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14 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday January 9, 2009 www.oakvillebeaver.com We must learn that differences just don't matter By Brittany Little GRADE 12, APPLEBY COLLEGE H ow long is it going to take to make people listen? How many people are going to have to suffer before people realize something is wrong? How long will ignorance and self-importance control our lives? I find people wrapped up in their own lives so much that they don't stop to look at the bigger picture, the bigger picture of the world. Each of us makes up one person on the Earth, all 510.072 million sq km of it. I know what everyone thinks, how are we supposed to be concerned with the affairs of others, or situations halfway across the world that have nothing to do with us? Well open your eyes; we're all together and all responsible for everything that happens, not always directly, of course. But, we all have the chance to make it better, we all have a chance to do $ SALE 199 PLUS SAVINGS On Our Entire Inventory During Our Annual January 70 $ SALE 129 $ SALE UP TO % off 599 Canada's Biggest & Best Selection of Leather and Shearling Coats FURNITURE SALE Sassari Sofa $ 1999 SALE * All Furniture Available for immediate delivery Ac to n 4 9 E a s te r n Av. It s Worth The Drive To Acton 519-853-1031 w w w. h i d e h o u s e. c a something, for people who can't -- for the people who need a miracle. There has been terrorism all over the world. Why do people decide to attack each other over simple differences? Why would what we believe make us more or less human than someone else? Almost every ugly situation builds from differences, people believing their way is best. Don't you think if it were possible, those families who lost loved ones to conflicts based on differences of belief, would give up all the differences in the world to have their loved ones back? Things that happen in this world aren't always fair, but at the end of the day we are all the same, and we can't change that -- what we have to do is realize that. Part of realizing all this comes by having respect for others, yourself and life. It is one of the best qualities anyone could have, so why waste it by sizing up others and comparing them to you; if you're doing that, what makes you so great? At some point, we are all forced to listen to that inner voice telling us that we do things the right way, or we do things best. Unfortunately, we are not always right, and you can't let that voice take over as it has taken over those who participate in terrorism. You can't live your life blocking out everyone else just because you disagree, so just accept it. You don't have to like the way everyone thinks. Do not surrender by thinking someone else or another group of people have control over you just because they have a strong opinion. What we have left to learn is that in the end, the differences just don't matter.