Hatey

"We have enough problems within our own country."

"Why don’t we help our own before we help other people?"

"Why do we help other people when our own people are suffering?"

Or, perhaps the truly understandably annoyed, "I missed my show because of that telethon!"

Such were the familiar refrains echoed throughout the Internet and in casual conversations throughout various watering holes, dinner tables and other forums of debate.

“Our own” and “us”. The true red herrings of subtle racism and xenophobia. But, let's examine these old standbys of the exclusionist. Who are “our own” and “us”? Are "we" simply limited to some border or territory? Are "we" only limited to people who share a certain background? Are "we" not all “one of us”? Are we to simply use some arbitrary factor such as where we happened to be born to decide who is worthy to be helped? Do we not bleed or hurt any more because we live on another point of the globe?

Before one gets too offended or sensitive over this lack of distinction consider the teachings of any religious figure or even some social and political leaders who would share these sentiments. Would Gandhi only wish for peace and equality for the people of India? Did Dr. King not want peace and good will to all because their feet stood on foreign soil? At the risk of sounding presumptuous I think the answer is a resounding no. It’s just a hunch.

People are people. We all hurt and we all feel pain. In fact, pain and suffering is one of the most basic emotions that bind us. The empathy and desire to help those in need should not stop at our borders either.

Love is another basic component of our lives that bind us. The love for family, the love for our differing religious figures, the love of humanity. Yet, despite this love we all possess inside of us we so often choose exclusion, selfishness and a simmering apathy for others bordering on hate. All this exists simply because of their coordinates on a map? Naturally, there are those who, for fear of confronting their true motives, will dismiss such suggestions. It seems the truth has an even closer border for these folks.

There is pain and suffering everywhere. No matter where you look there are others in need and suffering. This is a convenient excuse for the do-nothingers who criticize others for trying to help. We have actually come to a point where helping others is castigated as being the wrong course of action.

For those who think we should only help "ourselves" it's important to bear in mind we can't even share that sentiment. The lack of desire to help others in need is not relegated to those outside of our borders. After Katrina, earthquakes within our own borders and other unforeseen tragedies, some people have spoken out against sending aid. While it is true we are a giving and caring people, with a few significant exceptions, there are many who think private donations are the only necessary form of aid. However, what is needed to help others is often more than what can realistically be raised through personal donations. There is a time for "us" as a nation to send aid.

I know. I know. Who helps us when we have a disaster? As if it mattered (which it doesn't) lots. After the disaster that was Hurricane Katrina, at least 59 nations and international organizations offered aid to the United States according to blomberg news blomberg news. But, that is neither here nor there. We should be proud of our country for coming to those in need.

Anyone who can look at a fear stricken child and dismiss their pain in the name of only wanting to help "their own" has to be living in a mindset many of us could never relate.

To put it all in perspective, what if that was your child or your friend suffering? What if, hold onto your hat, that was you suffering? I think the matter of where it was that you suffering would mean little if you needed assistance. If that was someone you knew and cared about you would do anything to help them? Then, based on this line of thinking, there is no reason we shouldn't help others in need. For, we are all one. One people with one heart.