Real Change summary

The Statue of Liberty is a monument brimming with symbolism. With her tall, defiant posture, she projects a sense of pride and determination. With her torch held high, she is a beacon of hope. And, with her inscription welcoming the world’s “huddled masses,” she invites immigrants with open arms.

But, one detail is often overlooked: her back foot, with the heel slightly raised, as if she’s about to take a bold step forward. She is in motion, and the message is clear – Lady Liberty isn’t about empty words, she is about action.

A soldier returning from war with PTSD. A couple struggling with a rough divorce. An environmental activist watching as report after report shows the melting of the polar ice caps. 

Their problems might seem different but each of these individuals shares the same pain, suffering, and grief. Each person is struggling with loss – loss of stability, loss of a partnership, and the loss of a world they deeply love. 

Imagine a dedicated human rights activist. Each day, she tirelessly advocates for the issues she cares about – issues like gender equality, fairer wages, and better access to healthcare.

Now, suppose that one day, this activist forgets her lunch. By noon, she’s hungry; by afternoon, she’s starving. But, the only food in the office is a bunch of bananas. Unfortunately, each time she glances at the fruit, she faces a moral dilemma: she’s worried about the exploitative conditions in banana fields and the environmental cost of banana production.

What is a tree? It sounds like a simple question. Obviously, a tree is a large plant with a trunk, branches, leaves, and bark. Yet, if we expand our vision and understanding, a tree reveals itself to be more than a solitary organism.

For one, a tree is part of a rich and complex ecosystem. It relies on the sun in the sky, the water in the clouds, and the nutrients in the soil. More than that, a tree interacts with numerous other organisms. It hosts the birds nesting in its foliage and is nourished by the fungi entangled in its roots. 

Here’s a simple riddle for you: A man and his son are involved in a horrible car accident. Tragically, the man dies and the boy is rushed to the hospital. On arriving, the chief surgeon is aghast, declaring, “I can’t operate on this child, he’s my son!”

So, here’s the question – who is the surgeon? The answer often stumps even the most astute minds. After all, the father died, so he can’t be the attending physician. But, take a moment to think and the answer is obvious: the doctor is the boy’s mother.

Let’s say you’re watching a child happily playing with her toys. Suddenly a problem – she treats a toy too roughly and it breaks. Shocked and saddened, she begins to cry. What do you do?

Well, you could embrace the girl’s pain and sob right there on the floor with her. Or, you could go the opposite way and sternly tell her that a broken toy doesn’t matter compared to the horrors of cancer or the ravages of war.