Isn't that unfair? I mean just look at the poor people who live in Africa in extreme poverty and now look in America where most of people live actually good...
2006-08-29 16:27:45 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
You may be surprised to know that folks who live simply are often much happier than those who have SO MUCH - so much to maintain, that is. The more we obtain, the harder we must work to maintain. I find this far more stressful than it would be living day-to-day within a society that also lives day-to-day.
Burdens such as disease, natural disaster, hunger and hard labour affect every human - some in greater magnitude than others. It's all part of living. Our ancestors survived these things with dignity - it is only Western sensibilities that equate simple living with poverty and attach to it such a stigma that those who "have it good" are required to offer pity.
The real sadness comes in seeing the gap between poverty and wealth in Western countries, where the wealthy turn their backs on their neighbours in one breath, and insist with the next breath that people who live simple lives in other countries become civilized like them.
2006-08-29 16:45:17 · answer #1 · answered by joyfulpaints 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Throughout my years I have several times swore that my life is worse than anybody elses. As a child I saw things, lived things and was put through things that no child should ever have to go through. Then I got older and started to suffer one loss after another and heartache after heartache. Now at 28, I have cancer, COPD, emphyzema, heart disease, liver disease, I have a child that has several mental issues, another with autism...and still I sit back and think how much worse it could have been or could be. I always told my mother that even though my chilhood was HELL...I learned so many things. So yeah, I agree that these are challenges God throws at us...he will never fill our plate too full. I feel as though every bad thing that has occured in my life has only been an educational experience...be it good or bad. But even when you think your life is at it's worse...theres always someone out there suffering more than you. The greatest lesson I have learned from my life is compassion. Some people truly do not ask for the things that happen to them whether they are addicts of some sort, homeless, gay, etc...But don't be mislead that the only extreme poverty is in Africa. There are Americans that are just as bad off...I know I was one as a child...no home, no food for days at a time, no clothes, no baths, but for some reason people just don't make it such an issue for Americans.
2006-08-29 16:53:20 · answer #2 · answered by araine77 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This is the question that causes people to want religion, because they want to believe that it will all be set right at some point in the future. Why is a baby born to starving parents who are then wiped out with the rest of their village in the Congo? What could it have done to deserve it or prevent it? And even if there were a good reason behind it, could any reason justify it? No. It just sucks.
2016-03-27 00:51:48 · answer #3 · answered by Kathryn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in America, and I am glad. I really don't know how to answer your question except I go to a church that sends out missionaries to help in any way that they can. We in the congregation help with contributions. I am a Christian without a lot of money, but I respect what my church is doing.
We are only a drop in the Bucket, but we really mean to help people the best way that we can. I have a favorite saying, "I would rather be a part of the solution, as to contribute to the problem". I know for a fact that God will sort it all out for all mankind, he loves us all. One of the biggest problems is not enough people check this out. A true Christian places their trust in a sure thing, That Jesus wants us all to succeed.
2006-08-29 18:07:54 · answer #4 · answered by theodore r 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Who says life is fair?
But, to answer your question, it's because PEOPLE aren't fair. Most of the suffering in this world isn't caused by fate or blind chance, but by other people, either through ignorance, negligence, or intentional malice.
I live by a libertarian creed. That means doing no harm to other people, their property, nor their freedoms. I think if everyone lived by this and actually followed it, there would be immensely less suffering in this world.
2006-08-29 16:34:54 · answer #5 · answered by R[̲̅ə̲̅٨̲̅٥̲̅٦̲̅]ution 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Present suffering is attributed to negative causes made in the past. Considering themselves to blame for their situation, some people have fallen prey to a sense of powerlessness.
As the problems of our planet grow deeper and more complex, the possibility of humanity untangling the destructive web that we have woven can seem less and less easy to believe in. The hope that Buddhism offers to this pervasive sense of uncertainty is the perspective that since the ills of our world have been created by human beings, it is within our power to solve them. Both the problem and the solution lie with us.
2006-08-29 16:49:28 · answer #6 · answered by yejo 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
because without good there wouldnt be bad, that is the way i look at it... it depends on how you look at it in some situations, but in others, like the one you have listed it takes people like us to help them, but we are too busy making our own lives better to look at theirs and see that they need the money more than we do, i mean what is more important? you getting that bigger tv or some people in africa being fed for a few months? if that was you in that situation you would think about it alot differently...
some people are put in a bad situation so god can see how many good, unselfish people are out there to help them out
2006-08-29 16:37:52 · answer #7 · answered by penguin 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think a lot of it is what you tell yourself (thoughts), and recognizing opportunities and taking advantage of them. (good decisions).
Poverty in third world countries is a different matter. Poor economic development is part of the problem. Corrupt governments are the other half. What DO they do with all of that billions of dollars in aid we send them ?
2006-08-30 00:41:14 · answer #8 · answered by Big Bear 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe in our past lives we have suffered as they are suffering now. Maybe at the beginning of each life we experience different things and depending on our spirituality and faith in God we reach different levels. In the life I am living now, I have experienced being a mother. Maybe in my past life I was striving to have children so that is why I appreciate my girls so much now. Maybe in my next life I will experience what it is like to have children and not be able to provide for them and this life has prepared me to handle that situation..... just a thought!
2006-08-29 16:34:20 · answer #9 · answered by ru.barbie2 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
luck of the draw ,do you think people, in Africa or some other poor countries are working lees hard that some industrialized countries .you also have to factor greed,and how some people applied it to either harm or benefit
2006-08-29 16:38:24 · answer #10 · answered by emilo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