It used to be...(5)

It used to be that people who served the community because they truly wanted to make a positive difference were revered. These people made sacrifices for serve the needy, the poor, the vulnerable and the oppressed.   Power, money, fame and career meant nothing to them. Desiring these things were regarded as desires that contradict the desire to serve others.

Now, people can serve others and their personal needs. It is now normal, and even, fashionable to claim that one wants to serve others through their career where they can also gain power, money or fame. Serving others can be done while serving power, money or fame. Former Attorney-General Nicola Roxon stated in her resignation speech that she encourages young people to consider public serve because one can fight for what one believes. This may be true, however, it does not show an attitude that seeks to serve others although to may outwardly claim to. Instead, it is out of pure selfishness - to fight for what one wants, not what is right.

What people want is not necessarily right. In fact, what people want is often self-centred and has no regard for what others need. The most popular phrase in Australian slang is "I can do what I want". Really, it is not about what one wants. This is evidence that the Australian society is individualistic, self-centred and arrogant. No wonder relationships break down, people fight and, above all, people get hurt. All sorts of people get hurt, not just the groups that are popularly considered to be vulnerable.

The media has contributed to such an individualistic, self-centred and arrogant culture. It portrays the idea that people can serve their own personal desires and the needs of others. It exults rich, powerful or famous people when they act generously because they are not expected to. Although this is realistically true, it reinforces the false idea that people can serve both personal desires and others at the same time.

Helping others now seems hypocritical thanks to the media and an individualistic culture. Helping others can only be truly regarded as serving others when it is done in love for others, not out of selfish ambition.