Creativity Manifesto

By Haley Gerstein
Nonprofit Studies Program, Rhode Island College
Providence, Rhode Island

Imagination and creativity are necessary. The clothes you choose to wear, the mural you paint, the object you invent, or the cocktail you come up with are all courtesy of your creative side. Everyone has an imagination and the ability to turn something bland into something beautiful. Without creativity, a term that can be used interchangeably with imagination, innovation and curiosity, we would still be living in caves, without fire.

This manifesto is about creating an intellectually aware world. A society of this nature would have basic morals: racism and homophobia are unacceptable, all living beings are the same and deserve to be treated as such, whether it be man or woman, white or black, human or non human. To create a world of this magnitude takes innovative thinking -- which steams from imagination.

This manifesto declares:

• Children must be educated in a manner that allows them to learn how to think and develop their own thoughts.
• Classes such as music, art, theater and dance will be given equal time to English, math, history and science.
• The core of humanity is humility. A person must have the ability to empathize with all forms of life. These people are environmentally aware and proactive about saving the planet and all its life forms. They lead ‘green,’ cruelty-free lives. Animals are not used for food, fashion or convenience. Cows and chickens now exist for the same reason we do -- to live. Litter is a term found only in outdated dictionaries and there is no such thing as racism or violence because everyone’s life is valued the same.
• Self-expression is strongly urged.
• People will live. Life is about happiness. Your job should reflect your interests, your pay should be comfortable enough to allow you to work a maximum of 40 hours a week -- giving you time for the more important stuff.
• Creative thinking must be encouraged. Every problem has numerous solutions.
• Ignorance is not an excuse. Creativity can lead to anything. Creativity has given us modern medicine; it also gave us gas chambers. All creativity is encouraged and welcome, but people must not be stupid. They must be able to see past the manipulation and sugarcoating. Not all innovative thoughts and creations are positive. It is important to ask questions and draw your own conclusions.

Creativity is the spice of life. It allows us to discover ourselves and design how others see us. It opens our minds for discussions and helps the world evolve.