A Tale of Two Worlds

A TALE OF TWO WORLDS

On one vessel, a submersible containing five individuals, four rich men and one scientist, all died by implosion. The world watched enthralled while expensive rescue attempts failed.

On another, a fishing vessel bound for Europe carrying about 750 desperate migrants from Libya capsized only 50 miles from the Greek coast, all but 100 or so drowning. They were Syrians, Afghans, Palestinians, Egyptians, Pakistanis. They could have been rescued, had coastal patrols responded in time. But these were expendable people: the world noticed but moved on quickly.

We live in a world where billions are earned by a few and barely enough by many. It may be comforting to think “It was always thus” or even “This is the price we pay for the wealth produced by capitalism.” But it will never be just.

Sources: The Observer, 6/17/23 and The New York Times, 6/23/23.