"An indispensable building block of moral thought is that all human life is equal. The fact that the deaths of Americans and other westerners attract saturation media coverage, while third word deaths typically fail to register on the media radar highlights a fundamental shortcoming of the value-set of much of the western world. The failing is the cause of incalculable human suffering.
It is the reason that much of the third world continues to starve, while over-eating is likely to the number one health problem in the western world by the end of the next decade."
This is from an article called, The Causes of Incalculable Human Suffering by Mirko Bagaric, BA LLB(Hons) LLM PhD (Monash), is a Croatian born Australian based author and lawyer who writes on law and moral and political philosophy. He is the author of 20 books and over 100 refereed scholarly articles. He is not connected with any political party or other interest group.
6 comments:
Is that piece posted online somewhere?
wow, the images you've chosen to go along with this post -- wow. . they say it all.
Hi danielle, saw this and thought of you, this is the only way i know to make contact hope you read it....
This news is a month old but it's about time the $14.95 Starburys got another mention on here.
Most NBA followers would know that New York Knick Stephon Marbury endorses a line of $15 Starbury shoes through Steve and Barry (evidently a brand in the US).
The concept is that it gives kids, unwavered by big brands or without the money to spend, a chance to own a pair of NBA-athlete-endorsed shoes. (Marbury gets a little cut himself from every sale.)
Back at the end of March, self-proclaimed global megabrand LeBron James and his US$150 shoes came up against the Knicks and a pair of $15 Starburys. On game night, a Newsday reporter asked LeBron about it all. Could LeBron see himself endorsing such a cheap and accessible sneaker?
"No, I don't think so," James said. "Me being with Nike, we hold our standards high."
Note that LeBron apparently grew up in poverty, but seems to have forgotten his past now that Nike (and others) are pulling the strings on his wallet.
Marbury was asked to comment on James' reaction and, after a pause, responded.
"I'd rather own than be owned."
Nice.
Matt G
It's important to remember that most of us reading this blog, myself certainly included, would have far more in common with the gentleman in the first picture than the child in the second. It is easy for me to look down on wealthy greedy gluttons, harder to see it in myself.
Lord forgive us.
the article isn't posted online... but I can email it to you if you are interested... I've got some more strong justice pieces to blog coming up - so stay tuned.
Nice piece about the sneakers... it remains a very difficult field to navigate through consumerism and materialism without becoming dirty inside and out... I'm with Aaron (and Jesus) Lord forgive us... and I'm with Jesus (and I'm sure Aaron)... Lord, your kingdom come... show us how! Let's be the change we want to see in the world.
Great Grace
Wow - yeah, the pictures are stark. Watching people starve is a horrible thing. But maybe everyone in the West should have the "opportunity" because it leave you completely shattered. And you can't go back to "normal" life afterwards...
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