Two Worlds Everywhere

Let us not deceive ourselves. The planet earth consists of two worlds: one of plenty and one of poverty. We can avert our gaze. We can ignore the other world, but it remains no matter how tightly we close our eyes.  

I have included images of the two worlds here in Jakarta, both images photographed from exactly the same window in my 17th Floor apartment.  One image is of the world of gated communities containing swimming pools, a playground, a Starbucks, a small soccer pitch with artificial turf, and enough air conditioning to completely soothe the soul.

I only needed to turn my phone 45 degrees to capture the second image.  This is an image of the world where there are no pools or Starbucks. Right under my nose is a neighborhood, though I have not yet explored beyond my quarantine skyscraper perch, that clearly does not benefit from the bounty of riches amassed here. 

It is the challenge of those of us in the world of plenty.  What must we do about the other world?  Indifference, I am afraid, is not an answer.  Though I am a temporary visitor to this neighborhood possessing starkly contrasting worlds, it is still my responsibility to figure out how to do something productive about the world below me.  If, when I ultimately depart this nation, I have done nothing to meet my responsibility, then I have failed and there is no excuse for me. 




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