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[quote=Anonymous]I don’t think it has to do with empathy, OP. As you pointed out the issue is not that you aren’t aware of degrading poverty and inequality everywhere. You just can’t bear to see it. That’s not empathy, that’s dehumanizing to the people you are pitying. They are human beings also and yes, most human beings on this planet do not live like you.

When I traveled in India I went through several regions for a few weeks and then lived in a rural village to volunteer with a local NGO. Easily one of the richest and most amazing experiences of my life, not because I was “helping” but because of the beauty of the village and the people I met. I did a similar thing in Cambodia and saw things that would turn many people’s stomachs (child trafficking). It’s very hard and you can’t get the people’s stories out of your mind. That’s the human condition. We can’t get away from it by only traveling in Europe! When I traveled in South Africa I visited the townships with a friend who ran a NGO there. It’s homes made out of trash and scraps for as far as the eye can see. We donated a scholarship to our friend’s NGO, not out of pity but because we admired the students he was helping so much. They were true leaders and incredible people.

When you take the time to understand the dynamics of these places and the ways in which colonialism and ongoing exploitation shapes their histories, you really see the world you live in. You will also meet — as in any situation with people in need — incredibly talented and noble individuals in this society who dedicate their lives to others. It’s not squalor, OP, it’s people’s lives. They don’t just need other people to feel sorry for them and feed them scraps. They need a better world to live in.[/quote]

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