Hello all, I'm StykFigga and I am distressed.
I am a certified "gifted" child. Now, as a "gifted" child, studies show that
it is characteristic of us to worry about the world's problems as our own.
We sort of take them to the extreme. Or do we?
Every day I hear everything on the news talking about death, destruction, poverty... all this horrible stuff. And I wonder, "Don't those news anchors get depressed?" Well... DON'T THEY?
Do they actually hear the grim words coming in professional monotone from their mouths every day? Don't they understand what they're telling us? I'm sure they've heard the expression, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news." But do they, don't they hate it? It doesn't seem like it. Not so long as their salaries are as high as they are.
Now, was that taking it to the extreme? Didn't that sound truthful? Realistic? Believable? I thought so. So now, if all the world's problems are as real as the news anchors say they are, why is it that when I worry about them, it is thought as extreme?
It's simple: it scares them. It frightens people. Because really, it is they who are on the other end of the extreme. They simply don't want to hear it. They block it out. They become purposefully ignorant.
When I hear about these horrible things going on in the world, I want to
change them. But what really drives me insane, what really makes me cry
myself to sleep at night, or gaze sadly out my classroom window and refuse
to do any work, what REALLY makes me angry, is: I AM JUST A CHILD.
I can't stop world hunger, I can't help it if the atmosphere is deteriorating. If there are homeless people still on the streets of Toronto or anywhere else, if teenage girls are being raped or murdered, if the lakes and rivers are being filled with sludge and slime and toxic waste, I CAN'T DO ANYTHING. I try to do my share. I recycle, I turn off whatever electric appliance I'm not using, I try to compost whatever I can, I don't eat animals. But it's just not enough. I can't change the world.
Not on my own.
So that's why I'm writing to the Times. I want all people on Whyville to see
this. I want them to be aware of the evils in this world. And I want them to
act. Perhaps one twelve-year old child who recycles can't save the world,
but four thousand children could make a difference. I want you all to be
aware of what goes on on our little planet.
Thank you for listening,
StykFigga
