One life worth more than another?

[Cal_21]

Why is it that when atrocities occur, some get more attention than others? What do you guys think it is inside of us that makes us ignore things like genocide? What do you guys think facilitates the disconnect between outrage and action?

I'm referring to Bosnia/Rwanda/Darfur region of Sudan etc. Things that are in our lifetime...The all seeing eye of history will reign down its judgments one day.

I can't help but think if millions of people in richer countries were being slaughtered that the international community would do something...Why is an American, or a Brit's life worth more than a Sudanese life?

Anyways, my rant is over. I'm just curious what your thoughts were.

 

[manny78]

I'm referring to Bosnia/Rwanda/Darfur region of Sudan etc. Things that are in our lifetime...The all seeing eye of history will reign down its judgments one day.

I can't help but think if millions of people in richer countries were being slaughtered that the international community would do something...Why is an American, or a Brit's life worth more than a Sudanese life?

Bosnia/Rwanda/Darfur: no oil and most likely little to offer. That's why...

 

[Cal_21]

Bosnia/Rwanda/Darfur: no oil and most likely little to offer. That's why...

The Darfur region's a wasteland but Sudan's big in oil exporting aren't they? I don't know the specifics but I think they supply Russia or China or something with oil.

 

[KillahBee]

a) holy flaming cliche

b) It's simple - most human beings cannot process huge numbers in a realistic manner. I recently read a great article about this (I'll try to find it and link it). It's a human brain function issue, not some moral bullshit issue. If I tell you 7 million people died yesterday, you will not be able to process this number in a logical everyday scenario. If I tell you my brother passed away, well, this is much easier for your brain to comprehend.

 

[manny78]

The Darfur region's a wasteland but Sudan's big in oil exporting aren't they? I don't know the specifics but I think they supply Russia or China or something with oil.

But they're blacks. That doesnt sell a lot of newspaper....

 

[Cal_21]

But they're blacks. That doesnt sell a lot of newspaper....

That's what bothers me. Why wouldn't it?

 

[manny78]

That's what bothers me. Why wouldn't it?

The colonial mentality I guess ?

 

[binö]

for the usa, it's a no win situation.
eveytime we attempt to "liberate" a country, it backfires on us ('nam, iraq, somalia) and everyone hates us, including our own people.
watch, if we entered dafur peeps would be protesting american colonalism/policing.
no win