Pause & Reflection
- S. A. Gibbs
- Aug 24, 2016
- 2 min read
Hanging in my hotel room in New York City, I decided to relax by watching the Rio Olympics. There was a brief coverage of the Rio favelas; extremely poor neighborhoods perched in the hills overlooking the City. I became outraged by the extreme wealth of the privileged few as they were ferried by helicopter to the rooftop landing pads of their skyscraper
s. How could such wealth exist with what appears such callus ambivalence to the plight of less fortunate people.
After recharging my batteries, I walked from my hotel to the Hell’s Kitchen district for dinner. The streets were alive with people, diverse in age and ethnicity. You couldn’t help but feel alive knowing that you were in one of the world’s great cities. The excitement however helps distract your attention from so many people on the streets suffering from acute levels of economic hardship, drug addiction and mental health problems. The stories behind the eyes of so many people must be gut wrenching.
Reaching my diner destination, I heard a loud rumbling and looked up to see a Maserati roaring through the intersection. In the seats behind the abundant horsepower and statement of excess were two younger professionals with the passenger’s foot propped up on the dashboard. Where were they going, escaping the City for their homes in the Hamptons or some equally lavish abode. Maybe they were good guys, but the juxtaposition of such wealth with the downtrodden can’t help but shake you at your very foundation.
In my second phase of life I have become increasingly hostile to a system that seems rigged for the insiders. It’s not jealousy on my part and I do realize that hard work can raise people out of such depths. Nevertheless, in general, I believe the system is not fair and the institutions that we have historically believed in and relied upon have failed us. Thus, why I have become a libertarian. As I navigate my second phase of life driven by my pursuit of self-actualization and passion, I must remain humble and thankful for the things that have been bestowed on me. Sure, I have worked hard. I have earned what I have. However, I must accept my luck of being raised under a roof with ample food, clothing, and the opportunity of education. In my journey I pledge not to turn a deaf ear to those less fortunate and to always lend a helping hand when I can. I’m not judging you; I’m just holding myself accountable to my humanity.
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