First World Problems

This morning I want to sleep in, but the sound of lanscapers with weed whackers wakes me up at 7:00 AM. I roll over and cover my ears with a pillow, but it does little to drown the noise.
First world problems

Around 8:30 I fight to get out of bed in my chilly room. Our AC is set to a comfortable temperature, but all the cold air seems to collect in my room keeping it well below the thermostat setting.  I end up wearing a sweatshirt inside even thought it's nearly 100ºF outside.
First world problems

Today I need to drive about a half-hour to the FAU main campus in Boca Raton to submit some paperwork.  I start my car and notice that the gas light is on, so have to I stop at a gas station. Regular unleaded is $3.62 in Davie, and I brace myself for the hit to my credit card.
First world problems

I arrive on campus and wait in the Human Resources office while they help another student. She doesn't have sufficient ID with her to finish her tax forms.  The HR employee says that her parents will probably need to express ship her passport to her so she can finish her paperwork in time to start her job.
First world problems

As I listened to NPR on my drive back to Davie, the scheduled program was interrupted to broadcast Secretary of State John Kerry's address regarding intelligence collected in Syria.  I had seen headlines about recent events but hadn't read the stories.  He described the aftermath of a chemical weapons strike led by the Syrian government that killed over 1,400 of their own people, and he stated that the U.S. is carefully considering how to react (but lets be honest, with our track record, military intervention is inevitable).

In pop culture we use the phrase "first world problems" as a meme and a joke in recognition of the inconvenient non-problems we so often encounter and occasionally let ruin our days.  And, really, they are some of my favorite jokes. Today, I began to consider our real first world problems.

I don't have a comprehensive understanding of our foreign policy.  But we are undeniably a nation with strong influence over the rest of the world.  How hard must it be for the government to weigh our roll in international affairs?  It's easy to say we should mind our own business and let a country resolve its own civil war.  But can we turn a blind eye to the slaughter of innocent people?  If we intervene are we agitating the problem or will we send a definitive message that chemical weapons have not been tolerated in nearly 100 years?

Real first world problems exist on an individual level as well.  Instead of landscapers, I could have been awakened by artillery fire and missile strikes. Instead of cold air, my room could have been filled with poisoned gas.  And, as a woman, my desire to continue my education and pursue a career could be met with disapproval and persecution instead of support and encouragement.  I live in a country of privilege for no other reason than I was lucky enough to have been born here.  Sometimes I feel guilty because I don't know how I can personally use that status to make a difference for someone who might not be so lucky. That is my real first world problem.

As Kerry finishes his address, I finally notice that I'm about to miss my exit.  I merge across three lanes of traffic and barely make it.  Then I realize it's actually the wrong one.
First world problems.