Quote:
Originally Posted by Jennifer5
I was catching up with Zerbie and she mentioned that she was thinking a lot about our responsibility to society.
Zerbie, if there is anything here that you did not want to share, I will gladly edit it out. I just that it was better to use the original words.
My question to all of you is, do you agree that you have a responsibility to society?
If your answer is 'yes', then what does that look like and how can you act on it.
If your answer is 'no', I'd be curious to know why.
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But since my name was mentioned, and my words quoted, here goes.
What I wrote to Jen was a conversation between the two of us, and in that context, when I wrote "our responsibility" I meant myself and Jen. It has to do with our personality type (or types, plural, but we are close in type). We each respond, in various ways, to the problems around us with a move towards reconciliation and positive growth.
If you think about the word responsibility, you probably tend to hear echos of parents and other elders talking drearily about duty and obligation. But if you listen to the word, you hear in it 'response' and 'ability.' When I referred to responsibility in addressing Jen yesterday, I spoke of that kindling in ourselves that makes us sensitive and willing to respond to society's need. In that sense, I was referring to a personality trait (inherited or learned) that involves a willingness to take action by 'responding. . . ' = response + able.
Quote:
Originally Posted by christa08
Yes and No for me.
I think I'm conflicted when it comes to issues like this (maybe I'm just conflicted all the time.  )
You just sound balanced.
I think if you want to make an impact, then yes, make it positive and loving like Zerbie said.
Only one problem: there is no way to avoid having an impact. If you withdraw into a shell, that will have an impact. If you verbally abuse children, that will have an impact. If you are the only one in the room to speak up and speak out for someone who is downtrodden and feels cut off and unloved, that will have an impact.
I think it's different for every person. For me, I want to make an impact and I plan to do that through getting a degree in Psychology and helping people and families.
When I really think about it, I don't feel a "responsibility" to anybody. I just see the hardships people experience and I want to be there for them just because I have compassion toward them. |
By what I meant with the word, yes you do feel responsibility!
Whether or not it's an obligation or a duty, hmmm, funny how I have literally never thought of that. I always thought of it in terms of an inner prompting -- that you are driven to respond.
Christa, if you see hardships and respond by wanting to be there, to offer help, support, presence, and if you act on that response, then that is social responsibility in action. It's all the more pure and profound for you being unaware of it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jennifer5
Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that might be the same thing. If you feel compassion for a stranger and want to help them, perhaps responsibility feels like the wrong word.... but at the same time I think it kinda fits.  |
That's exactly what I meant -- you feel it, you respond to it. You take action and you thus become responsible. Responsibility is not a burden; it is a strength.