Tarin A.

Stefens
Hunter Sapienza
Honors 100
9 November 20115
Taking the Future out of our Imagination
It seems to me that a main theme that can be found in the Paul Farmer readings is one of
expanded perspective. I believe he calls for a perspective that encompasses many combinations
of ideals and ideas, rather than one that takes only a single set of values and applies them to a
range of different perspectives with different needs (a common mistake of charity groups). He
emphasized partnership and collaboration, innovation and a multi-tiered view on progression
(thinking fractally), and imagination and compassion for ideas from oneself and from others
all things that require communicating with and relating to others who can add powerfully diverse
approaches to improvement. I agree that this is a path towards global growth, and I believe that it
would be especially helpful in application to issues of identity, equal treatment, and opportunity
that are commonly seen today in the LGBTQ, feminist and racial equality movements.
The question, then, is how to get the necessary amount of people on this path working
together towards an imagined future. The issue at hand, being a matter of understanding the
perspective of others in their interpretation of self and self in relation to others, requires a change
in thinking or, at least, an expansion of it. An ability and willingness to open ones mind and
ears to the thoughts and needs of others rather than taking ones own frame of reference as
absolute is vital to the level of growth that needs to occur. The imagination and innovation of one
is nothing compared to the combined ideas of many, so we must find a way to get people to unite
their thinking.
Unfortunately, though, it is very difficult to change the minds of those who are already
well established and comfortable in their ideas to think on a different level and adopt new
perspectives. There are exceptions to this, as there are to many things, but Ive observed a
significant deal of struggle in attempting to appeal to the general public on new ideas. Where
change and growth appears to come forward in the greatest strength is in youth through youth
movements and through education raising more people to be more critical and knowledgeable
seems to have the most positive effect on the healthy development of people, be it on a local,
national, or even global scale. I believe, then, that our attention should be focused on the
betterment of education.
By teaching the children, teenagers, and young adults of today to collaborate rather than
compete (though a little competition never hurt in inspiring innovation), to be inclusive in their
analysis of problems and broad in their application of thought, and to be understanding and
appreciative towards differences in needs and values in working with others, we will have a
future of workers and innovators that will have the necessary mindset to make powerful change
happen at a large scale. With this focus on combined effort and value rather than competition,
people will be more likely to respect and appreciate different ideals and find more room for
acceptance and support of those that differ from themselves. Teaching youth that everyone is
capable and that everyones contribution is what makes the greatest product will make them
more connected to those that they might otherwise exclude or even disdain.
I believe it is the youth that can be changed and can therefore make the change, and I
believe Farmer showed this in his many appeals to those graduating (via his commencement
speeches) and in his faith in their ability to make a difference.