“Increasing equity and opportunity”

I’ve mentioned before that I think “live and let live” is a good philosophy, not just for one’s own peace of mind, but because we owe each other the freedom to do what we want with the one life we get. In and of itself, though, it’s not a very “proactive” philosophy.

If you want the proactive version, check out the following quote from Bill and Melinda Gates, sourced from The Everyday Activist:

“Today’s problems are solvable. While the world around us fuels our sense of urgency, it also fuels our optimism. We believe that by increasing equity and opportunity, the world will become a better place for generations to come.”

Now, that’s something! I mean, it’s one thing to let people do their own thing, but it’s another altogether to “increase equity and opportunity” so more people can do more with their lives. Not just for the hell of it, but because it’s the just and moral thing to do.

We’re increasing equity and opportunity whenever we fight for equal rights and minority rights. We’re increasing equity and opportunity whenever we support disadvantaged communities at home, and third-world economies abroad. We’re increasing equity and opportunity whenever we recognize that someone else has to face obstacles that we don’t have to face, and we work to remove those obstacles.

“We believe every person deserves the chance to live a healthy, productive life.” That’s the vision statement currently displayed on the front page of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s website. When you take care of “healthy,” “productive” can follow. The more people we have who are free to live to the fullest, the more people we have who are able to work together to solve today’s problems.

That sure beats “live and let live!” Start your day with these ideas, and see where they take you. There are any number of simple things you could do today that could make a big difference. Why not pick one and get moving?

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