Reply #55: I never "started" thinking that.

[Selwynn]

I don't have a heirarchical view in which "we" are more important and/or superior to other people.

I also believe that my health and well being is in some ways linked to the health and well being of my "neighbor." I believe in global humanity, not nationalism. Lives of Iraqis are not somehow less valuable or less important than lives of Americans, and it seems racist and classist to say otherwise.

The United States is not merely the goverment of American people, it is the single most powerful and wealthy nation not only in the world today, but in the history of the world. To act like we don't have responsibilty to do what we can with that great wealth and power for the benefit of all people seems wrong.

I don't believe in an either/or that acts like if we do what's right for others we somehow won't be able to do what's right for ourselves. To me that is wrong thinking for two reasons: a) we have more than enough capacity to do what's right both for ourselves and others if we would just stop doing what's wrong for most people in america and what's wrong for others b) what is right for us is related to what is right for others. Bringing better education and better quality of life to others is best for us. Because ignorance and poverty are the primary breeding grounds for desparate violence and terrorism.

When the world's standard of life is elevated, that is a direct benefit to us, it is literally doing what is in our best interests. At the same time, doing that doesn't at all mean that we therefore cannot overhaul our educational system and take care of our own domestic needs. We just need to decide that we want to do what's right and then do it.