S/O - Issues

iamjoesgurl

faith's post started me thinking about basic human rights.  Do you think that having food and water is a basic human right?  If so, why do you think so many Americans do nothing to help people in other countries that don't have food or clean water?  If you don't, what do you think are basic human rights?

drama1308

I think basic human rights include clean water and food. I think many American's don't do anything about the issues because they choose to ignore them. Kinda like "out of sight out of mind." I think that if there was more media exposure more people would feel the need to help out.

FaithCaitlin

I believe everyone has a right to clean water and clean food. Why don't Americans or those who are better off help the less fortunate? I think it's simply because they don't care. I think it's easy to not be concerned if it's not effecting YOUR life.

FI and I are certainly guilty of not always doing our part to help the less fortunate. It's easy to decide to go to the movies and out to dinner instead of donating that money (not saying you should always do that but sometimes it weighs heavy on my heart when I think that the movie I just saw could've paid for someone's meals that day... my own convictions..).

It's unfortunate that many people have the "out of sight, out of mind mentality" that drama mentioned above, but sadly I don't think it will ever change.

AshNoel8

Yes, I think food and clean water are basic human rights- we can't survive without them! There are starving people everywhere- even right here in America. I do think some people don't care and feel that it doesn't affect them. Usually anytime the store asks me if I'd "like to donate a dollar or 2 to such and such charity", I always do.... and H and I have also given donations to organizations that we felt were close to our hearts.... but I do know I could get WAY more involved. 

iamjoesgurl

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_issues?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:2390096e-9ca7-4a93-8b90-39ac6f083d8ePost:e22adec6-dab5-4196-a538-b52c0b84a6eb">Re: S/O - Issues</a>:
[QUOTE]It's easy to decide to go to the movies and out to dinner instead of donating that money (not saying you should always do that but sometimes it weighs heavy on my heart when I think that the movie I just saw could've paid for someone's meals that day... my own convictions..)
Posted by FaithCaitlin[/QUOTE]

<div>I struggle with this type of thing too.  </div><div>
</div><div>I think here in the U.S. there are options.  People are hungry, but not starving to death.  There are soup kitchens, food pantries, free lunch at school, food stamps, etc.  In other countries, they literally have nothing if the UN or another organization is not there.  That's why my heart is so affected by the hunger overseas.</div>

ochemjenn

Yes, I believe food and water are basic human rights.

I took a class called "anthropology of human rights" in college.  After food, water, and shelter, people reallystart to disagree.  Something we discussed was that sometimes you don't even think of something as a right until someone tries to take it away.  An example we discussed was being allowed to go to a restroom.  That's something we don't even think about now, but what about factory workers during the industrial revolution?  Or likely factories in other countries even now, where they don't get breaks.