The world united to offer sympathy and aid to those nations affected by the tsumani. But why are newspapers, television and politicians making such a fuss? Why has the British public forked out more than £100m to help the survivors, and why is Tony Blair now promising 'hundreds of millions of pounds'? Why has Australia pledged £435m and Germany £360m? And why has Mr Bush pledged £187m?
According to the only scientific estimate attempted, Iraqi deaths since the war began number more than 100,000. The tsunami death toll is in the region of 150,000.
Why does the world not unite to offer sympathy and aid to Iraq? Why does the world cheapen Iraqi deaths?
Why do we scramble to make right a natural disaster yet ignore the plight of those who die at the hands of man?
What makes Iraqi deaths bearable and therefore unworthy of our aid?
Question:
Do you feel we as a species devalue death from man made carnage?
BP.
Pity how we value the dead !
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BuddhistPunk
- Posts: 28
- Joined: December 21st, 2004, 8:45 am
- Location: Dublin, Ireland
This is a great question, by the way! And to just get it out of the way, HI! you son-of-a-gun... good to see your user name.
OK, now down to business. "Do we...as a species devalue death from man made carnage." Well historically, I'd say, man not only devalues death from his carnage but also gloats over it. The vanquished foe shows the victor to be the <u>superior one</u> and thus gives him bragging rights. In this country, history shows we devasted a nation of people justifying it with the catch phase was "the only good Indian is a dead Indian." We have shown ourselves to feel superior because of our race, our power, our "earned right" to do so.
As the current war is fought, those who proudly fight it will tell you simply the financial burden of doing so is huge. It is their donation. That we are there to defend the rights of the "oppressed" and in time the conflict will be over and these people will live "free" and have better lives than when we ran over there and stuck our noses into their business. They have bought the "spin" on the necessity of this war. They feel the cost, monetary and in lives (perhaps of their own child), to be worth it. It is not a little sacrifice that some or making.
I do hope we are moving into a time of "enlightenment" of man's value wherever or whatever. Although I have heard it voiced that it is necessary that we routinely have wars just for the survival of the species. To borrow a quote (out of context) from Dickens to "thus decrease the surplus population." That's just cras, isn't it? But there are people who think that war and natural disasters are necessary to "thin out the population." Whatever, I'm not going there.
When this disaster hit, we immediately jumped on the wave of compassion and made a donation to an organization we felt had a reputation for actually going into a distessed area and doing something to relieve the suffering. I was amazed at the response of peoples from around the world to give to help benefit those afflicted by what had happened. Tremendous! I think, by and large, humanity will compassionately respond to such needs.
Some feel it is not their personal obligation but look to government organizations to supply finances to relieve those hurting. After all, they already gave at the office through their tax dollars. Some feel it is up to the wealthy to dig deep into their pockets and give out of their surplus. After all, they already have more money than they can spend in their life time. This is an opportunity to show that as a card holding member of the species of mankind, <b>I am my brother's keeper</b>. This is the item that currently is moving us to tears, so we give.
And did I not totally get off the subject. I'm sorry. I have been thinking about these things. I think we as a species are learning to be more tolerant and generous. I think we need to learn and experience much, much more. I don't think it is a matter of devaluing those dieing in Iraq, I think we will weep and respond to whatever emotionally stirs that need in us to be compasionate. We hurt from the images flashed on the news from the war, we weep for the sons and daughters we know who have died and been injured, we cry for the innocent who die for what we see as wrong reasons. Sad times.
We sit in our affluent, safe homes, shed a few tears, bury our compassion then go about our business of buying our toys and living the good life. Maybe we are desensitized to every single thing that does not effect us directly. Huh?
OK, now down to business. "Do we...as a species devalue death from man made carnage." Well historically, I'd say, man not only devalues death from his carnage but also gloats over it. The vanquished foe shows the victor to be the <u>superior one</u> and thus gives him bragging rights. In this country, history shows we devasted a nation of people justifying it with the catch phase was "the only good Indian is a dead Indian." We have shown ourselves to feel superior because of our race, our power, our "earned right" to do so.
As the current war is fought, those who proudly fight it will tell you simply the financial burden of doing so is huge. It is their donation. That we are there to defend the rights of the "oppressed" and in time the conflict will be over and these people will live "free" and have better lives than when we ran over there and stuck our noses into their business. They have bought the "spin" on the necessity of this war. They feel the cost, monetary and in lives (perhaps of their own child), to be worth it. It is not a little sacrifice that some or making.
I do hope we are moving into a time of "enlightenment" of man's value wherever or whatever. Although I have heard it voiced that it is necessary that we routinely have wars just for the survival of the species. To borrow a quote (out of context) from Dickens to "thus decrease the surplus population." That's just cras, isn't it? But there are people who think that war and natural disasters are necessary to "thin out the population." Whatever, I'm not going there.
When this disaster hit, we immediately jumped on the wave of compassion and made a donation to an organization we felt had a reputation for actually going into a distessed area and doing something to relieve the suffering. I was amazed at the response of peoples from around the world to give to help benefit those afflicted by what had happened. Tremendous! I think, by and large, humanity will compassionately respond to such needs.
Some feel it is not their personal obligation but look to government organizations to supply finances to relieve those hurting. After all, they already gave at the office through their tax dollars. Some feel it is up to the wealthy to dig deep into their pockets and give out of their surplus. After all, they already have more money than they can spend in their life time. This is an opportunity to show that as a card holding member of the species of mankind, <b>I am my brother's keeper</b>. This is the item that currently is moving us to tears, so we give.
And did I not totally get off the subject. I'm sorry. I have been thinking about these things. I think we as a species are learning to be more tolerant and generous. I think we need to learn and experience much, much more. I don't think it is a matter of devaluing those dieing in Iraq, I think we will weep and respond to whatever emotionally stirs that need in us to be compasionate. We hurt from the images flashed on the news from the war, we weep for the sons and daughters we know who have died and been injured, we cry for the innocent who die for what we see as wrong reasons. Sad times.
We sit in our affluent, safe homes, shed a few tears, bury our compassion then go about our business of buying our toys and living the good life. Maybe we are desensitized to every single thing that does not effect us directly. Huh?
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