Do we owe the world anything?

I would apologize for not continuing with my blog. But what's the point? Suffice to say I've been learning a lot in my exchange program.

And then again, do I owe you an apology? Do I owe anybody an apology? Do I owe the World anything? Do we, owe the world anything?

This personal reflection comes out of two different experiences: 1. my constant contact with Europeans in this semester, and 2. I just saw "Into the Wild". WARNING it is nothing more than a personal analysis, I (probably) will not use any specific theories this time to defend my arguments. You could say this one is more for me, than for you. With that in mind, read on...

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A certain country in Africa demanded a certain country in Europe to pay up for all the slavery trade. Yes, they basically tried to quantify the "worth" of the slavery trade in tha past, and apply it to present day. Suffice to say, that a certain friend from that country was, very smartly, pointing out that not only you can't actually monetize the past, but also, that the past doesn't necessarily hold responsibility over them. 

Doesn't it? While I agree that you can't monetize the past properly (shut up economists), can we really say that our past, our ancestors, hold no responsibility over us? Sure this example is easy enough; they really can't pay for what their ancestors did in the past. However, it's very easy then to just ignore national debts isn't it? It was previous administrations who did it! Why should current people suffer it!

The only difference I find is the legitimacy of the claim. Yet let us remember that legitimacy itself is a social construct. Terms like power, authority, justice and legitimacy are all relative to cultures, policies, and time.

The argument here of course is that previous governments in the past promised that they will pay in the future, and while an administration may change, the "persona ficta", or legal persona of a state remains the same. In contrast, I'm pretty sure the slave traders didn't promise anything in return.

So, there we have it. In the matters of the state we've solved the issue: like in all international law, nothing is applicable unless the legal personality of the state states so. Legally, there is no binding contract to repay the slaves. Politically this may be an entirely different matter. 

I would like to discuss this in another entry, the role of developed countries in the developing world. 

And yet, let us lower the debate to the individual plain. Am I, responsible to the world? Do I owe my family, my nation, the world, God? Just by being born, are we already indebted? 

As usual, the answer might be in the grey area. So let us wander to the extremes:

NO: We don't owe them anything simply because it was their role to do so. They were doing their job. When born a human, you were entitled to Human Rights (that these structures themselves created), and therefore you don't have to pay them (payment is not necessarily money) for anything, at all. Not your parents, not your country (Interesting debate for the army), not the world, not God. Funnily enough, the only thing this means is that you're not obliged to be in perpetual debt of those who helped you grow and become who you are. We may even add that your circumstances are only the result of mere chance, and therefore, with no one responsible for the job.

YES: Whether by, divine intervention (God), a proper social system (the state), or the toil of your ancestors (family) you are currently in a positive situation. Nevertheless, they have not been "paid" for it. The sole devotion and purpose has been you. For any divinity, it's very simple: he gave you life, but with instructions in a sacred text/book/oral retelling. Follow them. For the state, it is also very simple: you were born there; you have your rights, but also obligations. The Constitution, or legal framework of your country shows the instructions. For the World? Nothing written. Yeah, there's a reason international relations analysts call it an anarchic system. For your family? Nothing written as well (that I'm aware off), and yet, all they did for you was a choice. A free willing choice. They could've abandoned you, or worse. Yet they didn't, in a tacit agreement with you. They would protect you now, and you will protect them later on in their lives.

My issue... with the simple "no" response is that you abandon the past. History defines us in many ways, and ignoring it will only cause more conflict with the future. Understanding who you parents are helps you understand why they raised you like they did. On the other hand, the "yes" sounds too blatantly presumptuous.

And now, it all falls to the same rule as the international system. Anything you agree to, is now your responsibility, AND whatever you don't agree to, will have consequences that you're going to have to accept.

From top to bottom:
1. Religion: You believe in a god? Have to follow its rules. Simple. If you don't when you die, if he/she exists, you'll pay the consequences.
2. World: No, we don't owe the world. Like a friend said: "you have within your rights, the right to have a small quiet life, have a family, and let the whole world alone." And yet, you will have to accept that the world is not getting any better. You will have to accept that the situation of the world will keep, for lack of a better world, sucking.
3. Country: Well, if you're against the concept of the current nation-state/or just nation/ or just state then you'll have to accept that the majority DOES accept it and will abide by its rules.
4. Family: Once you grow you have the right to be free of them, if that's what you really want. But nothing in life is permanent and when they leave this world, you will have to accept how they ended up doing.

As for me: I choose responsibility. Not because I HAVE to. I don't. I can just do like the guy in "Into the Wild" and leave civilization. Yet I dislike two things out of that. 1. I would probably die much earlier in the movie, and 2.I am not content with the effects of not being responsible. I am not happy with finding myself, by myself to myself. Je ne suis pas content de simplement, "laisser faire" (pun intended). And because I am not happy with how things are, I WANT to take the responsibility. I want to help my parents out, I want to see my people grow into a strong, peaceful nation-state, I want to help the world understand each other.

« J'ai compris qu'il ne suffisait pas de dénoncer l'injustice, il fallait donner sa vie pour la combattre.»  - Auguste Compte