No nation superior
Sep 09, 2005
UGANDA has contributed $200,000 to the United States to help with relief and rebuilding after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Many other countries have also contributed. Although there is some political posturing, these pledges nevertheless demonstrate a fundamental solidarity within humankind
UGANDA has contributed $200,000 to the United States to help with relief and rebuilding after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Many other countries have also contributed. Although there is some political posturing, these pledges nevertheless demonstrate a fundamental solidarity within humankind.
The whole world sympathises
with the plight of New Orleans. However there is another darker sense in which the catastrophe in New Orleans demonstrates our shared humanity. As soon as the hurricane passed, looters raided shops, taking advantage of the absence of law and order. Armed gangs took control of
neighbourhoods.
Women were raped, survivors robbed. When police tried to restore order, they were fired upon. Anarchy prevailed in New Orleans for almost a week. Yet this is the richest and most powerful nation in the world, whose military budget exceeds that of Europe, Russia, China, and India put together.
The truth is that savagery can break out anywhere in the world. It is not just the preserve of poor countries like Rwanda which saw the genocide or Uganda which suffered a million deaths between 1972 and 1986. It can also happen in middle income countries like Serbia and in developed countries like Germany that killed seven million Jews during the Second World War. These were of courses instances of state-inspired violence but they were made possible by their citizens being willing to do things that were obviously wrong.
The swift descent into anarchy in New Orleans should remind us that law and order are very fragile, everywhere in the world. No nation should consider itself morally superior to another. At base we all have the potential for wrongdoing, even for evil.
No nation should consider itself morally superior to another.
The whole world sympathises
with the plight of New Orleans. However there is another darker sense in which the catastrophe in New Orleans demonstrates our shared humanity. As soon as the hurricane passed, looters raided shops, taking advantage of the absence of law and order. Armed gangs took control of
neighbourhoods.
Women were raped, survivors robbed. When police tried to restore order, they were fired upon. Anarchy prevailed in New Orleans for almost a week. Yet this is the richest and most powerful nation in the world, whose military budget exceeds that of Europe, Russia, China, and India put together.
The truth is that savagery can break out anywhere in the world. It is not just the preserve of poor countries like Rwanda which saw the genocide or Uganda which suffered a million deaths between 1972 and 1986. It can also happen in middle income countries like Serbia and in developed countries like Germany that killed seven million Jews during the Second World War. These were of courses instances of state-inspired violence but they were made possible by their citizens being willing to do things that were obviously wrong.
The swift descent into anarchy in New Orleans should remind us that law and order are very fragile, everywhere in the world. No nation should consider itself morally superior to another. At base we all have the potential for wrongdoing, even for evil.
No nation should consider itself morally superior to another.