Recently, it has become more common to hear, in different spheres of our society and daily life, the expression: That’s not my problem!

This expression denotes apathy and, even more so, indifference. At the opposite extreme is charity.

Charity comes from the Latin Caritas, which means “love,” “affection,” or “compassion.” While it is associated with a theological virtue, expressed through selfless love for others, it is also an attitude of solidarity with the suffering of others, which is put into action when we act with altruism, selflessness, and, above all, with mercy.

Regarding this, a simple but very powerful definition of mercy from the Catholic religion is the compassionate treatment given to a person regardless of their merits.

In that sense, imagine how much good we would do if our attitude in all our interactions and every facet of our personal, academic, work, and social lives were based on a loving, compassionate, and merciful perspective. I dare say that this should be the appropriate attitude, not the politically correct one.

Now that all of us, without exception, from a young age, want to be leaders in our fields, I invite you to put the virtue of charity into practice.

• If communication is lacking in our home, provide the means for all members to express their opinions and establish clear rules.
• If at school I see bullying of a classmate, I must intervene.
• If there is a disagreement among friends, I must intervene.
• If on the street I witness a lack of civility, I must intervene.
• If at the office I witness an unjust or dishonest act, I must intervene.
• If I want our country to change, we must actively participate in our work to achieve this.

I invite each of you to recognize that we have “a privileged position reflected in our educational level, employment, housing, access to healthcare, etc.”

Therefore, I believe it is up to us to be agents of change, seriously and truly, from the place we occupy in our society. Let us not be content with saying: “I pay my taxes, the rest is the responsibility of others.”

Some phrases that fit us perfectly, to reflect on this topic.

• Faith and hope are two good friends, but greater than both is charity. Saint Augustine of Hippo.
• There is no good that delights us if we do not share it. Seneca.

Let us become aware of the good we do, displaying the virtue of charity and letting it be expressed in acts of mercy, in the broadest sense of the word, not just through welfare or giving alms.

Let’s row against the current, let’s make the expression in the title change and say: That, yes, is my problem and I will do everything in my power to be part of the solution!