Think globally

The power of a community, a nation, is so strong. Its influence can overflow into other places and do incredible things to make powerful changes. However, we use our power to enforce our culture, laws, rules and beliefs onto other people without even thinking about it.\nA gathering of the leaders of the eight most industrialized nations took place at the G8 summit. The eight most industrialized countries working together can do more for the world in a year than any single person could do in their lifetime. They have the power to make changes, help others and, though this may sound cliché, make the world a better place. However, the lack of initiative on the part of some countries is making it difficult for our world to evolve into a great society.\nOur country is falling into more and more of a trap where we care more about ourselves than we do about many other people. We don't see or we ignore the activities in several other lands simply because we don't care or we don't feel that it matters.\nI applaud all those involved with Live8 and the One Campaign. The celebrities that took time from their own lives managed to help contribute to raise awareness. They combined their efforts in an attempt to get people to care about poverty in Africa and to not necessarily notice it, but to actually make changes to it. We have the chance to wipe out poverty but it's going to take some work. Everyone needs to take a part and be involved.\nWe buy our iPods, we buy our expensive cars, we buy things we don't really need just so we can feel better about ourselves. What about people who don't feel good ... at all? The people who live in poverty and don't have enough to eat. The people who are homeless and don't have a bed to call their own. The people who can't go to CVS and pick up medicine to feel better. When will they have a chance to buy an iPod or a car or anything they don't really need? If we don't do something, it most likely will not happen for awhile.\nThe Earth is a global community. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Our ozone layer is crumbling because some of us want to drive an SUV. Our own actions are a result of thinking individually and not globally. The U.S. is the most powerful country in the world and we always act like it. Now let's show the world what we are made of. We can make the changes to help ensure the world actually is a better place.\nLet's turn this country back to a place that isn't overrun with policy, making deals and trying to make as much money as we can. The United States of America celebrated the Fourth of July as our day of independence from oppression. When will the time come that every country can celebrate its own independence from oppression?