Sacrifices are an inherent part of the human experience. At some point in our lives, we all must surrender something valuable to gain something more valuable (as the case may be) . Over the years, I've learned that sacrifices are essential for growth and progress, and I've found myself in tight situations where I had to give up something to gain another. While both wants and needs are important for our survival, sometimes we need to prioritize our needs over our wants.
There are many forms of sacrifice. There's one that involves giving up a thing (material thing) for something more valuable. However, the most difficult form is the ultimate sacrifice that involves giving up one’s life for the sake of others. Not so many people can carry out this selfless act, it requires a different level of courage and bravery. Those who do are regarded as heroes. For example, the Titanic engineers are regarded as heroes because they sacrificed their lives to save others. Thanks to history, we know about so many people who sacrificed their lives to save their countries (or for a good cause). Now, the big question is would you be willing to give up your life so that everyone else on the planet would live happily?
The world is in a terrible state, with many underdeveloped countries struggling with poverty and different types of diseases. It is heartbreaking to see that countries are wagging wars, and corruption has taken over so many countries. Deep down, I desire to see the world in a better place. I deeply desire to see people come out and talk freely without fear of prosecution. I dream of a world free of suffering and corruption, where people eat and drink without having to beg. I deeply desire a world where countries live together in harmony, and I also dream of a world where people don't lose their loved ones to cancer, diabetes, or any other diseases. However, I am not willing to give up my life to achieve that goal. If there's any other way to make a positive impact in the world, I'd gladly do it, but giving up my own life is a no-go area for me.
Human beings are complex. In simple terms, humans will always act as humans. Giving up your life for a good cause sounds noble and all, but all you get is a fancy memorial and if you're lucky, your statue gets erected in a fancy place, and after a few months, give or take, max of one year, things go back to the way they used to be. In 2020, something huge happened that shook my country to its foundation. Police brutality got to its vertex, and the people came out to protest. It is in the constitution that citizens have the freedom of speech and peaceful protest. So many Nigerians came out for this protest. What was supposed to be a peaceful protest ended up as a bloodshed.
So many people lost their lives just for this cause. The youths came out to fight against police brutality, and what did they get in return? Death, a grand memorial, a coffin and now they are six feets underground. One would expect that things would change for the better. The irony? The sacrifices made by those who lost their lives in 2020 fighting against police brutality in Nigeria seem to have been in vain. Despite their sacrifice, police brutality remains a persistent issue in Nigeria. Every day, we hear news of people getting brutalized by police. The most interesting part? No one is doing anything about it. The country is in shambles and no one is doing anything about it.
Summarily, I dream of a world where diseases, poverty, and hunger are eradicated. However, I must admit that I'm not willing to sacrifice my own life to achieve it.
NOTE: ALL IMAGES IN THIS POST ARE MINE.
Thanks for reading.
