Change Lisa Lavalle
I found Bruce Mau to be an engaging character. Although I didn't really agree with much of what he said about change on a massive scale. I feel he was a bit optimistic about the current state of the world and the amount of change that is possible. At times I was annoyed with his grandious ideas. I was particularly irritated when he declared that "He didn't care about about the growing gap between the rich and poor." I believe if the situation was reversed and he was poor instead of being a successful designer, he might feel differently. Many of the poorest of the U.S. and the world, struggle every day just to survive. The poor often have no insurance, no benefits (vacations, sick time, 401k's), and no hope. I don't agree with Bruce's view that if the rich get richer, that the poor will benefit in any way.
Do I agree that the world is a better place now than it ever was? NO! We have terrorist attacks on a grander scale than ever before. Hurricane Katrina caused unnecessary deaths because the government wasn't concerned about getting the poorest of New Orleans evacuated. We have a government that is slowly stripping away our freedoms. We spend hundreds of billions of dollars on a war that should never have occured in the first place. Think of how much good 350 billion dollars could have done for the poor, for medical research, for research into alternative energy...
Massive change can only occur if the richest in the world got together and helped to make that change happen. Unfortunately, many of the rich are interested only in getting richer, often at the expense of the working class and the poor. This is not to say that none of the rich are creating change. There is Oprah Winfrey (gave ten million for Katrina relief), Bon Jovi (one million for hurricane relief), John Mellencamp's ongoing fight to help the farmers of the U.S. etc. I believe change is happening everyday on a small scale, by students getting involved in issues (GVSU students are particularly active in good causes), and acts of kindness by ordinary people.
Personally, I try to to create change whenever I can. I try to raise people's awareness about injustices, stop to help those in need, turn as many people onto art as possible, I listen to what people have to say. I give to as many causes that I can afford to: Salvation Army, United Way etc. I have walked to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis and Diabetes. I just try to make a difference in as many people's lives as possible.
Lisa LaValle
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