7 ms·
Why cares who's responsible? They're humans. Arn't we all responsible for all humans on the planet?
by ashleyp 11y ago
Why cares who's responsible? They're humans. Arn't we all responsible for all humans on the planet?
- jqm 11y agoI don't think we can be. Sadly.
- gyardley 11y agoWhether we should be is up for debate, but no, I'm pretty sure we're not.
- ashleyp 11y agoWho says we're not?
- gyardley 11y agoThe legal codes we're subject to, whether we are or we aren't. I believe in most locales people are responsible for their own children, but - and correct me if I'm wrong, happy to learn something - I don't think there's anything in there that makes anyone responsible for random strangers on the other side of the planet. Again, this doesn't have anything to do with whether we should be responsible for random strangers on the other side of the planet.
- ashleyp 11y agoHello :) So in my perspective, no one can make us =). But - we can choose to be. Or choose not to be. I.e we, individually say if we are or are not. It is our choice. I choose to be (as much as I can, and I may not be able to do much in these circumstances but I try in others of my life as much as possible and I dedicate most of my time to others). I choose to be because I believe this builds a better planet and it encourages help rather than a "I'm not helping i'm not responsible. Find the person to blame and make them pay". But how do we ever find the person to blame? Is it the refugee coming over in hope with their family for a better life? Is it the people fighting in the war? The people who started the war? Who should pay the price? In my studies of humanity and cultures the place that most inspired me was an island where every child was taken care of by every family on that island. There were no barriers, parents treated every kid as their own. So, forgive my post if it has come across as convincing people they should take responsibility that was not the case. I was asking a genuine question in the sense, why can we not help? Why does responsibility matter really?
- treenyc 11y agoYou can be responsible, and it doesn't has to be in the way that allows 'refugees' into your country. People in each country ought to have a choice in that.
- ashleyp 11y agoTrue - there's still ways of helping without that. But what's the fear about letting refugees into the country? Why are people so scared of this? (genuine question =)) It seems to me the only countries whom are scared are the ones who think they're the best, greatest and fear loosing that status. This sounds like idk...country ego? lol.
- caseysoftware 11y ago> Why cares who's responsible? They're humans. Arn't we all responsible for all humans on the planet? How many homeless people do you let crash at your place each night?
- ashleyp 11y agoCaseysoftware - i've had exactly three people crash at my house who were homeless strangers. Only for a few nights each. I have also got chatting to a homeless dude who turned out to be an artist. He carried on a pen drive pictures he'd created over the last few years but he had no computer access and no way to get them. I said i'd take a look and the next day went into a shop and printed every single picture, paid for it and gave it to him. I have no problem giving to strangers and not getting anything in return. I get something back naturally, I feel happier that they are happier. Hence i'm in the process of starting a social enterprise =).
- caseysoftware 11y agoSounds like a great start. When are you going fulltime with it? "It" being letting homeless people crash at your house all the time.
- mrdodge 11y agoWhy do you state this like it's a truth?
- ashleyp 11y agoYou don't think they're Humans?
- mrdodge 11y agoThat we are responsible for them. They are responsible for themselves, they understand that, that's why they go to the most generous countries.
- ashleyp 11y agoI take it you've spoken to loads of refuges then and that's exactly what they said then? "Our childrens lives are at risk, but we fancy risking them more to come to a generous country". I think you misunderstood my point and took it too literally: who cares who's responsible. We can still help people unconditionally without expecting anything in return but within reason. "Hey man, you're going through a really hard time at the moment. It's not my fault what has happened to you and it's not your fault this has happened to you either. But I would be happy to help you regardless." Now, wouldn't that be an amazing place to be? Well done Germany, Iceland and the others. --- Slightly off topic There's videos of locals all going up and greeting refuges and offering toys, food, donations. I can't imagine how amazing it must feel after years of hardship and death on your door to see happy faces greeting you with open arms. That right there would give me hope and a strong feeling of wanting to do everything possibly to repay the people who helped me in my desperate time of need. P.s I wasn't a refugee, but I did grow up in refuges as a child and I met and spoke to refugees. This was going back 18 years ago now, much has changed but I met the most incredible and inspirational people there.
- ryanlol 11y agoWhy would I be responsible for people I don't even know? If I help somebody it's out of kindness, not responsibility.
- ashleyp 11y agoThankyou. That's my point. Who cares? We can still help them out of kindness and unconditionally, not expecting anything back.
- Kalium 11y agoThere are limits, practical as well as rhetorical. Not everyone wants to be lectured about how unconditional kindness is their duty and responsibility. Not everyone wants to be told that this kindness needs to come at significant expense at a time when (insert fiscal problems here, such as Greece or the UK) are already occurring.
- ashleyp 11y agoI'm aware, i'm from the uk. No lecture. I wasnt telling anyone what to do.
- ryanlol 11y agoI don't want to pay extra taxes to help foreigners, I'll gladly donate money to charities. But the second my country started demanding I pay taxes to help refugees, all my income moved over to HK. And no, I don't have a problem with refugees, I'm glad to help them. I have a problem with the state _forcing_ me to help them.
- ashleyp 11y agoYeah I can understand your point. Not nice being told what to do or forced what to do. When did the UK start demanding taxes to help refugees btw? I'm not aware of this.
- 11y ago
- venomsnake 11y agoThat is a view usually held from people that are separated by geography, class or income from a lot of the humans they feel responsible for.