When I look around and see what is happening in the world today, I cannot help but wonder: Why is the world like this? Why is there so much crime? Why is there a war? Why is inequality the order of the day? Why are parents abandoning their children, and children also abandoning their parents? Why is it that even though life is only temporary, we still engage in all sorts of wrongdoing and live as if we are going to live forever?
Why is it that when we benefit from evil, we tend to keep quiet as if nothing happened, when in reality, something did happen?
Why do we live in a world where our success becomes another person’s sadness, and our sadness becomes another person’s joy? Why does our body prefer pleasure and sometimes embrace evil?
Why can’t we live in peace and harmony with all humans across all nations? Why do we segregate and abuse one another? Most of these things are a result of past experiences. People who were abused often grow up wanting to do the same to others. There is no remorse, no sense of humanity. For some of us, our feelings seem dead and buried. The human side of us appears lost. Why would a human even think of inflicting pain on another person to the point of killing them?
We live in a world where people talk about charity and helping the fatherless, yet they embezzle funds and commit the very evils that create the problems in the first place.
We live in a world where one person’s sadness becomes another person’s source of strength or joy. Life is both simple and difficult; it depends on the phase we find ourselves in. Imagine someone who has nothing to do and is persuaded to engage in crime — such a person might not think twice before taking up arms. Such is life. Yet we claim to be good people while still inflicting pain on others. We claim to be “born again,” yet we commit crimes at will.
For many of us, it is human nature to seek relaxation. Nobody deliberately chooses stress when they can have an easier path. This is why this generation is overly reliant on technology, often without wanting to exert much effort. Technology, as beneficial as it is, has made many of us complacent because we rely on it too heavily to get our jobs done.
Many things are at stake here. That is why many people pursue shortcuts to success. But can they truly be blamed? When society measures success by how much money one has, it becomes difficult to eradicate crime. Since people continue to sell their products and benefit from various degrees of unethical practices, little can be done about it.
In Africa, people still endure daily struggles due to economic hardship and systems that often do not function effectively compared to developed nations. I believe this is where the difference lies. Compared to the past, things were easier. Now, people are becoming less willing to endure hardship and more accustomed to a softer lifestyle.
Many people have already lost hope. The system does not enrich the poor or improve their condition; instead, it often worsens it. Different policies and different kinds of people continue to exploit others for personal gain. You see young and vibrant youths engaging in prostitution, and young adults turning to fraud to survive. Many graduates roam the streets without meaningful employment, while companies demand experience from those who have just graduated. Society celebrates only those who achieve top grades.
What then will others do? How are they expected to live their lives?
What can we do to make life better?