An Ideal World = or ≠ A Perfect World?

My gears are still turning after a conversation (ok, gchat, oh the digital divide, but a subject enough for another post) with this cat.

Our conversation weaved through a multitude of topics including: white privilege, the "self-made man," being a product of our environments, ability, opportunities, affirmative action, the idea of a level playing field-and the inability to actually create one.

I am an idealist. I would prefer not to admit defeat. In my ideal world all of the children are fed, housed, and educated, and living in loving families. I had been constantly striving towards this ideal with the belief that I could make progress on it in my lifetime, and that it was achievable in generations to come. But what if the existence of our free society as we know it is dependent upon this very goal never coming to fruition?

Adam: "Because if everyone had the same opportunities how would our society function? Who would choose to serve you McDonald's if everyone had the chance to go to college? Who is going to say I have a college degree and I'm going to be a janitor?"




"Unless we change our society and live in a commune, which people tried in the 1970s in the hippie era, and failed. Communism tried it too, Marxism failed. Democratic capitalism rules the day, and requires the 'have-nots' and the haves."


That's a sad realization to come to: that if we make the progress that everyone hopes for (that I hope for), when functioning to the highest degree, we would eventually have to raise people to be have-nots in order for our society to keep working. Which means we would essentially have to choose who deserved to be a have-not. But this ideal world is all based upon the fact that no one has to be a have-not.

Is the solution to this counting on our social service programs failing so that people will slip through the cracks, and we don’t have to force them down into them? Or, modern day example: preaching strict immigration laws and then selectively reinforcing (or not reinforcing) them to fill the positions that the American society does not want.

Adam: "Let's say that the world was perfect, is that desirable? What would we fight for? What would we believe in?"

"And what is "perfect" is a man made construction, in many ways nature works perfectly, even though things die and suffer and starve, it works perfectly. We add the "moral" component of right and wrong, thus nature might be ideal right now, but not for us.
That's why the two questions are:
1) is an ideal world possible?
and 2) is an ideal world desirable?"

I said: Well, I think because we're human it's impossible, but I guess that makes me wonder if the fight is futile and worthless then, because I don't think it could actually occur. Ultimately, I wouldn't want a perfect world.

Adam: "But you might want a better one. And that's what you fight for, and you realize that it's the fight that you enjoy, and the fight that is worth it, not the destination."

"If everything was perfect and you were happy all the time you would be bored out of your fucking mind."

Yes, I would.

I’m still trying to decide if this is a sad realization I’ve just come to, or an enlightening one, or both. What do y’all think?

Man it’s been a rough week: coming to the realization that I can’t save the world, and not even so much that I can’t, but just that even if I could I wouldn’t want to AND that maybe the best place for all of these efforts isn’t in the nonprofit sector…and I’m majoring in nonprofit management (and community development!), but still, I’ve got some thinking to do.

Where have all the [idealistic] cowboys gone?

I had recently began to question where all of the idealism had gone in AIESEC.

A prime example of this: At the national conference during a networking session when we were directed to break into small groups and discuss our interests, life goals, dreams, and plans, I had to listen to a guy talk for 5 minutes about how his life goal was to make 6 figures playing online poker...he was already making 5, and he "didn't even like playing it, it's like work, but-
I guess it pays the bills."

So, your life goal is to make one more figure doing something you don't even like?

He went on to say that he "had never thought of a career or job as a place that you can make a difference."

What?! Do you know what conference you're at?

I know I shouldn't judge, but I wanted to punch him in the face and tell him to leave. He was actually anti-inspiring.

But tonight as my friends watched/helped me clean my room, Shakira's Ojos Asi came up on my playlist. I started dancing the AIESEC roll call around my room and I explained to them why I knew a choreographed dance to that song.

I was like "Yeah, you could never join AIESEC because of all the dancing, hey Alex?" (She only finds dancing acceptable if it's at a party, where the lighting is very dim, and the floor is very crowded-hence, there is no elaborate dancing going on)

She responded, "Let's be real Molly, the reason I couldn't join AIESEC is because of everyone in it's unstoppable optimism." (Alex would like to be very clear that she rolled her eyes while saying "unstoppable optimism")

So, I am going to stop questioning, and step up to the charge of being "Unstoppably optimistic." I believe that everyone will re-realize that the world can use a little idealism, a little creativity and innovation, a little flexibility and ambition, a little belief.

I am assuming that I will be completely drained of this idealism by the time I'm 40, so we might as well (no, we better) blow shit up and make a change while we've got it in us.

They might not remember, but I do: When I took Eric and Kyle's class we had a discussion about what we could do next. They said (something to the effect of): "You guys are all still young enough that you can choose a path and a career that will allow you to create the impact and change that you desire."

And I thought, how lucky am I that I get to spend all of my effort on changes that I think are important, shaping a world that I imagine it can be.

Your job can be a vehicle for change. You can be a vehicle for change. You can choose your path. You don't have to start a revolution, start by positively impacting the ten people that cross your path tomorrow; or start a revolution, too. Blow shit up. Be alive and inspired. Be Inspiring. Live the Dream.

Your 40th Birthday Party isn't going to be near the adventure that this will be, so what are you waiting for?

For my 40 and up readership (probably just my dad): I love you dearly, and your 100th Birthday Party, though impressive, will not be nearly the adventure that these next years can be, so what are you waiting for?