Building a Better Tomorrow: Choices That Matter

“What will happen to this country?” I asked as soon as I sat down in front of him. He laughed. It was obviously a very anticipated question. He said, “No matter what conversation you have with anyone, the subject comes here.” He added, ‘We used to chat on different subjects, now this is the common question for all of us’.

I had the opportunity to meet with Selçuk Şirin in Istanbul. We talked for an hour or two during his short and very busy period there. He is a Ph.D. He is a Professor in the Applied Psychology Department at NYU Steinhardt. In his new book, ‘Either justice or misery’, he presents 7 precious recipes. These recipes address 7 critical issues of our country. I love my country. I am sensitive, even worried, about fundamental issues such as humanity, the environment, and the future. I got up at the end of the conversation with hope and excitement.

Selçuk Şirin insistently emphasizes in his book: ‘Now is not the time to surrender to despair! Neither geography nor ‘destiny’ brought us here. Our past preferences brought us here. From now on, our preferences will be decisive.’

It defines the 7 basic issues of our country. These issues are framed within employment, accommodation, health, education, environment, social trust, happiness, and peace. He lays out the scales of justice in each of them. It deepens the issues with concepts such as gender equality, urbanization, rent, discrimination and trust. It lists solutions for each of them.

_{^{Take responsibility, make your preferences suitably!}}

Personally, I think it is extremely critical to take individual responsibility. We should take action with the right choices. We must take steps for the better and more accurate, albeit small, despite everything. It is important not to avoid personal responsibility when facing major problems. We need to persuade those who wait for change without acting to transfer the issue to others. Encourage them to take action by involving other people and institutions.

One of the most critical issues is the climate and environmental crisis. This issue affects not only our country but also the world. It’s as if everyone is in insensitive immobility, as if a hero will come and save the world. The society hides behind the cover of “What can I do on my own.” It is supposed to teach the world about the hygiene and cleanliness of its home. However, it is not interested in its front door, street, city, or even country. However, we all know that won’t happen. We have the solution; It lies in making our choices right and healthy. However, when we realize this responsibility, transformation begins. It grows and becomes more and more plural as we start making choices accordingly. Every individual who takes responsibility will push their neighbors to take responsibility.

The choices to be made as of today will determine both the upcoming period and the future of new generations. We might live in a better, healthy, happy, civilized country and world. Otherwise, we will narrow this world to ourselves. This will happen due to the problems we have created as a result of our bad choices.

Let’s leave the last word to Selçuk Şirin: ‘We have no time to wait and waste. Now is the time to hit the road. As Mevlâna said, the road is only visible to those who set out.‘