Passion is a funny thing. It has the power to bring thousands of people together. It has the power to create change. It has the power to tear people apart.
I never really knew what I was passionate about, until I recently became a mother for the 2nd time. But this post isn't about what I'm passionate about. This is just about passion itself.
There is a viral video making it's rounds on the interwebs of Facebook and Twitter for a genuinely worthy cause. The cause isn't something I'm passionate about. After a little debate with myself, that went something like this; Me: Should I share this video? Me 2: Well, it isn't THE cause that you are passionate about - so do you want to just be one of those 'followers'. Me: You know what, even if this isn't what ignites a fire in me, it's something minimal I can do to spread the word; I shared the video.
People now, as I was afraid they would, assume that since I have shared the video, that I am passionate about this cause; that I should be willing to lay my life on the line for this cause. I shared the video before doing my full due diligence, and jumped right on the back of that bandwagon. I did, then, do a little research (reading a couple of opposing opinions) and still did not regret my decision to share the video. Who cares if it's a bandwagon. Most people probably felt the same way I did; that it was the least they could do to share the information. I didn't share the information in hopes to start a revolution or to try to raise billions of dollars for the cause. I just thought it was information that people should know.
I shared that story to get to the funny thing about passion. It seems it's some people's passion to knock people for being bandwagon jumpers or trying to do a little bit of good. That baffles me. Unless I'm willing to lay my life on the line for something, I shouldn't care about it at all? Because we can't help everyone, we shouldn't help anyone? I hope that's not the world I live in. Well, it isn't the world I live in. So, I hope that's not the world other people live in. Because an issue is much more complicated than the 30 minute youtube video portrays the solution to be, we shouldn't raise awareness? I guess people would just rather complain about people caring a little bit about something just so they aren't a follower or bandwagon jumper.
Another thing that intrigues me is the passionate debates that ensue when someone opposes or supports a cause or opinion. It seems that neither of the people on either side are truly passionate about the cause, yet for whatever reason we get so passionate about defending our opinions and positions. Humans are funny creatures, aren't they. I suppose it's because you formed your opinion based on your perception and beliefs that lie way deeper than the surface of the cause or opinion; and of course you are passionate about whatever beliefs lead you to form your opinion in the first place. We should all remember that though when having these arguments.
And with that realization, I have managed to subdue my desire to argue and am content with having spread the video to raise awareness. Plus, it's lunch time.
I'll keep my passionate energy to use for the causes that do ignite a burning fire in me.
Here is the video: Kony 2012
