What are You Doing for Others?

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is -- 'What are you doing for others?'"

Have we stopped for a while, even for some minutes, to ask ourselves? What are we doing for others? Are we helping others, despite our own storms, or are we hurting them because we are wounded inside? Are we peacemakers uniting people, or are we causing troubles, dividing them?

Our biggest family, humanity, must have evolved as a result of many, many years of studies on human behavior. Recently with the new technology that introduced connectivity and big data, we must have been more humanitarian than ever before. But like a funnel, as we go down and deeper, the narrower it is, the more individualism there is.

I am greatly touched by featured stories in the leading newspapers of the UAE (online version) showing unnamed philanthropists helping those in trouble particularly in the month of Ramadan. For one, the humanitarian care section of a local government body handled AED8.1M humanitarian help to those in financial trouble. Many inmates jailed for money problems were freed to reunite with their families, reintegrate in the normal mainstream of society and start a brand new life. Those people do not know who helped them as the donors or saviors want to remain anonymous for their humanitarian acts.

There are people who lend money to others but they humiliate the debtors beyond measure as if they were their slaves when they cannot pay on time. There are even those who are not the direct money lenders but they embarrass other needy people on the issue of financial difficulties. They want to brutally take away their dignity.

Dr. Tom Neal in his article on "What is Human Dignity?" said, "Human dignity cannot be earned and cannot be taken away. It's an inalienable gift given to us by God, and every other good thing in life depends on the safeguarding of our fundamental dignity."

Respecting human dignity is reflected in the way writers publish their stories here. There was no-name shaming thing when the debt-trapped man who was jailed and then freed, was featured.

On that story, the inspiration from Nelson Mandela's line sparks, "It is man-made and can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings." True, financial challenges can be overcome. The poverty can be eradicated by the actions of human beings.

In the observance of the Year of Tolerance in the UAE, many charitable organizations step up and collaborate with the local authorities and they multiply their humanitarian acts.

Some banks are changing the faces of their collectors. A friend who is a remedial consultancy outfit founder/manager recently told me that she was contacted by a lending institution to be a part of their CSR (Community Social Relations) to reach the debtors in default, in a nice way -- no harassment, no threats, so debtors' human dignity will be safeguarded. This is a positive approach to preserve their mental health so they can be productive to earn money in a decent way, to survive and to pay their debts. When they get sick or die, who will pay their liabilities?

Norman Ernest Borlaug, the father of Green Revolution and credited with saving over one billion people from starvation, said --

The destiny of world civilization depends upon providing a decent standard of living for all mankind.

One employer who will give an opportunity to a jobless man can mean a lot to save one life and make a difference.

One remedial consultant who will compassionately handle a person in financial trouble can mean a lot to save one life and make a difference.

One philanthropist who will help free a man jailed due to debts can mean a lot to save one life and make a difference.

One meal giver who will feed a hungry child can mean a lot to save one life and make a difference.

One act of kindness every single day can make a difference

We can passionately make a difference. We all can do it.

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Photo credits:  Pixabay