Building a More “Just, Verdant, and Peaceful World”–and the Ridicule that Often Accompanies It
Those who endeavor to leave this world a better place than the one they found are frequently ridiculed for their altruistic goals, especially in today’s robo-consumer, me-first world, where people so often find themselves judged on the basis of their net worth. Those who care about the welfare of others are frequently laughed at with words like “kumbaya.”
Such derision might hit closer to home if there just weren’t so goddamn many of us. Sure, some of us don’t have two Ferraris to rub together, but there is plenty of money backing noble causes. Take the $7 billion John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the 12th-largest private foundation in the United States. Since its first grants and impact investments in 1978 to support non-profit organizations across the U.S. and in approximately 50 countries, MacArthur reports that it has awarded more than US$6.8 billion. Here’s the kicker: the Foundation doesn’t try to use flat, pragmatic and uninspiring language. Rather, its mission is “building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world.”
They join more that 200,000 other non-profits working hard to change the world for the better. Think that’s funny? Think working towards justice and peace is for ne’er do wells? Sorry, I have bad news: they don’t care.
Craig,
I’m not quite sure what you set out to establish by your evidently anguished observation.
Although the history of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation was often mired in bitter controversy and lengthy litigation, it’s emerged as a leading “liberal philanthropic establishment institution”.
The foundation (quite rightly) has often supported controversial projects and causes, and although many of these have proved failures, the foundation has nevertheless, been a force in making the world a better place.
Hmmm….., but so what?
There are a multitude of non-government philanthropic organizations all striving, with varying success, to accomplish goals aimed at bettering the human condition.
Not all these efforts are successful, some misguided, even detrimental, but that doesn’t invalidate the concept of trying to make the world a better place invalid.
However, again I say, So what?
How does any of this validate an attitude of vague smugness, while doing nothing of any practical value, but still maintaining an hypocritical, self serving pretense of “making the world a better place” ? Especially, while sneering at those who are actually doing something useful?
Should we take claim of a beauty pageant contestant to “work for World peace”, seriously ? Do such expressions have any real meaning or validity?
Does a bunch of school kids parroting vague leftist slogans (albeit very emotively) at a demonstration have any more meaning than the adulation the same kids display at a pop concert?
The term “Kumbaya’ is evocative of the well meaning, but ineffective sort of middle class liberal whose grasp on real issues is more about feeling “good” in a political/ideological sense than an actual commitment to do anything practical requiring personal effort or sacrifice.
It’s a term used to describe those who always want “the government” (whom they also despise) to bring about the sort of social policies they know are impractical or unachievable.
As Margret Thacher observed, “the trouble with leftists is sooner or later, they run out of being able to spend other peoples money!”
So, while I’m eager to applaud genuine efforts to make the world a better place, I’ll confess I’m heartily sick of listening to hypocritical bleating and moaning from armchair critics and do nothing know-it-alls.
I have more respect for the old style left yelling out in frustration and jealousy”down with the bosses” or the bloody minded old fashioned conservative harrumphing “down with the workers”, than the insipid new left gathering around at a fashionable “green festival” to sneer at everyone else and feel superior about their latest choice of “vegan organic” chardonnay!
Show me a new Clean(er)Technology, a development of practical proven value, or even a realistic philanthropic project, and I will be the first to support and participate in it’s advancement.
This is not an idle boast ! Over the last twenty-five years I have substantially supported, initiated and invested in a number of such projects (with varying success).
I don’t approach such project or technologies with a political/ideological agenda, simply a desire to be able to point to the project as an example or inspiration for others to adopt.
” Kumbaya” is very nice if all you are seeking is “feeling’ good among a smug Little group of like minded fellow travelers, but of very little real value !
Hey, here’s an idea ! Since you don’t want to invest in an EV like Tesla, how about buying and electric mo0wer, and starting a campaign to persuade your local community to adopt electric mowers and horticultural tools ? How about pressuring your local golf club, parks etc to adopt electric mowers ?
Aw, c’mon, even if you aren’t that “green”, surely just the reduction in noise pollution would be worth it?