read more history, myself.)</p>
<p>You know, it seems odd to me that your reaction to violent conflict in the world is to feel guilty about being wasteful and ignorant. That seems completely disconnected from what the issues are that you’re upset about. I can understand feeling like that if you read about people starving, famine, natural disasters, but intentional violence? Do you think that if, as Americans, we were more knowledgeable and less wasteful, that kind of thing would stop happening around the world?</p>
<p>There are conflicts going on around the globe that we, as Americans, can’t even understand. It’s not ignorance, it’s being brought up in a country where such hatred and atrocities are inconceivable, and THAT is one of the privileges of being an American. I hope you never have to understand these kind of things.</p>
<p>But if you really want to do something besides inappropriately feel guilty for not having to suffer the indignities of mass murder, discrimination and hatred because of your religion, I do have a suggestion. Why not resolve to do what you can to prevent violence and discrimination when you see it? Speak up when something is wrong, even though it’s easier to keep quiet. Keep your eyes open and when you see a chance to help someone, do so. Volunteer at a women’s shelter, help people affected by abuse. Or work with refugees from countries affected by war. There are plenty of opportunities to help others, locally.</p>
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<p>Americans are pretty good at launching missiles on other countries.</p>
<p>“Americans are pretty good at launching missiles on other countries.”</p>
<p>They are pretty good, especially with the drones. The difference being, of course, that we don’t purposefully launch missiles to try to kill civilians. Unlike terrorist organizations, whereas their goal is to kill civilians. There is a difference, whether you agree with the outcome or not. That is a policy dispute you can have with this administration.</p>
<p>As an immigrant, can I say:
Be grateful and proud. Reject guilt. America has always been a force for good in the world.</p>