relativity of life

It seems wherever I go something tragic happens concerning the government. Although Argentina is not on the brink of a civil war like Thailand, the death of their ex- president has caused some tension amongst the people. The current president, who is the wife of the ex- president, was seen in many people's opinions as a puppet for her husband's political agenda. While not everyone of course was happy with the course of the country, many people have seen him as a balance between the right and left that have created a theme of polarization throughout central/ south america.
A few weeks ago,I watched on television the funeral of the ex-president. Hugo Chavez greeted the president as she stood beside her husband's coffin, the eclectic group of south american presidents symbolized some kind of superficial attempt for unity during this sorrowful time.
One of my assignments during this time is studying the history of governments for the last 50 years and how the church has responded. I think what is difficult is learning that the previous black and white dichotomy in my mind associating good/bad with certain political ideologies was very detached from the reality of what has happened in these country.
Although many groups start off with what seem to be admirable ideals, the reality of human nature always corrupts and blurs what seemed to be such clear visions. Honestly, the real difficulty is pressing on. Many people see the relativity of government, therefore, completely disassociate themselves with what is happening around them.
This translates into the same problem I have found myself in having worked with an organization that serves the poor. In the past, I have taken a lot of pride in serving the poor and have struggled with resentment towards the excessive American lifestyle. But recently, I cant help but be overwhelmed with the relativity of poverty. For instance, (i have to warm you-im an over analyzer, and although this may seem like im going a little too far, I think it is something to legitimately think about.) It is common to see people selling jewelry, sweaters, and other objects they have usually made by hand. In the past, I would take pride in purchasing these goods; afterall, I knew that the money was going back into the community and the person was not being exploited in any manner to make it. But the reality is, and of course this is a generalization, many of those people do paco. This drug, which is a cocaine paste, has become very popular in Argentina. This isnt an assumption I am making just because these people are poor; it is common knowledge.
But what if I go into a store, buy something that was made out of the country, know that the money is mainly flowing out of the country, but I am supporting the man who works at the counter and needs to support his family? My point is not that helping the poor only extends their misery, or that the inability for small local businesses to start because they cant even to begin with larger foreign corporations is justified, my point is to show you the relativity of the system. It is a fact I think is important to acknowledge.
This unfortunately brings me back to my days studying philosophy in college. How can we not collapse into complete relativism concerning our involvement in serving locally and also politically? Are we simply fueled by our own interests? Is everything a power game masked in rhetoric that makes us feel justified for claiming what we want?
This is my conclusion: I must acknowledge that there is a sense of relativity to things. I think this is important to in order to rid ourselves of self- righteousness. So that I do not think I am better for everyone else for working with prostitutes- so that others do not think they are justified in not helping others because they are entitled to what they have.
But it is in this realization that we can find freedom.
After concluding that the world is in a state of entropy,and that for many people life is only a power-play, we can come to terms with our humanity in the best possible way.
Humans, like one writer has put it, are neither angels nor animals. I think that fighting this realivity is what not only being human, but even moreso being a christian, is about.
Because Christ encompasses every ideal that separates us from the barbarism of animals, how true is it that our only salvation lies in living in his footprints.
One of the bests gifts we have been given is the gift of communion. How I ponder over the brilliance and beauty of this holy communion of the human with the divine.
We must not evade the reality of the brokenness of the world, we must not become discouraged when things no longer seem so black and white, because it is this acknowledgment that should make us run even quicker to the cross which embodies the only salvation we can receive from this world.