Many people praise acts of humanity toward others. The caring for others is widespread, made manifest in such things as providing food and shelter for the poor and giving gifts to the unfortunate, such as students who volunteer at the Poverello House.

But those who do care appear to be the minority while many others cause harm in order to benefit themselves.

It makes it worse that the ones doing harm most always have an explanation–in their eyes, a justification–of their actions.

And an ethical maxim is remembered in the midst of such infliction: “”One must not cause others harm for self-benefit.””

Many have forgotten this moral concept of caring and the exploitation and suppression of people is evident.

Nations turn their eyes away from the subjugation; some ignoring it, hoping it will disappear. Some nations even take part in the oppressive actions.

In many places, this situation is widespread, even on the individual level. There are many occurrences, present-day and historically, of populations being viewed as nothing more than a resource.

Powerful groups and their leaders strip the “lowly” of their humanity and take turns exploiting them, notably in places like China and other totalitarian one-party states. Most of the injured simply stay silent, as their cries inevitably fall on deaf ears.

Even the people of so-called “higher classes” of societies are not exactly free from the effects of self-interests.

Actions of suppression are prevalent on campus. Students often stifle each other through peer pressure, dream killing and repressive words.

We all need to remember to look out for others, instead of solely pursuing an egotistical pursuit of personal gain. The ideals of compassion for the whole of humanity have been lost in modern societies including our campus.

I believe we, as a student body, should set an example of benevolence. Our world needs to return to the old principle of watching out for each other, raising others up rather than tearing them down.