Are We Blind To Suffering?

Paper Summary:

The paper explores how the author treats the issue of people's blindness to the suffering of New York's poorest children. The paper examines the the roots of this blindness, its effects and the religious institutions' attitude to this blindness. The paper explains that the roots of blindness toward suffering are deep and difficult to overcome and they exist in just about everyone, even those who have suffered themselves. The paper discusses how people turn their backs on suffering because they do not want to acknowledge that it exists, or that they might have some way of helping others out of their suffering. The paper shows how it is a blindness to reality and it exists worldwide.

From the Paper:

"Most people do not know they are blind to suffering, and probably would argue if they were accused of this blindness. As Baum notes, "people are involved in destructive action without being aware of it." However, this book makes it quite clear that this blindness is destructive and can lead to misunderstanding, ignorance, and intolerance. Early in the book, Kozol quotes a political science professor who states, "'If poor people behaved rationally, [...] they would seldom be poor for long in the first place'" (Kozol 21). This professor is not only blind, he is woefully ignorant of the conditions and lack of social support at work in the neighborhood the author writes about so passionately."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Kozol, Jonathan. Amazing Grace- The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation. New York: Crown Publishers, 1995.

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