injustice to one is injustice to all - part 2

We are not alone, we are part of something bigger than ourselves. We are all part of the same mighty living being. Instead of cultivating a narrow-minded perception of life, we need to take a broader perspective. We all have a duty to work for the common good. It’s important that we let go of our selfish concerns and look after each other. 

You might think that what’s going on in Minneapolis, Atlanta, or Washington D.C. is not a cause of concern for you nor a threat to your safety because you’re miles away from the turmoil. You might think that these issues and dangers have no connection to you. But they do. What affects one human, what affects one group, what affects one city, what affects one nation, affects the rest of humanity as well.

This is not a problem for Black Americans, this is a problem for all of us, no matter where you live in the world. Martin Luther King, Jr. beautifully conveyed this notion of mutual interdependence and interconnectivity in these words, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

Racism, discrimination based on the color of someone’s skin, and any similar prejudices are nothing but a manifestation of our lower human nature. And this demands attention from all of us. 

We cannot run away from this injustice. We cannot close our eyes and ignore the truth. Injustice to one is injustice to all. When people belonging to a certain group are harmed, all of us are harmed, you and me included. 

We can’t turn our backs to the problem anymore. We may try to divide ourselves as much as we like, whether it be based on race, color, age, sex, whatever, at the end of the day we are all humans. It’s time to let go of the toxic walls that we have created among ourselves and get together and fight together. It’s time to unite and work towards obliterating our prejudices and ignoble instincts once and for all.

We are the most advanced species on this planet, and if we choose, we can all overcome our lower selves, fight injustice and come up with a potent solution to fix this social issue. It’s time we choose love over hate, unity over diversity, and peace over chaos. It’s time we show up as superior humans, and fight together as true humanitarians. We have to, for the sake of a better future, for the sake of a better world.

PS: Click here to listen to the complete essay on The Karma Yogi Podcast.