--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How about Burma, Somalia, Afghanistan…" description: "\"How about Burma, Somalia, Afghanistan, Libya, our streets, our neighborhoods, our own minds. We don't have to look far - and we should look far as well..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/758/joan-halifax-11817_afghanistan_how-about-burma-somalia-afghanistan-liby_2683874.png" --- # How about Burma, Somalia, Afghanistan, Libya, our streets… ![“How about Burma, Somalia, Afghanistan, Libya, our streets, our neighborhoods, our own minds. We don't have to look far - and we should look far as well.” quote by Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/758/joan-halifax-11817_afghanistan_how-about-burma-somalia-afghanistan-liby_2683874.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/758/joan-halifax-11817_afghanistan_how-about-burma-somalia-afghanistan-liby_2683874.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/758/joan-halifax-11817_afghanistan_how-about-burma-somalia-afghanistan-liby_2683874.png) > “How about Burma, Somalia, Afghanistan, Libya, our streets, our neighborhoods, our own minds. We don't have to look far - and we should look far as well.” [Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Global and personal crises are close; awareness of local issues reveals broader patterns. **In simple terms:** Local issues reflect global crises. Key Takeaway Look beyond immediate surroundings. Themes social justice mindfulness interconnectedness Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical activist When to use this quote - urban planning - mental health - environmental activism Key Concepts systems thinking community activism Questions to Reflect On - What local issue mirrors a larger global challenge? - How can personal mindfulness address societal problems? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on distant problems can ignore immediate needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afghanistan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) [Burma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burma/) [Far Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/far-look-1808191/) [Libya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libya/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Look Far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-far/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Neighborhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighborhood/) [Neighborhoods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighborhoods/) [Neighborhoods Minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighborhoods-minds-2602426/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Somalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somalia/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [It's hard to turn back it's very far to look there and reach there live the now and the future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mahamooi/it-s-hard-to-turn-back-it-s-very-far-to-look-there-and-reach-there/) [Dave Mahamooi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mahamooi/) > [You can only look forward as far as you can look back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-dart/you-can-only-look-forward-as-far-as-you-can-look-back/) [Raymond Dart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-dart/) > [Whenever I see moon I rememer yuh cuz No matter where we r or how far we are we always look at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazz/whenever-i-see-moon-i-rememer-yuh-cuz-no-matter-where-we-r-or-how-far/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazz/) > [Before you quit because the road seems too long, turn around and look how far you have come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany/before-you-quit-because-the-road-seems-too-long-turn-around-and-look/) [Brittany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany/) > [I don't look too far ahead, to be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/i-don-t-look-too-far-ahead-to-be-honest/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [I've never been one to look too far ahead since I came back into the England side and I'm not going to change that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-thorpe/i-ve-never-been-one-to-look-too-far-ahead-since-i-came-back-into-the/) [Graham Thorpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-thorpe/) > [In the light of our culture, these are not unreasonable questions and tactics, but if once again, we try to see the lens through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dundes/in-the-light-of-our-culture-these-are-not-unreasonable-questions-and/) [Alan Dundes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dundes/) > [My idea being that for the sublime and the beautiful and the interesting, you do not have to look far away. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedda-sterne/my-idea-being-that-for-the-sublime-and-the-beautiful-and-the/) [Hedda Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedda-sterne/) > [“Look how far we’ve come. Look at us now. Ache for ache. Smile for smile. I only ever wanted to live this life with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-ritchie/look-how-far-we-ve-come-look-at-us-now-ache-for-ache-smile-for-smile/) [Krista Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-ritchie/) > [You only look at far places while I am right here, you know if you'd only turn your head just a little, you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dream-of-doll/you-only-look-at-far-places-while-i-am-right-here-you-know-if-you-d/) [Dream Of Doll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dream-of-doll/) > [I always try not to look too far ahead. I just look far enough to know where I'm going next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ortega/i-always-try-not-to-look-too-far-ahead-i-just-look-far-enough-to-know/) [Brian Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ortega/) > [Compare not thyself with those that have less than thyself, but look on those that have far exceeded thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/compare-not-thyself-with-those-that-have-less-than-thyself-but-look/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [I try not to look too far ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-reid/i-try-not-to-look-too-far-ahead/) [Eric Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-reid/) > [I don't want to look too far ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jofra-archer/i-don-t-want-to-look-too-far-ahead/) [Jofra Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jofra-archer/) > [Those who keep Jesus in their heart will never need to look far when they need him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gabriel/those-who-keep-jesus-in-their-heart-will-never-need-to-look-far-when/) [John Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gabriel/) ## More by Joan Halifax > [We have even done a weekend on Japanese grammar! Not that I know anything about Japanese grammar, but it was Kaz's idea, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-halifax/we-have-even-done-a-weekend-on-japanese-grammar-not-that-i-know/) [Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/) > [Developing our capacity for compassion