Personally Make a Difference in

¶ … personally make a difference in the world if I demonstrate personal responsibility. The most difficult aspect of this type of statement is that responsibility has many inherent meanings. Sure, as the Heritage Dictionary points out, responsibility is a noun and it can be officially defined as 'the state, quality, or fact of being responsible; or something for which one is responsible such as a duty, obligation, or burden.' But, not knowing what responsible means still takes away from my objective. Thus, the adjective responsible adds meat to my hypothesis.

To be responsible, again from the Heritage Dictionary, entails 'being liable to be required to give account, as of one's actions or of the discharge of a duty or trust; or involving personal accountability or ability to act without guidance or superior authority: a responsible position within the firm; or being a source or cause; or being able to make moral or rational decisions on one's own and therefore answerable for one's behavior.' Ah, there are more, but this last definition seems to hit home -- being able to make moral or rational decisions on one's own and therefore answerable for one's behavior.

I am only one person among billions. I certainly believe that throughout my life I have been capable of making moral and rational decisions on my own. I am also fully aware that I am answerable for my own behavior. Just completing this assignment is a clear demonstration that I have a sense of responsibility towards my education and to my obligations. This type of responsibility is important in the sense that I have an obligation to fulfill my own personal life goals and dreams.

We all have a responsibility to ourselves. I have a responsibility to my family as well. Our society has put us in a position where we have been called the potential sandwich age. This literally means that it is very possible that I will have financial obligations for myself, my off spring and my parents and possibly even my grand parents. People are living longer but their economic potential has historically not been keeping pace.

If Social Security crashes and burns, then I will have a responsibility to help everyone in my family's circle. It is the responsible thing to do and I plan on doing it. but, that does not mean I want to just get by either. I want a Porsche and a mansion and one of those million dollar RV's. I don't need to sell drugs to kids on playgrounds to get these things; I need to find more responsible ways to meet these goals. But, there is also a social responsibility.

I can make a difference if I recycle, turn off the lights in rooms where I am not using them and I can save gas by not idling at the McDonalds's drive thru window. But social responsibility really is more than just that. Being energy conscious is one thing, but being an activist is another. I feel I have a social responsibility to encourage others to act and think in favor of what is good for our neighbors, nature and the environment.

I don't think I should blow up abortion clinics or throw blood on women with fur coats, but I do believe there are peaceful and common sense ways to save the whales or keep dolphins out of tuna nets. The responsibility is also in knowing.