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BlogComm
COMM 3030 - Communication and Social Responsibility
Responsibility of the Individual
Posted posted by Kyle @ 3:06 PM
It is amazing to me the way in which tragic and horrific events have the paradoxical effect of bringing out the best in people; yet in times of peace and prosperity people can have a relatively cold and callused indifference toward one another. In a recent class discussion of this issue the example of September the 11th was brought up and I thought to myself how truly amazing it was that an event that promised to be one of the nations darkest hours conversely resulted in a country wide out-pouring of unabashed love and concern for fellow countrymen.I then thought of another more personal example. Recently, my grandmother suffered a life threatening health issue which put her in the hospital. She eventually made a full recovery but during the time she was in the hospital I visited her everyday. We had wonderful conversations and I found myself looking forward to my daily visits with her. Before my grandmother’s hospitalization I rarely looked for opportunities to have this sort of contact with her. It saddens me that it took a tragic event, like almost loosing her, for me to appreciate how nice it is to spend time with her.
As individuals we must overcome the mentality of turning to one another only in times of tragedy. It would be a powerful force for change if we could all make the paradigm shift of caring no matter what the circumstance, of reaching out to both loved ones and strangers and of putting the needs of those around us before ourselves.
I am including with this blog a poem that I read a long time ago which I think compliments the theme of personal responsibility perfectly. I haven’t been able to find the author.
A Builder or a Wrecker?
I passed one day through a lonely town,and saw some man tearing a building down.With a "heave" and "ho" and a husky yell,they swung a beam and a side wall fell.I asked the foreman "Are these men skilled?The type you'd hire if you had to build?""Oh no" he chuckled, "oh no indeed,the common laborer's all I need.Why I can destroy in a day or two,what builders have taken weeks to do."I thought to myself as I walked away,which of these roles have I tried to play.Am I a builder, who works with care,making his tools a ruler and square.Shaping my peers to a well made plan,helping them be the best they can.Or am I a wrecker who walks around,content with the labor of tearing down.
