The Scientist
Over on Facebook my sister posted a link to Edward Norton’s fundraiser for the scientist. They raised $10,000 in the time it took for her to read the eight short quotes from Humans of New York about this particular Syrian refugee. At the time of me posting this, they’ve raised almost $430,000 for this fellow.
And all I can think is, with all the hate and bombast currently being directed against Syrian refugees, what was it about this one fellow that struck a chord with so many people?
Is it because he’s suffered? All Syrian refugees have suffered. One of the other people profiled in this batch of refugees on Humans of New York had a broken leg that would need to be rebroken and set properly once he got to the States.
Is it because his home was bombed? That’s pretty much a universal experience for all Syrian refugees too.
Is it because he’s lost family members? Other Syrian refugees have lost family members.
Is it because he’s sick? Other Syrian refugees are sick.
So I have to conclude that it’s because he’s educated and used to be wealthy. That while we’re unwilling to help poor farmers who have been driven off their land, if you have a Ph.D. we’ll welcome you with open arms and raise money to fly you over here, rent you a house, and pay your medical expenses.
*sighs*
I’m actually quite disappointed in people for this whole fundraiser, because it just seems to hammer home our whole problem with inequality in this country, how some people are more worthy than others. That if you’re “exceptional” that you deserve support, but if you’re just an ordinary Joe well then… screw you.
I'm always fascinated by who we consider to be "worthy" of our charity. *sighs* And often it feels like it's those who seem to need our help the least. Why do we ignore those with the greatest needs? Is it because we can't put ourselves in their shoes and empathize with them?
And all I can think is, with all the hate and bombast currently being directed against Syrian refugees, what was it about this one fellow that struck a chord with so many people?
Is it because he’s suffered? All Syrian refugees have suffered. One of the other people profiled in this batch of refugees on Humans of New York had a broken leg that would need to be rebroken and set properly once he got to the States.
Is it because his home was bombed? That’s pretty much a universal experience for all Syrian refugees too.
Is it because he’s lost family members? Other Syrian refugees have lost family members.
Is it because he’s sick? Other Syrian refugees are sick.
So I have to conclude that it’s because he’s educated and used to be wealthy. That while we’re unwilling to help poor farmers who have been driven off their land, if you have a Ph.D. we’ll welcome you with open arms and raise money to fly you over here, rent you a house, and pay your medical expenses.
*sighs*
I’m actually quite disappointed in people for this whole fundraiser, because it just seems to hammer home our whole problem with inequality in this country, how some people are more worthy than others. That if you’re “exceptional” that you deserve support, but if you’re just an ordinary Joe well then… screw you.
I'm always fascinated by who we consider to be "worthy" of our charity. *sighs* And often it feels like it's those who seem to need our help the least. Why do we ignore those with the greatest needs? Is it because we can't put ourselves in their shoes and empathize with them?