Bioethics Discussion Blog: The American vs Haitian Homeless: Irony and Injustice?

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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The American vs Haitian Homeless: Irony and Injustice?

To start, I want to be clear that I am not against the United States government's humanitarian aid to Haiti and the people of Haiti either now or in the future including reconstruction. However, I am struck by the irony in political behavior where there seems no political will in America to feed, house, educate, get jobs and provide adequate medical care for the millions of homeless, unbefriended and hungry Americans here at home. Yes, there is political concern for support to the "middle class" and Wall street but where is any politician coming out and saying "I intend to allow my government to spend all the money necessary to support the homeless in the United States"? Those on our American streets without home or food are just as helpless and needing of governmental assistance and help as those as those currently living on the streets now in Haiti. If this is political blindness toward one group but not to another, it seems to me that this represents a humanitarian injustice beyond being simply ironic. What do you think? ..Maurice.

1 Comments:

At Saturday, February 13, 2010 6:03:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Excellent point, Dr. Bernstein.
It is not just the US govt - the world over, people are apparently moved by "acute" disaster situations, but when it comes to people living mired in chronic poverty and deprivation (the very conditions which make them vulnerable to the worst consequences of natural disasters, in the first instance), then apparently we become habituated and inured to the suffering. The same thing happened during the Tsunami. The survivors continue to be impoverished - but the crisis is over, and the world has forgotten once more.

The moral of the story seems to be that acute disasters invite profound sympathy and aid, while chronic deprivation is tolerated and ignored.

It is hypocrisy of the worst kind, but most of us are culpable.

Lakshmi Raina
(A physician like yourself).

 

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