Thinking about how one can join theory and practice and actually live by one’s higher ideals I thought of Cory Booker. Cory Booker is the man who after an all Ivy League education and a comfortable childhood decided to go and live in the most dangerous part of Newark one of the deadliest cities in the US. He went on to become the mayor after he lost the first election because of unfair campaigning techniques used by his opponent Sharp James (I invite everybody to see Street Fight the documentary that shows this story). Today he his changing Newark for the better and I think he can be a positive role model and inspirational force no matter who you are. I recently sent a letter to him sharing with him some of my thoughts and hopefully seeking an opportunity to help in Newark a city that needs a lot of work; here are some excerpts of what I wrote:
I see the world going in a certain direction and contrast that to my utopian image of how the future should be; I must confess that it makes me nervous to see an ever widening gap between the two. My goals, I hesitate to call them a “vision”, seem to be getting farther and farther away from what the probable reality will be. I often think of pursuing a career in politics, but then tend to shy away from the idea because of a fear that I would have to compromise my values or be obliged to please strong interest groups. (…) I still don’t know exactly what I want to do when I “grow up”, however I do know that I want to do good in the world. It may sound banal or even childish, but it’s true. Moreover, I have examples in front of my own eyes that it is possible to do so: people such as you and Paul Farmer are an everyday inspirational force behind my actions. I have already started to take some small steps in my community: I coordinate a program that helps underprivileged kids by tutoring them in math and reading and I also founded a political awareness club in my school. In addition, I took an active part in Barack Obama’s campaign as I volunteered with New Jersey Blue Wave, a very valuable experience that taught me many things.(…) I’m talking about more than just fundraising to give money to less fortunate people, but rather I believe that an active involvement in one’s community, city, state and country are what can make a difference. After all, we are all Americans. (…)What I want to talk to you about is the drive that pushes me to be an active citizen carrying out my moral and ethical duty towards a society that today has the opportunity and the capacity to offer a decent existence to all of its citizens. I am not arguing for a particular economic or political ideology, that’s not the point; too often we are divided by minutia and we fail to envision the bigger picture. I am talking about a civil society that should be able to provide a dignified life to everybody because in 2009 this should be an absolute moral imperative and a part of everybody’s conscience.
http://www.corybooker.com/
http://www.pih.org/
I see the world going in a certain direction and contrast that to my utopian image of how the future should be; I must confess that it makes me nervous to see an ever widening gap between the two. My goals, I hesitate to call them a “vision”, seem to be getting farther and farther away from what the probable reality will be. I often think of pursuing a career in politics, but then tend to shy away from the idea because of a fear that I would have to compromise my values or be obliged to please strong interest groups. (…) I still don’t know exactly what I want to do when I “grow up”, however I do know that I want to do good in the world. It may sound banal or even childish, but it’s true. Moreover, I have examples in front of my own eyes that it is possible to do so: people such as you and Paul Farmer are an everyday inspirational force behind my actions. I have already started to take some small steps in my community: I coordinate a program that helps underprivileged kids by tutoring them in math and reading and I also founded a political awareness club in my school. In addition, I took an active part in Barack Obama’s campaign as I volunteered with New Jersey Blue Wave, a very valuable experience that taught me many things.(…) I’m talking about more than just fundraising to give money to less fortunate people, but rather I believe that an active involvement in one’s community, city, state and country are what can make a difference. After all, we are all Americans. (…)What I want to talk to you about is the drive that pushes me to be an active citizen carrying out my moral and ethical duty towards a society that today has the opportunity and the capacity to offer a decent existence to all of its citizens. I am not arguing for a particular economic or political ideology, that’s not the point; too often we are divided by minutia and we fail to envision the bigger picture. I am talking about a civil society that should be able to provide a dignified life to everybody because in 2009 this should be an absolute moral imperative and a part of everybody’s conscience.
http://www.corybooker.com/
http://www.pih.org/
This is good stuff. Unfortunately in this country there is no real push for a change. But keep it up anyways.
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