makes it possible for us to help others in a more skillful and effective way. And compassion helps us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-halifax/developing-our-capacity-for-compassion-makes-it-possible-for-us-to/) [Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/) > [Buddhist practice is the grounding for this work, this life, this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-halifax/buddhist-practice-is-the-grounding-for-this-work-this-life-this-way/) [Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/) > [ We have been teaching together \[with Kaz\] now for more than twenty years in sesshins, in international travel programs in Japan and China, as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-halifax/we-have-been-teaching-together-with-kaz-now-for-more-than-twenty/) [Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/) > [All are interconnected...the environment; rights of the dying; care of caregivers; education and medical care for peoples of the Himalayas; prison work; those living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-halifax/all-are-interconnected-the-environment-rights-of-the-dying-care-of/) [Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/) > [“Within and around the earth, within and around the hills, within and around the mountains your authority returns to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-halifax/within-and-around-the-earth-within-and-around-the-hills-within-and/) [Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/) > [“Some of us are drawn to mountains the way the moon draws the tide. Both the great forests and the mountains live in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-halifax/some-of-us-are-drawn-to-mountains-the-way-the-moon-draws-the-tide/) [Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/) > [I am working on a technical paper on compassion. So I am reading everything I can on the subject, including my own mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-halifax/i-am-working-on-a-technical-paper-on-compassion-so-i-am-reading/) [Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/) > [ \[Kaz\] is a great scholar, very funny - a true man of no rank! ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-halifax/kaz-is-a-great-scholar-very-funny-a-true-man-of-no-rank/) [Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/) > [Compassion has enemies, and those enemies are things like pity, moral outrage, fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-halifax/compassion-has-enemies-and-those-enemies-are-things-like-pity-moral/) [Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/) > [The roots of all living things are tied together. Deep in the ground of being, they tangle and embrace. This understanding is expressed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-halifax/the-roots-of-all-living-things-are-tied-together-deep-in-the-ground/) [Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/) > [ I remember having a discussion with \[Kaz\] about his translation of the word shunyata as "boundlessness," instead of the more traditional "emptiness." I said:… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-halifax/i-remember-having-a-discussion-with-kaz-about-his-translation-of-the/) [Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/) > [If compassion is so good for us, why don't we train our health care providers in compassion so that they can do what they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-halifax/if-compassion-is-so-good-for-us-why-don-t-we-train-our-health-care/) [Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/) > [May I see my own limits with compassion, just as I view the limits of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-halifax/may-i-see-my-own-limits-with-compassion-just-as-i-view-the-limits-of/) [Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/) > [Cease consuming, practice generosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-halifax/cease-consuming-practice-generosity/) [Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/) [Explore all 57 Joan Halifax quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/) ## More Afghanistan quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [They're criminals, they brutalized Afghanistan, they killed our people, they destroyed our land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-karzai/they-re-criminals-they-brutalized-afghanistan-they-killed-our-people/) [Hamid Karzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-karzai/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [According to a recent Harvard study, $6 trillion, when you include the ongoing healthcare expenses for our wounded soldiers, which is the least they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/according-to-a-recent-harvard-study-6-trillion-when-you-include-the/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [You don't bargain with terrorists. You don't appease terrorists. And anybody who believes that this is about something we've done has to ask themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chertoff/you-don-t-bargain-with-terrorists-you-don-t-appease-terrorists-and/) [Michael Chertoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chertoff/) > [“I stood with my mom in the cemetery. She felt terrible pain. My grandmother is with God. My mom has to continue living. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/i-stood-with-my-mom-in-the-cemetery-she-felt-terrible-pain-my/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [The most successful cultural diplomacy strategy integrates people-to-people or arts/culture/media-to-people interactions into the basic business of diplomacy. The programs in Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-p-schneider/the-most-successful-cultural-diplomacy-strategy-integrates-people-to/) [Cynthia P. Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-p-schneider/) > [Because Iran understands Afghanistan far better than Americans do, making Iran a partner in a long-term effort to transform Afghan agriculture makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/because-iran-understands-afghanistan-far-better-than-americans-do/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I have been to Afghanistan many times, even before the Taliban collapsed. I was fascinated by the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-khan/i-have-been-to-afghanistan-many-times-even-before-the-taliban/) [Kabir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-khan/) > [There has been sort of, if you will, a moral interventionism on the part of the United States trying to reshape countries in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/there-has-been-sort-of-if-you-will-a-moral-interventionism-on-the/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The legal system in Afghanistan is very immature and porous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/the-legal-system-in-afghanistan-is-very-immature-and-porous/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) [Browse all 1,159 Afghanistan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afghanistan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How about Burma, Somalia, Afghanistan, Libya, our streets, our neighborhoods, our own minds. 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