There is an article written in The Chicago Tribune on Sunday, January 17th that discusses the differences of the American society compared to the Haitian society. It talks about how American Society is obviously “superior to Haiti’s in almost everything that touches on human well-being.” The article goes on to suggest that American’s have a more successful society because we begin life with the necessary components to succeed as a society compared to the severe lack of necessary components in Haiti including a stable government, individual freedom, and a complex economy.
The ethical issue here involves how to help the Haitians, not just in this time of extreme distress from the earthquake but also on a long-term basis. Steve Chapman, author of this article states, “They inherited a world they didn’t make and have only minimal capacity to change. That’s their misfortune.” How can we help turn the country of Haiti around and help them back on their feet considering the horrible state of the country even before this disaster?
Aristotle talks about living a good life using one’s wealth and not letting wealth become limitless. Considering this, how can one attempt to live a good life if the very foundations to obtain a good life are lacking. He talks about the men in a state coming together and sharing what each has to offer with the entire community. This idea could only have a chance at working if it was in a peaceful state. The current Haitians were born into a state filled with chaos and unjust behaviors; therefore, their chance at attempting to live a good comfortable life is hindered.
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I too read this article and was upset at first, just because the only thing that went through my mind was the United States should take care of itself first before taking care of someone else (longterm help for Haiti). But then it occured to me and had to contemplate on whether my need was more important than those who have suffered and are sufferring even more with the occurance of the Earthquake in Haiti need assistance more than me. What convinced me was actually the reasons of Aquinas when he spoke of what poverty as being bad when one becomes greedy.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog and great insights to this article that I also read!
I think it is the duty of the United States to help out the country of Haiti. As long as we have a surplus of the goods that this country needs we should help them in this time of devistation. But we should not help them by providing the country with money or by influencing the country politically, but we should follow the views of Aristotle. We should only provide what is needed to survive and to get the Haitian people back on their feet. After that it is up the Haitian people to figure out how to provide for themselves and to get what they need to live and to live well as Aristotle would say.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Haiti is an impoverished country due to its history. Haitians revolted against the French in order to become a free country and to not be enslaved like the Africans that were taken from Africa to go to America and work against their will. I believe that if Haitians didn't begin as a country fighting that it would not impoverished today, due to its past history they had no leadership to instruct them to become unified as a country or too each other for that matter. I also believe that if America was too assist Haiti right now in its time of need that it would be for the its own advantage to conquer another country which we all know is America's agenda, i.e. the weapons of mass destruction that they were going to get, that they never gotten. In closing, how can America appear to be so virtuous in assisting Haiti when we had our own crisis here with hurricane Katrina, and we appeared to be helpless, millions was donated, there was still thousands of people displaced, and the area's where the Hurricane occurred is still in ruins.
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