I'll have to admit that in class while we were attempting to correctly assemble Singer's essay I only briefly scanned the huge mass of words. But after reading the essay completely I was completely surprised with the way it affected me. Although many aspects of the paper pertained to me, the first part that grabbes my attention was in the begginning where Singer writes about the, "people who would have been quick to condemn Dora if she had not rescued the boy go home to places far more comfortable than her apartment,". I realized that I could easily have been one of those people and may in fact be one right now as I'm in the middle of planing my Sweet Sixteen with my best friend. A few days ago my mom suggested that instead of presents we ask our friends to give an amount of money to a charity of our choice. It would be an understatement to say that my mom's request was not met with open arms. Reading this paper forced me to think twice about the answer I had given my moher and momentarily forced out of my world of happy oblivion. Singer addresses this many times and part of the success of this essay is the way that it shoves the reader out of a world where they can ignore poverty around the world and makes them examine what they're not doing to help it. Although each point that Singer presentes was powerful I thought the paragraph where he actually listed the organizations names and phone numbers was the most influental.
It was at that point where reading this esay went from an assignhment to something that I actually had to consider. Once I was given this information and the challenge that I could no longer be oblivious I seriously considered Singer's idea. Not only was this paper an excellent piece of writing it held ideas that could actual change the world. And although what Singer asks for is not simple and requires particiaption and caring from many people that are unlikely to give it, "knowing where we should be going is the first step to moving in that direction."
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I think your comment is cool, but don't be forced to do anything. I mean, if this essay really did make you consider how you're going to use your sweet sixten money, then just consider it. Then make your decision and what ever happens, happens. I mean the fact that you weren't thinking of giving to charity or the fact that you aren't going to give doesn't make you any worse of a person than the person sitting next to you, or a person that gives. This is really your choice. I bet you want to buy some stuff with that money, but on a different perspective, you could let 10 small kids have their gift with a warm meal, warm clothing, shelter, disease aid, what ever it is that your money goes to, I bet knowing that you made the best day of 10 kids would make your day good too. You would definitely feel good. You can walk out and know that you've helped many kids. I don't know, but that's just my perspective on your situation. Of course, I would have alot of things I would want too, and it is a really hard choice especially after having read this. Just know that whatever it is that you do, we're all on your side because we'd do that too.
If you could, comment on mine please because it's sad that I don't have comments. :)
Sho
P.S. I have 2 accounts becaus eI messed up the first one, I'm not sure it's going to be a problem, but shosurf is the URL I'm using. THANKS
I'm glad that the article helped you to consider giving some money to charity, and open your mind to thoughts of giving back to the world, but on a logical level, to my standards at least, I don't think this article could be considered an "excellent piece of writing". It seemed to me that the most of the points in the article were biased and inaccurate. I know that this is more a personal-moral type point of view, but do you think the situation in which Bob knowingly lets the train kill the kid could fairly compared to not donating to charities? Don't you think Singer is exaggerating a little too much? Or what about Dora? Are you guilty of something equally heinous as selling a child's internal organs to an organ dealer?
It's great that Singer's article inspired you to contribute to charity, but in reality, your not going to be convicted of manslaughter because you didn't give your sweet sixteen money to UNICEF. So enjoy your presents.
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