Can you imagine not being able to dream? Millions of people around the world do not have the ability to think of achieving success or “striking it big.” People around the world cannot dream simply because survival is their most important worry. Millions cannot even feed themselves or their families, let alone worry about oil prices or house foreclosure. I’m not talking about Americans; I’m talking about people in third world countries affected each year by drought, famine, poverty, and disease. Thousands die each year from not being able to find clean water to drink, or crops to feed themselves and their children.

This is often overlooked by Americans and people all over the world because they are not reminded of it. Instead, people each day are reminded of rising oil prices, the scandals of the coming election, and “weapons of mass destruction.” People often forget others that have it much worse than they do.

Instead of the morning news focusing on the election and Obama’s pastor, maybe they should do a short ten minute segment on the UN food program, the genocide in Darfur, or even the coming fresh water crisis. People today often overlook the international problems that will ultimately effect them and instead focus on unimportant issues overly publicized by the media.

This is not a young generation problem: it’s a problem among all ages, races, and cultures. When Kennedy created The Peace Corps, he had just that in mind: Peace. The Peace Corps was created in order to make college students emissaries abroad demonstrating that Americans truly cared about people less lucky than themselves around the globe.

Today, people are laughed at or criticized for helping others, and it has become extremely hard to plan an event to benefit an international crisis. Hopefully, people will someday realize that there is more to the world than America and the stilted view we see on the news and that what is out there, will have an effect on our lives.