"Pay It Forward" - Thoughts on Systemic Change
“Pay It Forward” (2000) is a movie about one 7th grader’s homework, and how that assignment changes the world. The movie seems to exemplify much of what might be involved when Vincentian Family leaders call for a focus on simple ideas that involve people in solutions that are practical and replicable.
- The assignment in question is extra credit, an assignment that Social Studies teacher Eugene Simonet (Kevin Spacey) gives every year. Think Of An Idea To Change Our World–And Put It Into Action. When Mr. Simonet asks for their responses, they tell him the assignment’s ‘weird’ and ‘hard.’ Mr. Simonet suggests another word: Possible. It is from this simple but potentially complex assignment that many different lives are affected.
- A simple yet profound example of involving people in solutions.
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- Origins of the conceptÂÂ
- The Pay It Forward Movement
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- “Pay It Forward” Wikipedia – Plot synopsisÂÂ
i am always moved by the thought of changing the world through simply “paying it forward”. it is very pessimistic of me however to feel that the world today simply does not care. it is hard for me to imagine a world in which even 1/3 of people payed it forward and kept the idea alive. people don’t forward chain letters in e-mails anymore, what would motivate them to “pay it forward” by doing good deeds? In response to Davids’ pessimism – I don’t think the analogy to chain letters is an apt one for two reasons. First, I probably receive at least 10 chain e-mails of one sort or another a week. With all of the other e-mails I receive that demand attention, I admit I have gotten to the point where I immediately delete most of the chains. In part that is because, second, there is nothing personal or personalized in receiving a chain letter sent by someone to 10 or 20 recipients. although you make a very valid point, chain letters and paying it forward are not exactly the same thing, this is true. as far as number adding up, you must be under the impression that people are inherently good. i do not subscribe to the same ideology. people may feel touched by the acts of others but i do not think this is enough for one to pay it forward. society today does not value integrity, honor, any of the virtues that are so necessary to the concept. its not only unrealistic, but it is not even close to plausible. There is a song by Leonard Cohen called “Everybody Knows.” To call it pessimistic is a gross undedrstatement; the lyrics included lines like: everybody knows the dice are loaded, everyobody roll with their fingers crossed, everybody knows the good guys lost, everybody knows the fight is fixed, everybody knows the boat is leaking, everybody knows the rich get rich, etc. Essentially: everybody knows it’s all badd and that it just the way it is. This concept of “paying forward” is also illustrated in the Liberty Mutual commercial Link to commercial below.5 Comments
Pay it foward is a much more personal and direct act. One persons takes time to see what it is that another person needs and can not obtain on his or her own and performs a particularized act for that person. It seems to me that that is likely to engender a much different response than the response by a recipient of a chain e-mail.
Will some simply take the gift and not pass it on? Sure. But many will be sufficiently touched to pass it on. The gratitude lying latent in their hearts can be awakened. And the numbers will start to add up.
I think the question each of us has to face is: do I simply accept that is the way things are, why bother trying to change it. Or do I say: that may be the way it is now, but I don’t accept that is the way it has to be.
I only know one way to answer that question. Is it because I am under the impression that people are inherently good? Perhaps. Or perhaps it is more accurate to say that I have faith that God is inherently good and that God is still at work, even in the midst of a society that “does not value integrity, honor” or other virtues. And that God invites us to labor with him to transform that society into what it can be.
I thought about it while reading John’s account of the Good Shepherd. While we are to follow Him, we are akso to lead the flock with our actions and words. The commercial tagline of “Responsibility – what’s your policy?” is a great quesstion to start a personal refelction.
i am always moved by the thought of changing the world through simply “paying it forward”. it is very pessimistic of me however to feel that the world today simply does not care. it is hard for me to imagine a world in which even 1/3 of people payed it forward and kept the idea alive. people don’t forward chain letters in e-mails anymore, what would motivate them to “pay it forward” by doing good deeds?
In response to Davids’ pessimism – I don’t think the analogy to chain letters is an apt one for two reasons. First, I probably receive at least 10 chain e-mails of one sort or another a week. With all of the other e-mails I receive that demand attention, I admit I have gotten to the point where I immediately delete most of the chains. In part that is because, second, there is nothing personal or personalized in receiving a chain letter sent by someone to 10 or 20 recipients.
Pay it foward is a much more personal and direct act. One persons takes time to see what it is that another person needs and can not obtain on his or her own and performs a particularized act for that person. It seems to me that that is likely to engender a much different response than the response by a recipient of a chain e-mail.
Will some simply take the gift and not pass it on? Sure. But many will be sufficiently touched to pass it on. The gratitude lying latent in their hearts can be awakened. And the numbers will start to add up.
although you make a very valid point, chain letters and paying it forward are not exactly the same thing, this is true. as far as number adding up, you must be under the impression that people are inherently good. i do not subscribe to the same ideology. people may feel touched by the acts of others but i do not think this is enough for one to pay it forward. society today does not value integrity, honor, any of the virtues that are so necessary to the concept. its not only unrealistic, but it is not even close to plausible.
There is a song by Leonard Cohen called “Everybody Knows.” To call it pessimistic is a gross undedrstatement; the lyrics included lines like: everybody knows the dice are loaded, everyobody roll with their fingers crossed, everybody knows the good guys lost, everybody knows the fight is fixed, everybody knows the boat is leaking, everybody knows the rich get rich, etc. Essentially: everybody knows it’s all badd and that it just the way it is.
I think the question each of us has to face is: do I simply accept that is the way things are, why bother trying to change it. Or do I say: that may be the way it is now, but I don’t accept that is the way it has to be.
I only know one way to answer that question. Is it because I am under the impression that people are inherently good? Perhaps. Or perhaps it is more accurate to say that I have faith that God is inherently good and that God is still at work, even in the midst of a society that “does not value integrity, honor” or other virtues. And that God invites us to labor with him to transform that society into what it can be.
This concept of “paying forward” is also illustrated in the Liberty Mutual commercial
I thought about it while reading John’s account of the Good Shepherd. While we are to follow Him, we are akso to lead the flock with our actions and words. The commercial tagline of “Responsibility – what’s your policy?” is a great quesstion to start a personal refelction.
Link to commercial below.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9e–DC2H4o8&feature=related