What to write about? What topic is most on my mind at this time? I'll delve into the most recent political discussion I had because it really gets to the heart of what matters to me.
I think many of us were schooled in the Guns or Butter Debate at some point in our academic careers. I remember Mrs. Fark (really, Mrs. Fark) talking to us about it in the fourth grade. She was stern, tall, buttoned-up, and I think I still have scars on my right wrist where her fingernails dug into me one day. I'm not sure why she made an impression on my scholarly life, but I can remember that when she wasn't terrifying me, she taught me a thing or two. I don't know if she came down on one side or the other of the debate about arming a nation or feeding its people, but she gave us the basics. At the time, I believed that war was evil. I was afraid that my brothers would be drafted and I didn't want anyone to go hungry. My little heart was already beginning to bleed.
Today, we've warped to a time when it seems almost impossible to choose between guns or butter. We are a military nation, expanding our might globally while people starve within our borders and worldwide. I have accepted that I can only fight as far as my arms or my personal resources will reach. I am able to donate funds to local and global charities to help feed those who are without, but I am simply not able to stop the war machine, as much as I might desire to do so.
There is a new debate/choice waging now that I think holds similarities, yet can be looked at on an even more finite ethical level.
Us –vs.- Them.
Well, that sounds a little vague, doesn’t it? Consider the issue of health care. I’ve heard the argument that our elected officials should solve the unemployment crisis before tackling health care accessibility for all Americans. I’ve also heard it said that taxes should be lowered before health care is addressed.
I’ve heard myriad “issues” proposed as more important than health care.
My opinion, my inkling, is that perhaps, PERHAPS, it’s an us –vs.- them issue. Is not the ability to obtain quality health care in a timely manner something that we should expect our citizens to be able to do? I understand the difference between a “right” and a “privilege”. I’m just saying that when I look at my fellow humans, I see no reason why they shouldn’t have access to health care: basic, timely, efficient health care unless it's about taking care of "us" before we take care of "them".
I don’t need my taxes addressed before that happens. I understand that I could lose my job tomorrow. I’ve lost my job before.
I’m talking about the way we treat other human beings. I’m talking about my guns and butter.
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Well said. Of course you know it is my belief that we have a moral responsibility to each other as humans. If everyone could embrace that ideology, things might be better. This is me being self righteous, but I do believe this to be true. Thanks for expressing yourself.
ReplyDeleteUs v Them is a scary debate. Scary to have, scary to listen to, scary even to know that at this moment, it's going on somewhere in the world.
ReplyDeleteWhen people say "Health care should be good/available/free", what they mean is that it should be these things for us. Nobody suggests they should try to make it that way for everyone. And so the question is not whether it should be "universal", because absolutely nobody is arguing for that - the question is, "who is us?"
Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, tend to answer that question in different ways. To some, "us" means people they know - their family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, customers. If all of those people are doing okay, the rest of the world is a distraction. But if those people are hurting, it's their job to fight for them.