I'm 14 (technically not a child, though still young I admit), and there are a lot of things in the world I'm not happy with. But mentioning "the world would be better if"s obviously seems naive to some people. These people would roll their eyes at me and murmur something offensive under their breath (pretending that I can't hear) at the mere mention of "can't we find a better way to solve problems than attacking each other?".
Yes, children everywhere probably wish there was no such thing as war. But aren't these children our future? Can't these children some day find a civilized way of solving issues (as opposed to chucking bombs at each other)? Following this logic, shouldn't people (especially young people) be encouraged to think of the world this way? Or is there something that I'm missing?
I am proud of any child who wants the world to change for the benefit of the all. Does that make me naive?
2006-07-15 09:55:48 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
no
2006-07-15 09:58:04 · answer #1 · answered by jason r 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi Larissa
Utopian ideals have been around since man first had the ability to envision the future.
Sounds like you have way too much on your plate.
Relax.
The positive always wins in the long run.
The changes are very minute and therefore hard to perceive.
Look back just a hundred years and observe all the good changes that have taken place, and you can then imagine what wonderful changes will happen over the next hundred years.
Yes, many lives will be sacrificed in the process of sorting things out, but education, and you are a good example, will win.
There will be peace on this planet some day.
2006-07-15 10:12:12 · answer #2 · answered by r_e_a_l_miles 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO, you sound like a beautiful person. Utopian ideas are totally respectable. I am 40 years old and a guy, I have served my country in uniform as a Marine Ranger on Border Patrol and Fisheries Protection. I wish I hadna had to do it. But do you know what? I still cherish my utopian ideas. Those with poisonous minds will always roll their eyes at you and swear at you under their breath. Forget them, they are defeated souls and part of the problem. As you get older you will notice most of your friends give up and give in. It can get a bit lonely sometimes. There's a little song which keeps me going, its an old Bob Marley song called "Small Axe"
"If you are the big tree, we are the small axe, sharpened to cut you down, well sharpened to cut you down."
Another artist from New Zealand, a hiphopper called Che Fu put it like this "set your sights and chip away."
Every small positive action you take will make the world a better place, every negative action you avoid having to take makes the world a better place. Keep courage, and remember, when it gets tough, you are not the only one and we are all striving in the same direction. Children are smarter than adults and if you aren't careful you will get dumber as you get older. I know I'm not as clever as I was before, but I still try to remember the things I knew when I was young and bright. Much respect to you my friend. Keep going. It is your generation which has a fresh chance and with each generation it gets a little further forward. Now it that isn't idealism I don't know what is. And I'm an old dude and I still got it.
Cheers.
2006-07-15 10:12:22 · answer #3 · answered by gcaisle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are absolutely on the right track! Don't listen to the people who tell you that you are childish or naive because you want the world to be a better place. There are a lot of adults who agree with how you think.
Yes, the children are the future of this world and I think they all should be taught to resolve problems without fighting and/or war.
I am 33 years old and I agree with you wholeheartedly. I am very proud of you that you are able to hang onto this way of thinking. Never let it go and you will make a difference in this world!
2006-07-15 10:16:06 · answer #4 · answered by mynx326 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and no on the nieve question. The assumption children everywhere don't want war is wrong. To assume that everyone thinks like you is what is nieve. To want peace and to speake out for it is respectable. The fact is just because you as a child have these ideals, respectable in my views. Does not mean another child will. In Iraq six year olds are calling for jihad (holy war) and nine year olds call for the destruction of America. Other children there who have been affected by war and U.S. bombs just want to survive, they don't care about peace, and there thoughts are respected. In Africa children plagued with HIV are suffering so horrificly that money is spent on food and treatment, not global intamacy. Sadly their civil wars don't stem peace but more war. In America people can't stay married for more than a year, they don't respect people enough. People are different and until we celebrate the differences rather than change them we will be in a world of war. Don't give up or you become a cynical adult, but realize that everyone thinks differently and thats the key.
2006-07-15 10:08:38 · answer #5 · answered by me 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In evaluating anything it is best to have both a realistic assessment and a high minded ideal.
To use a simple example, honesty. No one is honest to everyone all of the time. Yet almost everyone values honesty a great deal. So, do we abandon it all together because perfect honesty is nearly impossible? Of course not. Rather we strive for the ideal of honesty day in and day out. We'll probably never achieve complete honesty, but by keeping the ideal in mind we do better than we would without the goal to aim for.
2006-07-15 10:01:17 · answer #6 · answered by du_robot 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. not really. But naive to think it will happen, at least in your lifetime.
For the world to be peacful, let alone allowing everyone to live freely and not be starving is...well....kinda hopeless. I just think there's too many people. It'd be alot easier if every country only had like...100,000 people in it. But they don't.
Ironically, it might take a gigantic war that kills most of the world's population to help the peace process.
2006-07-15 10:01:41 · answer #7 · answered by send_felix_mail 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stay with it Larissa, It's young people like you who will eventually turn this whole world around. I won't go on and on about it, you seem to have given it a great deal of thought. Just do your best to not let outside pressures change your basic point of view. You'll be fine and no, you are not naive!
2006-07-15 10:02:06 · answer #8 · answered by Dahs 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Utopia is in the eye of the beholder. Be careful what you wish for.
2006-07-15 10:01:23 · answer #9 · answered by xx_muggles_xx 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not really, but making the world a better place is not easy. and i don't think we could eliminate war, but its respectable that you want to.
2006-07-15 09:59:35 · answer #10 · answered by xbeautifulxnightmarex666 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well... yes and no.
So long as "man" is in charge and places himself above God, there will, (unfortunately), never be peace in the world!
2006-07-15 10:09:43 · answer #11 · answered by love_2b_curious 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