What about me? Is anybody asking what I want?

After Bolin’s visit with Commander Taro, Noria’s parents have a conversation about Noria’s future. Her father wants her to stay as a tea master with him, while her mother thinks that she should be in the city and learn another profession. Noria walks by her parents room and overhears this conversation. What struck me was her response, “What about me, is anybody asking what I want?” This is reoccurring theme from most of the activities and the readings we did in this seminar. We, as a group, or in a bigger category as world citizens, discuss about how this future should look like. Some say, “We have to cut the carbon emission, stop using automobiles and air conditioners, and go to the climate march!” Others say, “oh it would be nothing. Nothing will happen. There are many signs that disapprove the evidences. So don’t worry about it.”

What would Noria want? What would my kids or grandchildren want? What would the future generation want? We should be and must be asking those questions first. If not, we would be just ignorant parents. Honestly, this whole climate change thing is not about US. Our generation will live just fine, not really suffering any catastrophes caused by the global warming. This is about THEM: Noria, Sanja, my children, your children, our children, and our “hope.”