ONE Campaign Changing the World

As a change of pace, my post today will not be negative, or angry in nature, but instead hopeful. The ONE Campaign is a coalition of Americans from all walks of life, joined together as one, in a fight against global poverty and disease around the world. With the motto “Powered by you,” the ONE Campaign is based on the idea that everyone has a voice and united we can make a difference. The campaign was launched in 2000 by the joint efforts of 11 American aid groups who were inspired by the signing of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, which was signed by 189 nations around the world. This coalition of Americans inspiring other Americans is a sign of great changes that are occurring in this nation that have the potential to change the world. As cliché as that might sound, the ONE Campaign proves that we must change the way we think, in order to change the way we act. Since its start, the ONE Campaign has inspired over two million Americans to stand up and demand their voices be heard and now its satellite campaign, ONE Vote’08 is encouraging the American public to insist that the presidential candidates make ONE goals part of their campaigns. Over the past year, ONE Vote’08 has successfully stopped foreign aid budget cuts by having over 100,000 members sign a petition, encouraged President Bush to visit Africa, and had all presidential candidates pledge their support to the campaign. This is what is going to change the public school system, end American isolationism, and hopefully change the world. You may be wondering how a campaign to end poverty is also going stop ignorance, but it’s simple, CHANGE THE WAY AMERICANS THINK. The ONE Campaign asks Americans to think and act as if they are equal to all humans, and not superior to those living abroad. It also asks Americans to see human existence and the world as connected, with every culture, society, and individual affecting each other. When the American public begins thinking this way, they will also begin acting this way, joining together as ONE in order to solve the world’s problems. We must remember that Americans are not necessarily ignorant because of the lack of historical facts they have memorized, or because of their math scores, they are ignorant because of how they think and view the world. If this still does not make sense, I suggest you read Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, it is a life-changing book that should be read by everyone. More importantly, we much understand that we are not superior; not only as Americans, but as humans and that this change in thinking is something that must occur with all humans, not just those living in America.