Diablos & Mama Smurf: I understand what you are saying, however I don't think that the existence of something makes it ok. Even you admitted that perhaps it isn't right, but we do it anyway. Well I think there is a difference between accpetance and dismissal. Ultimately I must accept that the world is full of injustice, and I have to accept that people take things for granted, but that doesn't mean that at the same time I dismiss it.
I understand that our feelings are generally not controlled by our moral convictions, but I put far more importance on the latter than the former. If we all went by just how we felt then the world would be in shambles, acting on our good reason often impacts our world in a far better way than acting on our feelings. Now I can't control the actions of another to follow my convictions, but I can plead with them in my reasoning and perhaps have them reconsider the way they think and live.
Sure, I won't end up changing the world, but I don't see that as a reason to live according to a lower standard. If I think it's probably not right for me to complain when I'm so well off, then I'll strive to be mroe thankful and consider what ways I can use my well being to benefit thsoe who are not. It won't take these problems out of the world, but it will help where I can. And if my sharing this perspective leads to someone else doing the same then it's that much better.
There was another issue I had a similar perspective on, it had to do with how we treat those who do us wrong. I won't get into that, but I'll use the same example in that it's like environmentalism. Ultimately it is the right thing to do, but most don't practice it, so should one stop trying? Well the very fact we know of it is because someone did try and passed it on, so I don't think all efforts to better the world are entirely fruitless.
Sorry if I sounded too harsh before, I probably was and should have been more empathetic to our type of struggles. Hopefully I've expressed my thoughts a little better now.
