Has the world become too contaminated?

The more time I spend in this world, the more I wonder if this world is what it was supposed to be.  Since joining Starts at 60, my eyes have been opened to the way of others, to their ups and downs and trials and tribulations.  I have noticed how many of us at an age that is probably in the latter of our lives, have similar problems, similar hopes and similar dreams.  

Health issues have been an eye opener for me because for the most part; I have been quite healthy throughout my life, that is until the past four years.  I have noticed how many of you have multiple problems and certainly health issues that outweigh mine.  I have also noticed that many of you have the same sort of family issues as myself and yes, I believe it helps to know this.  I write on my family issues and find that so many say it could be your story. 

My story is a sad one so to me, this is sad.  I read about how through circumstances beyond control, many are struggling to make ends meet, housing, power and groceries a big concern.  I read of the isolation for many over 60s, and my heart breaks when I read about someone so alone they are in dire straits. 

So, I wonder, is this world of ours how it is supposed to be?  If you are religious, do you believe that God sends these trials to test us?  Do you wonder if you could have done something to make life better?  I don’t begrudge the multi-millionaire his fortune, or the family which seems to have perfect children, living in perfect harmony or others that lead a comfortable, happy life because nothing major has really gone wrong for them.  I am not religious, but I think for those who are if religion helps you in this world, you have a head start on me.  

I believe that as the only world we have, it could stand a lot of improvements and I believe that many of us could stand a lot of improvements along with it.  The world as we know it is far from perfect and so are we.  However, I shake my head and wonder why the man down the street, who has given over forty years to a company, gets fired because of his age.  I wonder why the devoted wife, grandmother, and wonderful neighbour is diagnosed with inoperable cancer.  I wonder why the child molester gets a light jail sentence, but those he molested are scarred for life.  I wonder why domestic violence and rape is way down on the ladder of things in our world to fix.  I wonder why terrorising parts of our world has been able to gather in momentum. 

This is the only world we have, and it is becoming contaminated.  Is it because we have become complacent?  Have we just stopped fighting for what is right?  Have we let our greed and self-importance overcome our compassion?  Do we see an older generation as a nuisance?  This is the only world we have, and despite its flaws, it’s ours.  We need to embrace it and help it along and strive to make it a better world, no matter how much you think you can’t change it.  We all need to try before it’s too late.

What answers do you have for Fran? Do you think that the world needs to change?