Are local lives more important than those in the distance?
Do we care if a Mexican drinks contaminated water and dies prematurely in Mexico? But what if the same person had become a United States citizen, eaten some infected food and then died here. Does it make the death more significant?
If American children were found to work 14 hour shifts, 7 days a week and beaten while sewing cheap jeans--wouldn't we freak out?? Would anyone buy the jeans?
Yet in China, Bangladesh and so many other countries that is how our clothes are made. Is it ok to buy the clothes as long as those are not American children??
These types of questions always puzzle me. Obviously the logic would extend to war, international disease and suffering, even immigration.......
I can not figure it out: are human beings only able to be empathetic to those they perceive as locals or equals? Is self-interest at play? Worried that it may happen to you?? Or is indifference to global suffering a form of racism?
(Of course this is not an attitude unique to Americans, but probably ubiquitous internationally) It is just a piece of the puzzle that makes up the human condition.
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