Children wash clothes and bathe at a water pipeline surrounded by sewage in Mumbai, India on Wednesday, Nov. 18. AP / Rafiq Maqbool
Children push a cart through a darkened street in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Nov. 20. AP / Mustafa Quraishi
Everyone has something to be thankful for. Just the fact that you're able to read this post means that you have fared well on the so-called "genetic lottery."
I've been trying to remember the name of a prominent person (?author) who suggested that persons in power should formulate their foreign policy on the presumption that they might be reincarnated as a child somewhere else in the world.
The photos above of "the world's children" are selected from a group of about 20 at a Sacramento Bee photoblog.
How do we know those kids aren't happier than your average american child stuck in front of a tv playing computer games? Comfort and happiness aren't the same thing.
ReplyDeleteThe political philosopher you are looking for is John Rawls. In "A Theory of Justice" he introduces the concept of a veil of ignorance.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nolandda. That's the correct concept. Rawls and Kirtley are new to me, so I must have heard the idea quoted by someone else.
ReplyDelete@Michael - Here's some more children who aren't stuck in front of a television. This should really make your day -
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/lequangnhat/sets/72157600569949815/