#20

Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.

Quotes Included Above Prompt:

The idea of caring about only the people of one’s own country seems outdated. Some people still defend this attitude, claiming that if we are going to expend resources to help people, we should help those of our own country first. But national boundaries are meaningless lines that shift over time. There is no reason why a citizen of one country should not feel just as responsible for the well-being of people in other countries as for the well-being of those in his or her own country.

Assignment:

Should we care just as much about people in other countries as we do about people in our own country?

Brainstorm:

For this question, think about the reasons you might want to care about people from your own country before you care about people from other countries. Also, consider why you should care about people from all countries. For an affirmative response, consider the following ideas:

-We should care about those who are closest to us
-We must pay taxes to and be socially responsible for those within our own country already

For a negative response, think of the following ideas:

-All people are created equal, and, therefore, we should care just as much about people in other countries as people in our own

-Country borders are often arbitrary, and do not always reflect similarities in culture, habits, behaviors, or beliefs