One of
the benefits, and at the same time, struggles about living overseas, is the
increased awareness and exposure to human suffering and injustices around the
world. While I’ve never considered
myself someone who keeps up with the news religiously, I have always checked in
with the nightly news, glanced over the local papers, and checked out links and
references through Facebook that people share.
So, I considered myself “informed”.
Boy,
was I wrong. And it makes me now realize
how uninformed the majority of US is.
In comparison to what I see here in the newspapers and through Al
Jazeera and BBC, it borders on ridiculous of how much is not reported in US
news.
But as
I mentioned in the first line, it’s a benefit and a struggle at the same time.
The
benefit is that I am much more aware of the reality of the world, other
countries, and the privilege we (as a generality about the US) have. I am full aware that terrible things happen
in the US too and there are struggles for many Americans. It’s terrible, it is. But the sheer amount of pain and suffering
experienced by all the other countries in the world is way above what the US
experiences. If you are familiar with
the joke about “first world problems”, this drives home the point how
ridiculous those problems are.
While
the average American worries about their trivial “needs” and “worries” (and this
discounts the real serious injustices and struggles that some Americans face),
Muslims in North India and Africa are living in make-shift tent cities while
being persecuted by Hindus and Christians.
Children are dying in Syrian camps daily due to the civil unrest. Workers die in factory collapses and fires in
Bangladesh making the cheap clothes we so desire in America. People are poisoned drinking and fishing in
water polluted by chemical dumps from factories in developing countries. People are slaughtered in South Sudan. Thousands are being affected by climate change from 1st world countries carbon footprint. And on and on. This is what I see reported daily in the
papers and news here, as well as through Al Jazeera and BBC.
As a
benefit, this exposure has dramatically shifted how I view my life, my
hardships, and that of my family, as well of the hardships in the US. It has made me ten-fold more grateful for
what I have and “need”. It has given me
a healthy sense of guilt whenever I complain or sulk about my life problems. And I am glad I can expose my children to
that when they grow up, and keep them worldly, aware citizens. It has also made me much more conscientious
about what I buy. If it says “Made in
Bangladesh”, I have to think long and hard about it. Unfortunately, that tag dominates the stores
here. It makes me ever more grateful for
my safety, my access to food and water, and my access to health care.
The
struggle? Knowing. Knowing the pain and suffering. Imagining the hurt, sadness, and
hopelessness these people feel and experience.
Imagining how I would feel if it was me, especially when it involves
mothers and children. Knowing that I
can’t do anything to help most of these things going on. Knowing that I will mostly likely never
experience anything like millions of people around the world experience simply
because of where I was born, the luck of the draw, and the privilege I was born
in to by no ones fault. And knowing that
my way of life contributes to some of this pain, even when I try to be careful. One cannot deny that when they buy a cell
phone or other electronic device, they are contributing to the conflicts
worldwide over the metals used and the human lives lost trying to mine them.
The
struggle is also extreme frustration with America. Sometimes it makes me so frustrated to know
that most Americans have no clue what is going on. It’s not totally their fault. How can you be aware when it’s not reported
to you? But on the other hand, it’s out
there and accessible if one chooses to find it.
It’s a choice to expand your bubble of knowledge, or to not. I know a lot of Americans think Al Jazeera
is evil because they associate it with the Middle East and terrorism, but it’s
the best news out there! It reports on
all areas of the world and posts news stories for what they are. Not biased, not padded and fluffed. Just news .
And when you actually read news like that, not only do you know what is
going on, but you realize that your view of the world and other races/ethnicities
might be wrong.
So
where do I go from here? Not back, that
is for sure. You can’t un-know things. And do I want to un-know them? Sometimes yes, but most of the time, I know
it’s for the better. It might cause me more anxiety, more sadness,
and more stress, but at least I know how I should change my life, my mindset,
and the things I do.
What I
can do is share what I know. Try to make
people more aware. Do my best to not
force it upon them, even though I want to.
There are times I am ready to shake people back home for their chosen
ignorance and refusal to acknowledge the reality of the world. I also want to shake them when they complain
about ridiculous first world problems.
But I’ll do my best to restrain.
To be calm, and to share, and to hope, just hope, people will listen. And maybe, just maybe, my life will be an
example to others. Maybe, just maybe.
