Indifference is defined as being emotionless. An apathy demonstrated by an absence of emotional reactions, the trait of lacking enthusiasm for or interest in things generally. This is a dictionary definition. In simple words…we do not care about what is happening around us. The worse kind of indifference is that toward other human beings. If you just stop and think for even one second, don’t you feel that we are actually indifferent to a whole lot of people? Well you might say, no because “I care for others”, “I donate money”.
‘Fake’ Generosity
Let’s start from ‘giving money’. It’s nice to be generous. There are even special times during the year where our guilt feeling grows to a point where we start spreading our money as if it’s time to sow…as if it’s the only season. But what we are actually doing is going into a denial. As if this ‘fake’ generosity will heal the problems of the world. But it will only heal our own guilt feeling for a while. But in reality nothing changes. Seems to be a negative outlook but it is reality.
We are bombarded with scenes from across the world. Some are shocking. Kids starving to death at an incredible rate per minute. Wars killing and raping innocent people across the globe. Genocides and injustices in all continents. Some times we are also fed with features about the disabled and those less in need also in Malta.
At a point in time we become generous. We seem to wake up to our senses and feel we ought to do something. So we give, we generously give out money. Our country is one of the most generous in terms of donations per person in the world. But then I ask myself , are we really giving out because we want these people to have a better life or we just calming our guilt effect? To just say… “ok I did my part, now it’s not my fault. My good-Christian duties have been fulfilled. My share of the promised heaven is secured”. And many times we give from our extra…or to make it even worse we give out because we have the chance to win something. As if the lives of those in dire need are hooked to a car or a house which I might win!
So does this ‘generosity’ make us people who are less indifferent? You might also say… “well there are worse people who don’t give anything”. But that does not make the point. The point is that we are still indifferent.
Do we really care for others?
And what about our conviction that ‘we do care for others’?
Did you see that sad look in the eyes… the loneliness in those lives…. the insecurity in that walk…. the hopelessness in those thoughts?
If we pause for just a moment and look around us we can see that we are actually surrounded by people. We often come to that point where our lives, our routines, work and study consume us to a point were we become lives for ourselves. Indifferent to the lives of others. Indifferent to the problems and qualms of those around us. Starting from our families and friends.
Poverty exists in many different forms. It is not outside our comfort zones. It is not ‘out there’. It is not the scenes on the TV. It is not far from our shores. It’s next to you.
You might be sitting right now reading this article and besides you there is your mother who is going through hell to make ends meet. Or your father who is having trouble at work. Your brother who is being bullied. Your sister who is going through a phase of low self esteem. Your friend who has problems with his/her sexuality and self acceptance. Your neighbours who are having family problems. Your school mate who has a different skin colour and so is being discriminated. Your garbage collector who is being paid lower then the minimum wage just because he is an irregular immigrant.
The list goes on and on with all kinds of people to whom we are indifferent. Go to the hospital. Yes to Saint Luke’s Hospital and later on to Mater Dei and there you see abandoned elderly people. Abandoned by their children and families because they are now considered a burden by their same family.
Go to the refugee centres, if we brush aside all controversies…just look into the eyes of those children and youngsters. Their hopes and yet the feeling being lost in this world. Not knowing where they are and what will happen to them.
Even if I stop in mentioning ‘categories’…every person passes from different moments in life. But few of those around him or her realize it. Few stop at appreciating the fact that all of us have a cross to carry. Some heavier then others. We are so concentrated on our own cross. We all believe that ours is the worse. Again…indifference. Indifference to the things that are around us. Indifferent to the great things, to the nice positive things that fill our lives.
People – the ingredients of our life
This is the real face of indifference. Not realizing that we are actually surrounded by people and other things. We only see what is affecting us and our guilt. Our immediate present. We come first, second and third. So consumed by ourselves that we miss out on so many things. We miss out on so many people.
One’s own life is nonsense without the lives of those around. I cannot imagine a life without all the people we meet. Our family, friends and all those whom we meet for a short or long time. Some of them like shooting starts…you meet them for a short time but they leave a whole mark on you.
I believe that each person we meet, each word or silence we share with another person throughout our lives, make the persons whom we are now. People are the ingredients of our own life. When you get to know some lives…then you start appreciating the spiciness of life, that behind each face lies a past and a present and hopes for the future. Yes, just look around and appreciate the fact that behind each and every person there is a story. Such is the beauty of life and yet we are many times detached from this reality.
So our growing indifference towards others is really hurting ourselves. We are no one without others. By shelling ourselves in our own cocoon, we are actually loosing on opportunities in reaching out and loosing ways on how to get to know and enrich ourselves through others.
‘Time’ – today’s diamond
Time is today’s most precious thing. It is not gold or diamonds or money but time. So being truly generous is not only by giving out money but to ‘give’ time.
Time to play with your children. Time to talk to your mum. Time to listen to your dad. Time to be a shoulder for your friends. Time to volunteer for those in need. Time to think that we are not alone in this world. Time to be less indifferent and more conscious that the world is full of people.
Giving time is the real medicine that cures the indifference that our society is creating. Luckily there are many people, young and old, who are doing something. Who dedicate their lives to find time for others. It’s up to us now to do something. To act and not be passive. Time to make a difference.
