Humanity has lost sight of its humanity

To the editor:

Economic inequality in the United States and worldwide has become an increasingly serious social injustice. Capitalism’s free market systems and wealth transfers temper global economic disparity. Generation to generation, the rich become richer and the poor become poorer.

As Americans, we somehow justify global poverty as the responsibility of others. However, truly eradicating global poverty and economic inequality requires global cooperation. Many intellectuals and revolutionists embodied many of these same inherit beliefs, that no matter what nationality, race or religion, we are all human.

Poverty, social oppression and hunger know no borders, so why should we? Humanity has lost sight of our own humanity; we are born into categories that society has already assigned us. Race, religion, nationality and yes, even economic class, have become more than just circumstance; they have become extensions of our humanity — as if to say Christians and Muslims are different breeds of humans.

Suddenly, “taking care of our own” means that Americans provide only for other Americans, letting differences dictate our actions. It’s common to hear someone say we need to get “back to our roots.”

My message is no different, except it requires looking beyond the categorical breeds we call our “roots,” and deeper into what makes us human.

Economic inequality can only be addressed when we transcend social and physical borders, and when humanity provides for humanity.

Noah Ripley, Wasilla

Student at Western Washington University