As is the unfortunate norm in history, there have been various crises recently within the United States, ranging from kidnappings, murders and rapes to the Ebola breakout.
Around the world, we are seeing many other catastrophes, such as the situation with ISIS and the still-missing Malaysian Flight 370.
We The Threefold Advocate believe it is crucial that students, as well as Americans in general, maintain awareness of these situations within the United States, as well as in countries around the world.
It is easy and natural to feel sympathy for the citizens of other countries experiencing trials, but feeling incapable of doing anything to alleviate them from this far away. However, we are called to help.
While this aid may not be in the form of physically traveling to another country to assist those in need, there are other means of support, such as sending financial aid via an organization or relief group, or more importantly, providing prayer.
In order to be able to assist in any way, whatever that might look like for each person, we must first become aware.
There are many excuses for not maintaining awareness on worldly affairs: Not having access to cable to watch the news, not understanding the complexity of the situations or simply “not having enough time.”
We The Threefold Advocate believe that staying up-to-date on these matters should become a priority.
There are many simple things one can do in order to sustain at least a basic awareness of what is happening around the world.
One easy way to do this is through utilizing your social media. By following various news stations on Twitter, such as CNN, ABC News and The New York Times, you can be kept alert to both local and worldly happenings.
Discussing the situations with your peers is another way to stay educated. Gaining insights from your friends, classmates or even professors on their thoughts of these situations might help you better understand them, as well as broaden your perspective.
Just because these situations aren’t necessarily happening directly in our country doesn’t mean they haven’t in the past, won’t in the future or aren’t affecting our fellow citizens.
Consider the families of the American journalists captured and killed by ISIS, the families who have loved ones traveling to hurting countries, risking their lives in order to serve others or protect the U.S.; they are here. They are experiencing this pain on American soil.
We The Threefold Advocate believe that students, as well as the rest of the U.S., should take initiative on understanding both local and worldly crises in order to not only be better educated, but to be able to provide whatever assistance we can.