“Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country”. John F Kennedy. These words from the 35th president of the USA carry a lot of weight and I believe he was under a lot of emotional pain and deeply worried when he said them. He must have felt frustrated by the selfishness displayed by his citizens.
Naturally, as human beings, we always have a tendency of wanting to have the best and taking pride in being the first to have it. While there is nothing wrong in wanting the best for ourselves, it is important that we ask ourselves this question: at what or, on whose expense we do it? It is important to take other people’s interests into consideration in all that we do.
To drive home this point, I would like to give an example that all of us can relate to. Imagine holding a graduation party right inside a residential area where there are young children, elderly people and even the sick who want to rest. Though it is of course right to celebrate, it is important also, too take into consideration, other peoples’ rights.
It is of utmost importance to thoroughly vet our intended actions and put them on the morality scale and if we find it is just serving our own selfish interests, then it is most prudent to shelve it. Let us always learn to have the concerns of our fellow citizens in our hearts. The question should stop being what’s in it for me, but rather, what can I do to make the life of others better. To read more posts by Mwangi, click HERE
