Are people in the Western world typically more interested in defending their "rights" than doing what is good

Question

Especially in the U.S.?

Answer 1

fair enough

Answer 2

It seems that way sometimes.  Unfortunately, you can't mandate morality.  Decency comes from within.

Answer 3

WHO SAYS WE DON'T DO GOOD?

Your question smacks of USA bashing.  Please be advised that the most generous people in the world, in times of crisis, are the American people.

And, who is there with boatloads of food and medicine, AND foreign aid,  when a disaster happens in the world? THE USA!

We Americans have fought and died for our freedom, our rights.  If you don't like us, then leave.  But, make sure you move to a country that is not subject to natural or man-made disasters, because you would not want to have to take your comments back!

Answer 4

we want to defend freedom more than anything.

many countries are jealous of that. :)

Answer 5

I think some people get confused between "rights" and "privileges"... when a society starts defending privileges rather than rights, people begin to lose their sense of morality.

Answer 6

Defending our rights is doing what is good.  How is defending one's rights not good.  If you think the west, or anyone else for that matter, should stop defending their rights there is something wrong with you.  Do you think we should stop fighting for our rights?  Should we submit to people who want to take our rights away and want to subjugate our woman?  Who want to take away our freedoms?

Regarding doing good:

The West, especially America gives more aid to poor countries than any African, Asian, or South American nation.  The west does the most good in the world.  The west may participate in wars you think are wrong but it doesn't change the fact that we give the most aid to disasters outside of our lands.  I don't see Saudi Arabia, with all its oil wealth, rushing to help poor people in famines across the world.  But the U.S does.

Answer 7

As for that statement... it would depend on the circumstance. We as a country have a right to defend both. If we didnt do both what would we be living in now... we could be in a life of Communism. Each and everytime has its turning point and you have to evaluate them indiviudally. It all starts with the Civil War.