Issues

It is sad what capitalism and greed has morphed humans into. We are becoming increasingly materialistic in this dangerous and cynical world where the rich and powerful exploit and abuse those who are weak and poor.

In this society where we are encouraged to become individualistic people with materialistic dreams, an ever distancing hierarchy of power and wealth is created. Loyalty and dedication towards employers and even friends is becoming increasingly rare, as who we identify as friends one day could be sacrificed for a quick buck.

In the rat race to accumulating so called "glory" through money and power, we tend to forget that money is only an artificial happiness that will fade as soon as it's all used up. Does being in the '100 richest men' on the latest issue of TIME magazine determine success? Does the newest and fastest Ferrari or BMW determine your status? I don't think so.

Being successful involves ethical and moral conducts. If you are a rich and powerful figure, are you able to look yourself in the mirror and say that you are true to yourself and everybody around you? Why and how have you become a who you are? Most importantly, what have you done to contribute to society?

The wealth that has been accumulated most probably came from society itself. The way you became rich was either by hoarding the wealth or exploiting the weak to generate greater incomes. The richer and more powerful people are able to gain their status by simply not contributing to society - after all, if these people donate every single penny that is not used for essential needs, there would be no hierarchy. Even so, donating is not a true way of contributing back to society; but merely a repayment of what society has given us.

Society as a whole helped create us. The society molds us into who we are; be it the schools we went to, friends and families in neighborhood, the public service workers who provide safety and security. It is very easy to forget about the input society has in our lives, as they are taken for granted.

It is far too easy to lust for the newest computer games, or complain about the highly paid office job we are working at - but more thought should be given to those who are less fortunate than we are.

Personally I don't need a religious order to tell me what is right and what is wrong. I do not need to believe in certain ideologies for reassurance that I will be able to pass on peacefully. As long as I am able to tell myself and everybody around me that I am doing my best to make a positive contribution to the world, I will not lose sleep over anything - be it for my next life or the one after that. Perhaps this is the reason why I chose to do nursing - it is because I want to make a contribution to the world as a whole and to at least attempt to make a difference to this dangerous and cynical world we are living in at the moment.

It is we who are able to read, write and make differences to this world who are responsible for the future. And it is also we who will ultimately destroy humanity if we do not take actions to change the current issues with our society.