Who are we

Today all of us are at different times and stages in our lives. Our lives have seen changes, sometimes hard to comprehend. Some of us have overcome the struggles and have tasted success. We attribute it to the efforts we put in to overcome the challenges. Success is what one has tasted as the fruit of labor. And there are others who have tried and failed. They continue to struggle hoping someday their lives would also change for the better. They carry the hurt, the scars but nevertheless inch their way forwards through their sweat and toil. Other than the two sects who inspire in their own way, there is another sect who either are not aware that possibilities exist if one tries and perseveres or give up even before they attempt due to herd mentality that it was the creators fault and cursed to remain with the sufferings. They know nothing better as they have defined themselves due to ignorance and poor socioeconomic status.

What is the responsibility of each of these sects described above. Should the ones who have realized their dreams rest on their laurels/successes oblivious of the surroundings. Should the ones who have failed but continue to try have lesser responsibility and those who have accepted a life of sufferings be given a pass.

To an objective observer, all three share responsibility. To what extent is a debate conservatives and liberals have and with the ideology that hardens ones position, the word compromise is trampled upon due to the purist stand both sides take and preach but never practice.

The gap between haves and have nots, the rich and the poor have widened to a great extent especially in the last decade more than ever in the past fifty years. Is it all because of the brains and risks taken by those who succeeded? Were the rules the same that created a level playing field?.

It is hard to fathom that the deficiency gap would create such a discrepancy if the rules were fair.The reach of money has seen its returns when elected officials pay their dues to the wealthy by raising or holding issues to the liking of the well to do who financed not due to their respect for the political freedom but to guarantee their wants.They have the lobbyists as the second line of defense who curry favors and carry out their white collared bribery with a finesse to get the desired result for their clients.

With the political system so fraught against the will of the people, it defies logic to continue to debate of what is right and whose share of responsibility is more.

This is the moment when all of us have to turn inwards and search our souls. Two of worlds richest men, Gates and Buffet, are giving away their wealth to make this world a better place. Many more billionaires are joining them coming to the same realization that all the accumulated wealth did not bring to them the inner peace. Many who are striving to better themselves, are seeing success materialistically and see that as the end all and hence fight tooth and nail to protect their wealth. Never does it occur to them that life has an ending and what they perceive as their greatest accomplishment dissipate when the calling comes to leave this world. Denial is the defense they use even when they witnessed the great Steve Jobs who succeeded, a billionaire with great potentials to contribute for a long time to come, had to go. Ego and pride happen to blind their eyes to the reality of what life is all about.

We all will prosper if we truly believe that we are our brothers and sisters keepers, motivating those who struggle to succeed and reaching out to those who have been handicapped at birth for just being born without any of those comfort and love we all take for granted. If we do, we all can be proud of our existence as human beings and believe in a purpose greater than oneself.