The explosion of technology that we have experienced in the last half century has brought our world so much closer and is so much smaller and at the same time more complicated and difficult. We can much more easily know about the realities of people’s lives on the other side of the world in a moments notice. Meanwhile having a smaller world requires more careful and thoughtful communication and the intent to be respectful of cultural differences, of experiences and beliefs.

I would like to suggest that we all have a responsibility to make this a better world. And further that as just plain ordinary human beings, all of us have a responsibility to know the world in which we live and to be part of its growth and development. How we interpret the notion of a better world will obviously differ. But if we start with who we are here (in our hearts), identify our values, debate them, tie them to our practice and use the tools of self assessment to evaluate our implementation, put ourselves in the shoes of others at any given juncture before we act, know what we are trying to affect, hear all the voices from the myriad of potential stakeholders, our differences will be a benefit and not a hindrance, and we might even discover that our notions of justice and fairness resemble each other and can be achieved.

I have a few plumb lines – like the lines in a house around which everything is built – that govern how I approach most circumstances. First and foremost is to address a problem beginning at its most serious manifestation and from the point of view of those most affected, considering the needs of those with the fewest resources and/or the least power, to ensure that their needs are included in the solution that is developed.