Are we human being first or does our Nationality come first?Should a baby born in Africa have the same?

Question

opportunities as a baby born in the West?Are we one humanity or is it everyone for him or herself?

Half the world — nearly three billion people — live on less than two dollars a day.
The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the poorest 48 nations (i.e. a quarter of the world’s countries) is less than the wealth of the world’s three richest people combined.
Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.
Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen.
1 billion children live in poverty (1 in 2 children in the world). 640 million live without adequate shelter, 400 million have no access to safe water, 270 million have no access to health services. 10.6 million died in 2003 before they reached the age of 5 (or roughly 29,000 children per day
http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Poverty.asp

Don't we have a moral obligation to end this?

I'm disapointed a lot of people shy away from answering the original question.You can argue if the state of the world is our responsibility or not or if we have the means and will to fix it but the unwillingness of a lot of people to adress the first question if they consider themselves human or their nationality first says a whole lot

Answer 1

We are always human first. Nationalities are just geographical labels. Realistically speaking, most people are only concerned with providing and supporting themselves. Despite this, there are people who give to those in need. The poverty and actual state of Africa is just heart breaking. A large majority of people living in Africa are poor and/or dying from sicknesses. I think other "wealthy" countries should make more contributions and provide more helping aide to Africa. I believe all people should be able to have the same basic opportunities in life, an education and a job. Also, I believe that health care, food, clothes, and shelter are NEEDS and every HUMAN shouldn't be suppressed from these things.

Answer 2

We have been trying to give the babies in Africa/ Asia/ South America etc. the same opportunities since WWII and has the problem gotten any better?, no, why?,one reason, massive population growth in those parts of the world, every step forward we take we take three steps back because the problem has just gotten that much bigger. Second many countries in the world are massively corrupt, there was a report today about rampant corruption in Iraq, and we keep throwing money at these places and all that happens is it ends up in some official or their cousin's pocket. Third is
just plain incompetence and what can you do about that? I don't know, but I do know that the answers aren't in a check from the US or a European country or Australia or Canada or whoever the solution needs to come from within first.

Answer 3

We are human beings first but tragically many of us are utter sociopaths completely immune to the suffering of anyone.
The contempt for those born into poverty from those who weren't is revolting to me and I can't comprehend where the hate comes from.

Your Q made me think about Tracy Chapmans song "Why?"


Why do the babies starve
When there's enough food to feed the world
Why when there're so many of us
Are there people still alone

Why are the missiles called peace keepers
When they're aimed to kill
Why is a woman still not safe
When she's in her home

Love is hate
War is peace
No is yes
And we're all free

But somebody's gonna have to answer
The time is coming soon
Admidst all these questions and contradictions
There're some who seek the truth

Answer 4

Heres my take on this issue.
Nationalism is key to getting infrastructure in place. Once a country has gone successfully thru that they come out on the other side with a greater appreciation for the world. Currently the USA is very nationalistic; flag waving is patriotism is a common theme. Its interesting to note however that the greatest donor of food in the world is the USA. So we arent exactly taking a dump on the rest of the world. I cant find the article but I read it within the past two days. When the dollar slides down the actual amount of food sent to africa goes down as well. Very interesting.

Answer 5

The problem with Africa is the countries are too close to being divided the way they were in colonial days which was a bad thing since the people who drew the maps didn't consider the African peoples' ethnicity which causes a lot of wars. O ya and barely any African country, with a few exceptions like South Africa, can hold a government together.

Answer 6

We are humans first HOWEVER...who, as an individual do you personally value above most others? Your family!

You would spend extra money more quickly on a family member or helping a family member before anyone you don't know out on the street, right?

So, it is sort of that same thing when it comes to helping others above and beyond our own country. We need to help everyone here first, and THEN if funds are available, we can help people of other countries.

That is just the way it is and definately the way it should be.

You would not want to be forced to leave a family member or friend out on the street because someone or some government came along and said "no everyone is equal and you have to help everyone equally." You just would not be able to help anyone then.

Answer 7

The 30 billion a year that goes to support Israel, their new infrastructures on Palestinian territory, and their universal health care, could probably feed many a hungry child.

Answer 8

So what are we supposed to do? Forefit years of backbreaking labor our forefathers provided for us so we could afford computers, houses, and education and give this acquired wealth to those undeserving of it? I believe charity is an extremely important part of any compassionate person. However, there is a FINE line between charity and socialism. Give a man a cookie, he'll ask for milk.

The way that we can solve global issues is not through income distribution or by taxation of wealthy the way we eliminate issues of poverty worldwide is through education. Rambam, a Sephardic Jewish Talmudic Commentator once said that the highest form of charity is to educate a person to allow him to provide for himself.

"Give a man a fish he eats for a day, teach a man to fish he eats for a lifetime!"

Answer 9

I am me first. The fact that I am a human being doesn't make everyone on the planet a member of my sphere of responsibility.
The life we have in America is an unnatural one. We have work to create an environment that is outside of the natural order of things. People in Africa still live in the environment in which man evolved. If they want out of the Garden of Eden, they need to work at it on their own.
I would tend to think that since things have stay the way they are in Africa since man first walked upright, that's the way they want it.

Answer 10

You speak of morals only when its conveinient. Some people have no business having children if they are not ready financially to have them. I mean, what do you expect from the US, anyways.