So smart Mike. I feel like this is related to certain...compassion gaps, for lack of a better term. People with privilege (money, good looks, health, whatever) want to believe that they have those things because they are good people.
So when a person doesn't have those things, instead of empathy and compassion, the privileged person tends to search for blame or a reason to withhold aid. They distance themselves from those who don't have their privileges because they are afraid they might "catch" poverty or acknowledge that they aren't morally superior, it is a threat to their sense of self.
Hrrrm not putting this as well as I would like to but maybe that makes some sense.
So smart Mike. I feel like this is related to certain...compassion gaps, for lack of a better term. People with privilege (money, good looks, health, whatever) want to believe that they have those things because they are good people.
So when a person doesn't have those things, instead of empathy and compassion, the privileged person tends to search for blame or a reason to withhold aid. They distance themselves from those who don't have their privileges because they are afraid they might "catch" poverty or acknowledge that they aren't morally superior, it is a threat to their sense of self.
Hrrrm not putting this as well as I would like to but maybe that makes some sense.
It does make sense!
This was beautifully stated.