quote:
Originally posted by Silver Cheetah:
On the 'think small' and 'individuals point - yes, of course, this is valid. One's actions in normal everyday situations in normal everyday life are of the highest importance. I'm sure most activists would agree with you... what I say is, why stop there?
Never said to stop there. Aim high, expect low, and all is a bonus for you'll hit somewhere in between.
However one can receive immediate success from individuals. On larger pictures we can often never know, so we shouldn't get depressed.
Think famous artists who died in poverty and obscurity. Think Marco Polo, derided for telling falsehoods later proved truth. Leonardo De Vinci's inventions and discoveries.
The Apostles and Christians who were horrifically publicly excecuted yet who's calmness in death meant thousands converted, hungry for their peace.
Mandela. who spent half a life in gaol, seemingly destined to die in prison, cause failing, yet who's very presence in prison galvinised world support and changed his country forever.
Think the average Joe, who mentions to his mate the value of buying Dolphin safe tuna, free range eggs, and products not tested on animals. Then his mate passing on the word, then his mate.
Though it's illegal for Christians here in Singapore to publicly evangelise, this Church here of 12,000 odd is made up of 80% converts from Buddhism/Taoism (I saw 1756 people convert in one night last Easter) purely as a result of individuals simply being who they are. Their simple excercising of love, motivation, generosity and lifespark impacts on their families and all around them. No charismatic preachers "changing the world", just individuals living their lives sharing some love.
No limit to what you can do, but unless focus begins small - at individuals - how can one change millions, millions of individuals?
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