It’s a small world after all

I grew up with Disneyland and loved the “It’s a Small World” ride. It was a boat trip through animated children from all around the world singing “It’s a Small World”. If you want to see the YouTube video of this ride, follow the link below. The link takes you to a 4 minute video of the ride from one person’s experience. There are a number of other YouTube videos of this ride.

I always thought that this was a cute ride, and it helped me to see that that the world was small and connected. So...how did this ride come about and are these sentiments still relevant?

Beginnings“
In 1956, Walt Disney attended a conference, along with many other notable celebrities of the time, at the invitation of President Eisenhower. The conference was about founding a national organization to help promote world peace through international civilian travel. (This dream became a reality in 1956, when Eisenhower founded the People to People Student Ambassador Program.) Inspired by the ideas from the meeting, Disney returned to California and set to work, creating the It's A Small World ride at Disneyland.” (Wikipedia)

How can we impact positively on our world?
Pollution
Where is the mess we’re creating going? In the old days, ships used to throw their garbage overboard without a thought. Today we know that China’s air pollution is affecting the world, including Los Angeles. However, it’s easy to criticise other people and countries, but are we doing our part? How good are you at recycling, using less energy including that in producing consumer products, etc. I know I still have a long way to go, but remembering that it is a small world and that my actions affect many others helps me to be a better world citizen.

Travel
Yes, travel can help us to understand the world and its people. How much more understanding are you, when you know that the people in the countries of the news stories are real people, just like us. Their values, customs, and ideals are just as important to them as ours are to us. One way to make a difference is to do volunteer work in the country, combining a holiday with making a differnce. (See the Australian Volunteers International website below.)

Cheap airfares
However, just visiting other countries and talking to the people can open your eyes. The Best Flights site lists an around the world flight with United and for $1539! (Wow, I just paid $3500 for an emergency trip to Seattle to see my mother.) On the special fare you could go Syd-LA-Frankfort-another European city-Frankfort-Singapore-Syd; not a bad fare. Think what you could learn.

Do unto others
I guess the biggest thing we can do is to follow the Golden rule: Treat others as you want to be treated. At least 8 major religions (including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and more) have a version of this in their teachings. Of course most of us know this in Christianity, but did you know in Buddhism people believe, “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.”

Easter
Thinking of our small world, isn’t a bad way to begin the Easter season.

Until March

“It's a world of laughter
A world of tears
It's a world of hopes
And a world of fears
There's so much that we share
That it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all”

http://webweedswisdom.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqTyBBit7NI
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/smworld.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_a_Small_World
http://www.australianvolunteers.com/work/index.asp?menuid=250
http://www.bestflights.com.au/web/content/news/newsletters/31-07-2003.shtml
http://www.teachingvalues.com/goldenrule.html