Wednesday, January 20, 2010

FIGHTING SOMEONE ELSE'S WAR (DON'T YOU HAVE YOUR OWN?)

It is strange how most of us feel much more at ease fighting other people's fights. It is as if by championing other people's causes, we will be seen as heroes or at least, someone who finds injustice and inequality totally intolerable and abhorrent. A borderless world does not necessarily mean that one can simply butt in and embrace whatever he or she fancies as a cause to fight for. We usually don't hesitate when it comes to accusing other people as trying to be the World Police or the Region Police or whatever Police there is but do we really notice our own faults when we ourselves poke our heads and stick our noses in someone else's crisis simply to show that their fight is our fight and their cause is our cause. It's easier being an unpaid commentator or a partial accomplice who adds fuel to a fire when one is not in the middle of the warzone itself. There is nothing wrong with picking a side but make sure the choice is right and not influenced by emotions or harbored by any ill feeling. Any fighting quarters will appreciate any support they can garner but we have to be careful which side we are on. Are we willing to be there when the going gets really tough or will we back off when we can't stand the heat anymore or when we know we have chosen the wrong side? Most of the time, we will (I know I will) opt for the second one since not many people are willing to put their asses in the frying pan if they can help it. Our initial involvement might just be an indication of our true nature : a meddler, a gossip monger, a busybody, an opportunist or whatever name that fits. Being sympathetic is good but is that sympathy genuine? If not, look deep into our souls and question our conscience. Don't simply butt in, don't even interfere, don't try to pry or in simple, plain English, mind our own affairs! Fight our own war. Find our own cause. Battle our own demons. Champion our own right. Don't be a meddler but be a true fighter. We don't have to prove to others that we are heroes. We only have to do it to ourselves.