I've once read that when we recognize one's culture, one's race, we breed violence because we recognize our differences. Differences that makes us either superior or inferior to others.
The first time I saw that quote, i reacted a bit agitated. I am a firm believer of a belief that I am a Filipino, I am an Agusanon, I am different. I love my people. I love my nation.
But that kind of mindset was 300 years old, everything has changed today.
Look at what's happening today. Wars. Terrorisms. Massacres. Name it, we already have it.
The moment we recognize our differences, we also recognize that others are superior or inferior to us. We are aware of the things that we have and the things that we do not have.
Human as we are, we'd like to think that we are rare and distinct. One of a kind. Peculiar. Sometimes, it has brought us good effects in terms of stepping up and improving one' self. But sometimes, it happens the other way around. It breeds bullying. I must say, that religions and cultural differences are the main roots of the great wars of all time.
So what does this tell us?
I am reminded by Sartre's words, "Existence precedes essence." When we think of a definite purpose for our lives, we aren't only thinking of ourselves alone, we must also think of the community that we live in.
We are as responsible to others as to how we are responsible of our own selves.
Everything that we do, beneficent or fiendish, we must always consider the world that we live in and not by the color, religion, race, socio-economic status, or culture of your so-called "world".
What goes around comes back around.
What you do to your community truly defines you and not how different you are to your community.
So if you want to live in a world full of thieves, keep on stealing. If you want to face every day inspired, find somebody to inspire first. Existence precedes essence.
If you are a student and you're tired of a corrupted government, stand up and be audibly against cheating and mediocrity in every paperwork that you must pass.
Stop pinpointing differences because at the end of the day we all are just the same humans having the same options between behaving humanely or inhumanely.