Living Justly or Just Living?

Are we living justly or are we just living? Have we gone through this class saying that were going to try to make a difference or are we really going to try? If we are going to try, are we going to try consistently or are we going to try when someone needs us? I can’t answer for everyone in the class but we all have to figure this all out ourselves. There is one thing that I can say about the people in this class is that something has changed in the way we view food and the community. The thing we all need to ask ourselves is: are we going to act on what we say or we just going to sit around while knowing exactly what to do to make a difference?

No one in this class is a bad person; we are all genuinely good people. But doing absolutely nothing with what we learned is exactly what Kidder describes as people who are not meeting expectations. “It's like a guy on our own team, a nice guy, who said he would help with a water project in a town here, but only if the people really showed they wanted it” (291). We seriously need to do something with the information that we have learned from this class because there are a lot of people that don’t know anything about nutrition, community building with food, and eating locally. We have always stressed that there needs to some sort of education for people about what we learned in this class. So why don’t we just start by telling people (people we know for starters) about the things we have learned. Is that not going to make a difference in someone’s life?

Now I know I’m writing about how we should be doing things but I’m definitely not doing as much as I could. All I’m doing right now is informing people about what I’ve been learning in this class with my family and some friends. Sometimes I’ll get the occasional “I don’t care” but sometimes I’ll get a “really? Wow!” and it makes things easier for me to tell people about random facts about community and food. But I know I can do more, I receive emails from Marin Organic but I can never show up because I’m busy with my own personal life. I need to step up but I’m doing what I can. I’m trying my best to live justly not just live.

Observation and Application (from Courtney)

Paul Farmer clearly sets a heroic example for the rest of the world. But instead of idolizing the man, like a defenseless infant looks up at the fireman who saved its life, his example is best honored by following it. His efforts have ultimately manifested on a worldwide scale, as noted by Kim Jim when the World Health Organization adopted new prescriptions for dealing with MDR-TB, who wrote to Tracy Kidder, “the world changed yesterday (299).” However, what strikes me most about this statement is that Kim Jim did not say, “Paul Farmer changed the world yesterday.” This distinction may seem trite, but upon closer inspection, it reveals itself as the mountain beyond the immediate mountain. Furthermore, he seems to have managed the most daunting mountain above all: Pride. Pride has scared me out of taking action countless times. I had such a strong desire, but never could I manage the fact that affecting change upon the world takes time. I wanted to be world-renowned for impacting the world in a positive way, and I believed that I could, but I didn’t want to admit that true belief goes beyond thought. Until I began treating people I met every day the way I believed the world should be treated, without any recognition other than the internal sense of strength, I hadn’t truly believed what I thought.

Just about everyone on Earth can recognize a problem when certain veils are lifted, but few reach the conclusion that global problems affect them personally. And barely anyone actually takes responsibility and acts to solve such problems as Farmer has. This colloquium also struck me, which is why I decided to take the classes over medieval studies or some-such option. I want to help change the world, but the things that need changing are almost inextricably entwined and stacked upon one another that taking action requires a superhuman level of focus. However, recognizing that the simple, local injustices are powerful indications or symbols of the complex, global injustices has made action seem more plausible. Conversely, Farmer stands as a powerful symbol for the simple, local solutions that eventually turned into their own massive movement.

The Little Things Matter (from Pedro)

“If you do the right thing well, you avoid futility… ‘You have to believe that small gestures matter, that they add up to something’” (295). This statement is very true and I agree with it 100 percent. I always hear people say that they didn’t do something because it wouldn’t make a difference, for example, voting. They see themselves as just one really small person in the world and that they can’t make any change but this is not true. I know from experience that you do not necessarily have to change the entire world to do some good. Even just changing one persons world, can fill you up inside with happiness and love. Honduras is a third world country where my family is from and I visit every 2-4 years because I have family over there. Going over there and seeing some of the poverty and the way the kids live makes me really sad, so I always try to do what I can for them. I know that I have a lot of clothes that I do not wear all the time, therefore I always leave them clothes that they can wear. I know they love the soccer stuff I leave them, to see the smile on their face just for a piece of material really makes me appreciate what I have and makes me want to give back to those who do not have that privilege. I know it doesn’t come close or compare to what Paul Farmer has done but making someone happy or doing something good for another person can make you feel really good, especially if you are doing it with a kindness and happiness in your heart. Now I know why my mom is always so happy to watch us open our presents on Christmas morning. The little things do add up.

