Does goodwill require a disaster?

By Annie Rose Ramos

In the wake of natural disaster, when wild and indifferent fury is unleashed on innocent lives, others who are not directly affected feel compelled to donate, either monetarily or through their time or services.

There emerges a strong desire to effect change towards those traumatized and to enhance the future for those who face unfortunate events. But why is it that disasters such as hurricanes and terrorist attacks compel us to act, yet we dismiss the suffering of those who endure hardship daily?

At times, it seems it takes something truly shocking, some unexpected and dramatic event, to awaken compassion and generosity within us. What about staying informed about the constant helplessness that surrounds us?

For example, immigrants to the United States face violence, harassment and poor living conditions on a daily basis. In a case involving Hollywood Race Track, a business which primarily hires immigrant employees, a couple was arrested after being accused of drug trafficking. In reality, the innocent man and woman had been dealing with harassment and theft by the race track's security guards for several weeks.

Many members of America's work force endure unfair and inhumane conditions that no one should be faced with, but they feel threatened enough to forfeit basic rights for their meager salary.

We all see people begging in the parking lot of the grocery store, and we've seen at Arrupe Center placements the struggles that lower class and immigrant students face during elementary and high school.

Are these not worthy causes to which we should give donations of money or time?

Moreover, the pressing social and economic problems of our nation seem slight in comparison to the kind of health, education, and human rights issues people face worldwide.

Who defends those who have no voice, those who hide in a shroud of anonymity in order to retain what respect they have left? Why does it take a colossal tragedy accompanied by television shows parading horrific images, commercials, fund raisers and star-studded telethons to impact people and stun them into charity?

I do not mean to belittle the outpouring of goodwill and generosity after national disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. My point is that, as students, our awareness of the world and people around us should intensify.

We should take advantage of our intelligence and resources not only for our own benefit, but consistently for the benefits of others.