Here in the US, we celebrate ‘Independence Day’ today, but I thought it would be nice to take a moment and reflect on the interdependence that characterizes our society and our world. In reality, we are all interdependent. We rely on our environment, our friends, our families, and others around the world for our survival, whether we consciously think about it or not.
You don’t have to look far for evidence of this – just look at how the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is having broad impacts on society and the way of life of millions of people. Those of us who live hundreds or thousands of miles away rely on the region, just as the region relies on us. It is a complex web that shows us how we are all connected in one form or another.
This interdependence is not a weakness, but it is quite possibly our greatest strength. Together, we can achieve more than any one person or nation ever could. We have the capacity to meet immense challenges when we harness our collective strength and will. I can’t think of a more important time for that to happen than right now.
So today, let’s take a moment and remember that while we rejoice in our nation’s independence, we really do live in an interdependent world and always have. Enjoy this time with your friends and families and reflect on how much we really do rely on each other. I believe this is the best gift you can give on this holiday.
Photo: Wikimedia
2 Comments
I was re-watching John Adams on HBO yesterday and today and it is a good show to use as an example of interdependence. 13 states and many people had to come together to fight the most powerful nation in the world at that time. Was it easy? No! Was it messy? Yes, very! Did people get hurt? Yes many! Was it worth it? I think so and I also think that the golden years for the USA are ahead of us not behind us.If people can come together to do a better job of harnessing energy for the good of people, creating technology that allows us all to have a better life, while at the same time not causing harm to our environment, and creating alliances that take care of all the worlds people and animals the Earth and the USA have a very bright future indeed.
Thanks for the perspective Harry. This was very well put. Being the eternal optimist, I also believe we have much to look forward to. There is a lot of creative energy that is building up and can be a very powerful force for good when it is unleashed and embraced. So much opportunity out there for us to realize!Thanks for the comment.