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"If you do the right thing well, you avoid futility. . .'You have to believe that small gestures matter, that they do add up'" (295)

Step by step, little by little, we will eventually get there. As Dr. Seuss once wrote, "A person is a person no matter how small." Many people do not realize how much power or significance they truly possess. Even a small statement has its own effect in the world. If people realized their ability to make such differences, maybe they would not be so hard on themselves. In some cases, instead of just not acknowledging their potential, some people are crippled by the fear alone that they are capable of change. "Why me? I am just an average joe or jane." People need to fully embrace it and recognize that they are really are the masters of their own destiny. It does not matter whether you are a male or female, young or old, black and white or rainbow. Several of us tend to pass aside the torch of responsibility once they are given it. In contrast, when we lack power, we tend to try and achieve it. As this colloquium class learned from reading Love and Power, it displays the same epic battle between love and power. It is difficult to find the desired happy medium of the two mentioned subjects. In the book, it is mentioned continuously that stumbling and falling happens frequently during the process of finding the much yearned for balance. These trips and whatnots are almost like requirements for such change to occur. Relating back to the original point, it is key to realize that sometimes a fall during the road of success can also help you not delay you as some tend to act as such. A trip or fall or stumble could only delay you or disable you if you let it. They could be the assets or stepping tools for such progress, such development, such change. Realizing one's true potential or even the tiniest thing could do so much, maybe the world would be a better place. It would not just be a place of reluctancy and hestitance. TAKE A STEP UP!! LOOK AT YOURSELF NOT THE GUY NEXT TO YOU! If one desires a change so bad, realize instead of expecting one, be the change. As the quote goes, "be the change you wish to see in the world."

"If you do the right thing well, you avoid futility. . .'You have to believe that small gestures matter, that they do add up'" (295) This quote represents a theme that has been present to myself through out this semester. I used to think that even helping out in the slightest way could make a difference. I seriously never considered that I could really impact and help make positive changes in someones life. Of course there is the exception of my family and friends but I did not think that by just talking and spreading the word about what we have been learning in class could affect someone. Now in my future I want to spend more time being out in the community informing people of the knowledge I have gained and will continue to gain from this class. Healthy eating, sustainable living and just being more aware of every day life.

"I imagine that many people would like to construct a life like Farmer's, to wake up knowing what they ought to do and feeling that they were doing it right. But I can't think that many would willingly take on the difficulties, giving up their comforts and time with family." (213). I believe that this quote holds true for many people, including myself. I would love to be able to wake up and know exactly what I am doing with my life is actually helping others and making a positive impact on this planet. However I know that having that luxury is not very realistic hence why so many people feel trapped and small in this world. I think that if everyone could realize that we all have the power to make changes, even if they are small ones, the world would be a better place. It is OK to feel intimidated by the largeness of this world but instead of hiding behind ones fear we need to embrace the endless opportunities we have and need to take full advantage of the power we have inside.

Lost War

“Why do we intervene as aggressively with one kid and not with?” was a question asked by the doctor interviewed in this book (286). It is an interesting issue when it comes to the medical world, because it involves health. More importantly it involves the issue of morals and intention. There are always going to be times when our morals will be tested. A lot of people will do many good deeds when they know that other people will be watching, but will not lift a finger when the cameras are off. The same goes to supporting seemingly lost causes. This can refer to war, or disease, or sports, but the example in this excerpt involve that of allowing the most seriously injured individuals to get help first. This has always been a major issue for those who don’t have the resources available. When this situation occurs, a distinction has to be made as to who is suffering the most, but has a chance to survive (287). A smaller example of this refers to the “good Samaritan” scenario. When a driver on the highway spots someone who needs help, a part of the decision to help will involve the appearance of the individual. What this means is that when they will spot a person in need of help and if they look attractive or the problem seems minor, an attempt to help will be made, priority will be made to those people even if a quick solution cannot be found. Throughout this semester I have read traces of this principle and was illustrated when I did my gleaming project. They send out produce to local schools in the area knowing that there will still be students getting their proper nutrition.

It adds up

After a semester long of learning about food, specifically how we should eat it, what we should eat, and how we should distribute it, has come to an end. And what do we have to account for it? I believe, that everyone in this Colloquium class, has always and will probably always have a different idea of what we learned, and what we should take from this class. I know, on my own personal view, I came into this class clueless and not sure how I felt about my own diet and the world food system. Now, after ten weeks, I have realized I need to pay more attention to what I eat, and focus more on how I can help to make my part. Yes, I still have some reservations, but I am not being close minded to accepting any change, as I most likely would have at the beginning of the semester.
Just as Farmer describes his power: Doctoring is the ultimate source of his power, I think. His basic message is simple: This person is sick, and I am doctor. Everyone, potentially, can understand and sympathize, since everyone knows or imagines sickness personally. And it can’t be hard for most people to imagine what it would be like to have no doctor, no hope of medicine” (295). I would like to think as our class’s simple message of power is similar to Farmer’s: Food is the ultimate source of power, I think. Our basic message is simple: This person is hungry and needs help, we are people and can help. Everyone, potentially, can understand and sympathize, since everyone knows or imagines food personally. And it can’t be hard for most people to imagine what it would be like to have no food, no hope of health. We all saw a need in the School Lunch Program, so we helped with our power by gleaning and educating youth. We were even able to raise money to transport students so they could glean on their own. Whether we would like to accept it or not, we have all made a difference by being in this class to the School Lunch Program. While some have helped more than others, and some don’t see it, we have made some change in at least one student’s life to pay attention and eat a little healthier, because we were there---to go gleaning with them, or to educate them on eating healthy.
We have all made a change to the Marin School Lunch Program. I have even made a change to my food lifestyle, as of recently, and I am sure I am not the only one. Although things may seeem futile in the beginning, small gestures “add up”. Just as our change to the lunch program will help students eat healthier. Just as I will get a healthier life. These gestures only continue to grow, bring hope, and make a change.