The world is shrinking. The electronic age is here and as a result, events happening all over the world have instant impact on each one of us. We no longer are an island unto ourselves. Every action we take has a domino affect on others. If a country decides to destroy the rain forests, we all suffer because our environment is affected. If another country decides to practice genocide, we are all affected because of the impact on trade relations and refugees to our country. If family life breaks down, we are all affected because we will have to live with the deficiencies of the next generation. Let us start with ourselves. We cannot be responsible for what the rest of the world chooses to do, but we are responsible for our own choices. Recently, a group of childless employees complained about the fact that they did not share the special consideration given to employees with children. They felt they had to work longer hours and do more difficult assignments to cover for parents when obligations to their children called them away.
Every action we take has a domino affect on others. If a country decides to destroy the rain forests, we all suffer because our environment is affected.
Some of these employees formed an advocacy group called Childfree Network with 2,500 members to advocate for child-free living. There would be no tomorrow if we all advocated for a child- free world. Children are our future. They belong to all of us, and we all are responsible for them. The current trend for child-free living is irresponsible. It is found not only in young people but in older people who have retired and choose to spend their lives in environments where children are not welcome. All of this has a domino affect on our world today and the world of tomorrow. Like President Clinton we need to believe that it is important for our future to take care of each other.
We no longer can survive alone either as individuals or as a nation or as a world. As President Clinton said, life is lonely enough as it is. It makes a difference if we help each other. The best way to help the world is to start with helping families not only to survive but to thrive. Workers who can give a little to ease the burden on working parents are contributing to the good of the world. Retired people who can give a little to help the generation following them are contributing to the good of the world. Teen-agers who can give a little by becoming good students and putting off parenthood until they can responsibly raise a family are contributing to the good of the world. It is not enough to complain how awful the world has become. Do something about it. We may not be able to help the people in Rwanda or Bosnia but we can make a difference by being concerned with the people we meet every day. We need to understand that all of our actions have consequences not only for ourselves today but for future generations.
First published in 1994
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