How much is too much?

The Singer Solution to World Poverty, by utilitarian philosopher Peter Singer, was a short article that was read as an assignment a few weeks ago. This article was very creatively written with two extreme examples of Singer's idea on how we should help world poverty. Singer's words force the readers to think about their own lives, and morally challenges them to help others less fortunate. He even gives web addresses and charity contact numbers following his two examples of moral decisions. The Gift, a story about Zell Kravinsky as told by Ian Parker takes the word 'humanitarian' to an extreme. Zell Kravinsky was a unorthodox successful business man who donated over 45 million dollars in real estate fortune to numerous charities along with undergoing a kidney transplant to donate to a woman whose name he only knew. After reading these stories of unbelievable humanitarians, we were instructed to conduct interviews with a partner from our class with self made questions regarding The Singer Solution to World Poverty and The Gift.

Q: Peter Singer seems to define a humanitarian as a person who will forgo personal luxuries to donate one-third of their income to charities. Zell Kravinsky seems to define a humanitarian as someone not only donates money but also unnecessary body organs (it is stated in the article that Kravinsky considers anyone who is not donating a kidney is a murderer). Which of these definitions do you agree with? Do you consider yourself a humanitarian?

Kimo: "I don't agree with either one of these definitions. They are both too extreme...I consider myself a humanitarian but in a different way then Kravinsky or Singer does. I donate time rather than money. I never give money, I'll give my time...it makes more of a difference and makes me feel good at the same time. I'll go visit sick little kids in the hospital or any other kind of charity work I can participate in where I am donating my time. I will donate my time whenever I can...it makes me feel good."

Q: In The Gift we saw that Zell Kravinsky had donated nearly 45 million dollars to charity and then donated a kidney to a low income Black woman. Kravinsky was consistently giving to others. Do you think there is a limit as to how much a person should give of themselves (money, time, ect.) ?

Kimo: "From my perspective, Kravinsky donating 45 million dollars and a kidney was a bit overboard. As I have said, giving away time is more important then giving money and it makes you feel really good inside. I believe in taking care of yourself and your family first, then giving away to others...how are you supposed to take care of others when you can't even take care of yourself? I personally don't believe you should give more to others than you would give to yourself."

Q: Zell Kravinsky has stated "I would not let many children die so my kids could live,". If you were in a situation where you had to save either your family or a town full of people, which would you save?

Kimo: "I would save my family. My family is the most important thing in the world to me. I would always save my family...they make me the man I am, I wouldn't be here without them...they support me in every single aspect. I would do anything to save my family in that situation."

Q: In The Gift Zell Kravinsky goes through an organ transplant when he is donating his kidney. In this operation there is a one in four thousand chance of dying. Do you feel that having an organ transplant is putting your family's life in danger?

Kimo: "No, I dont think you are necessarily putting your family's life in danger because there is a very slim chance of death. But I can definitely understand why a family may be concerned if someone in their family is having the operation done. Its a scary situation for anyone but most times it will turn out well and its saving the life of another person in desperate need."

Q: In The Singer Solution to World Poverty Peter Singer gives two examples of choices people can make in regards to donating to charities. He also gives contact numbers and web addresses following each example. What do you think Singer's purpose of writing this article was?

Kimo: "I think that Peter Singer wrote this article to make people more aware of what is going on around the world. In some ways I feel like Peter Singer was telling the reader not to waste their money on things they don't need...like bigger televisions or new cell phones. I believe in keeping it simple, not spending money on unnecessary items. I wouldn't spend a few hundred dollars on a new television when I have a perfectly good one at home. I think that was the message Peter Singer was trying to get across to his readers...if we all just used the money we would spend on new televisions or cell phones and instead donate that money towards a needy charity, the world would be much better off. I believe that to be somewhat true. Keep the "things" in your life simple, quick and easy."

Introduction

Honestly, when I found out our first homework assignment when working with these blogs was going to be to write some kind of an introduction about ourselves, I must admit, I was a little bummed. I am not too fond of class introductions because many times the peers in your class will automatically label you once they hear your intro. So instead of writing a common introduction, I am going to expand on an "I know" assignment we worked on during class. The purpose of this assignment was to get us to look deeper into ourselves at things in life we know for certain and those we don't know about at all...

I know that I want to be a successful person in every single aspect.—To me success isn’t defined by money, or the type of car you drive, or how big your house is. To me being a successful person is essentially being a good person. In my case, I want to have a good job—where yes, I am successful financially—but I also want to be a good friend, a good wife, and a good mother when the time is right. Twenty years from now I would like to be able to look at my life and be proud of where I am, and proud of where I am going. I think being a really good, successful person is one of the best things you can strive to attain in life, and hopefully I will be able to reach that goal.

I know what its like to be looked at as only an object.—Please don’t take this “I know…” in particular as me being a cocky person, who thinks she is prettier than everything and everyone because believe me, that is not at all who I am. What I mean by this is that I know what it is like to have people judge you based on nothing more than what they can gather in the two seconds they walk by you. From experiences I know what it feels like to be judged based on your outward appearances alone. I understand what its like to have guys look at you in that certain way that literally makes you feel like just an object. I understand what its like to have snotty girls give you that eyebrow raised once over when you walk past-I have felt all of that. And quite honestly, I am real tired of it. I wonder when the time will come when we can all look at each other without any preconceived notions?

So that's my introduction. Interpret it however you wish.