Note how human society rationalizes the appearance of wealth. In the East, a Brahmin is privileged by past life karma. In the West, a prosperous Calvinist is the Elect of God. Such value systems rate a human by their external conditions, the attainment (or lack) of material wealth. You are who you are, rich or poor, because you deserve it.
In the time of Charles Dickens, those left behind by rising prosperity were known as as “the deserving poor”, as opposed to “the undeserving poor”, whom Fortune had not favored. A simple twist of Fate.
Perhaps it is true that Life places us exactly where we need to be for our growth, that human struggle is rewarded. But this rationale also excuses willful neglect. Great struggle can lead to great attainment — or to needless suffering.
Well said (as always) Umair. We are responsible not just for ourselves, but for each another.
