1 week Ago
A quote attributed to Mahatma Gandhi is working overtime in policy, speeches, and enforced nationalism these days: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” It’s a standard scolding to anyone who excessively relies on an external power for change, be it a teacher, parents, or one’s government. The actual phrase from Gandhi, however, is neither as simple nor as short.
“As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. We need not wait to see what others do.” The spirit of this quote is far more nuanced than telling people to change themselves.
The idea of pushing for individual change, after all, can easily be abused by anyone in power, and can easily be harnessed by anyone who wants to do things without accountability. A current example: When children are made to sing hymns or make pledges about their responsibility to their country’s progress and prosperity by giving all their talents and time to serving the country—while reminding themselves that they have to participate in government because the work of citizenship is not the work of a few. Noble, except that they have to sing this while a Senate hall is being built at exorbitant prices; politicians hang out at parties and negotiate who gets to drink what and when while fumbling over hearings in aid of legislation; law enforcement can’t get its act together to capture a sex offender; and our fishermen and soldiers can’t even sail in our waters because of supposed.
