What’s Important?

The news is filled with many topics. Some are interesting, some funny, and others gossipy. Still others are educational, inspirational or downright newsworthy. Of the latter I would include the following:

• Ebola outbreak; when is it classified a plague?
• ISIS rampage across Syria, Iraq; where will it extend to?
• World response to ISIS; will multi-lateral forces strafing ISIS in foreign territory increase change of a regional war?  Why is Saudi Arabia sitting this out?
• State of International Peace: what are the trouble spots? (Iran nuclear program; Syria civil war; Libya civil war; Egypt leadership challenges; African nations and their leadership issues; et.al.)
• Russian adventures to unsettle eastern Europe; re-sovietization?
• North Korea and who will maintain peace in the region for the international community?
• Global warming, climate change
• Economics 2014 and 2015: where are we headed and when? How can we improve on the results? Wealth gap issues? Middle Class survival?
• Technology: tool or master of our destiny?
• Educational health of our nation: are students getting what they need to succeed? What age students?
• Global Community, Global Economy? Do all prosper?
• Persistent drought conditions; where? How to manage the issues, repair the damage, and solve the problem long term?
• World Health and Medical Service Access: how do we raise the level of health care for the most people on Earth? Who bears the responsibility and cost?  Leadership?
• Arts: what role does it play in human destiny, health, and life quality?
• Energy independence globally: how do we meet our own needs and help other nations to do the same?
• Housing: What is the new norm? What standards should be followed? How do living standards globally get improved? Who leads?

This list can go on and it should. The list should then be categorized to some extent for solid focus, then prioritized as to which ones are truly most important for the long term good of humankind. 

With that list interested people could commit to do something about the topics to improve on them, to improve on the history of mankind.  Wouldn't that be nice!

However – you knew there was a however! – we are subjected to endless celebrity news,

Interesting tidbits about fashion, food, wine, travel and much more. Interesting to some, of course; but fascinating and life changing?  Hardly. No there are other things we ought to matter to us.

Instead we are distracted by the things that allure to the lowest common denominator among us.  Pitiful.

There are real issues and real goals we ought to be working on. That work is challenging, fun and rewarding all in its own way. In some fashion or other I've been about that most of my life. I haven’t always focused on the most important, but in the end what I have done matters to others. That’s all I can wish for.  And I feel pretty certain the wish will come true.

Can you tell the world that what you have focused your life on has made a difference in the lives of others? Even a little?  Bravo!

Now about the others,…

September 24, 2014