this i believe

 One thing thats been made undeniably apparent to me in my short 16 years on this earth is that ignorance is bliss. I’d like to think everyone has a good grasp on whats going on around them and how it could effect their future but the truth is that we don’t. None of us. Considering the world I’ve been born into you can just about imagine how hard it would be to ignore such blatant issues. Issues including (but not limited to) shootings, rape/sexual assault, forest fires, global warming, deforestation, racism, abortion rights, terrorism, and factory polution, leaving the past few generations responsible for creating such a hostile world to grow up in. You’d think they'd notice the havoc they’ve wreaked but many of us choose to ignore it because there are “more important things to worry about”. Many claim that these issues are out of their control and go about their daily lives failing to see the bigger picture. The bigger picture being that not one person in history has ever overcame a hardship or conquered something massive without the help of an army behind them. I believe people refuse to join the army because they're too overwhelmed to start with and think focusing on the bad will hurt them. When I was 14 I was scrolling instagram and saw a “sensitive content” post that was blurred until I click “view post”. I prepared myself for a pimple popping video or maybe a deep cut some would get queasy over. Instead, it was at least 50 seals lined up on a beach, with men in all black chopping of their heads one by one with a large hatchet knife. The man in the background filming was giggling. This was the first time in my life I realized the extent of how damaged our world was and felt the need to do something. From my small home in the country of Nebraska there wasn’t much I could do besides raise awareness. I reposted the video to help people understand the extent and horrors of animal poaching, and large industry fisheries. Only 10 minutes later my friend of a couple years from omaha replied “why would you post that, thats not something I want to see on my feed, it makes me sad.” Exactly. It makes everyone sad but if it doesn’t make you feel something than you wont be inclined to change it. I explained to her that it’s important to acknowledge it’s happening in order to do something about it. We haven't spoke since then. I understand first hand how much easier it can be to ignore all of the things that need to be changed, but ignoring it only causes more damage. While ignorance is a something I understand, It’s not a trait I can respect or tolerate. Real strength is acknowledging the problems at the very least. Ignorance is bliss, this I believe.

-olive