Peter Singer wrote the article “America’s Shame: The Chronicle of Higher Education” on May 13, 2009. The article’s aim is to show the role America plays as an industrialized country in the reduction of poverty. According to Singer (2009) education seems to be the key to eradication of poverty. He is of the opinion that every educational discipline should focus on a particular global problem and by so doing the education sector will help alleviate poverty. The article also explores options that can help in eradication of poverty not just in developing countries but globally. Singer (2009) suggests the importance of using all courses to alleviate poverty instead of leaving that responsibility to few courses such as Philosophy and Engineering.
He suggests that there should be programs and policies made to ensure that not just the Americans are educated but the education should be spread even to the wider public and be made accessible to all. He posits that if the value of a human beings’ life does not reduce, why is it that the world put more priority on issues such as global relationships rather than on education, which is believed to be the only way to fight poverty? The basis of my argument is purely on factual grounds as well as from a moral point of view. Singer (2009) asserts that as much as we give importance to our own people (referring to U.S) in terms of providing education, there is need to consider other parts of the world in making education accessible to all. This in my opinion implies that in as much as the U.
S education system is among the best in the world, it is also ironical that it does not carter for the needs of the whole world hence bringing shame to the entire nation. It is also morally advisable for developed countries to care for the needs of developing countries. Though the magnitude of the problem may also be a factor to be considered, helping each others means we are working together to ensure that the world becomes a global village where everyone is comfortable and no boundaries define the rich and the poor like it is currently. If this happens then basic things such as quality education and health care will be readily available for everyone (Singer, 2009). Ignorance caused by lack of education will therefore paralyze the fight against intellectual as well as physical poverty.
Extreme poverty can be eradicated by the middle of this century, and progress is evident in that currently, in the world, provision of better health care is evident, agricultural practices and the agriculture sector have grown tremendously. Conclusion It is therefore necessary for all of us to understand the role we play in the fight against poverty and we should understand that despite knowing about foreign aid, grants and poverty we need to streamline our morals and ethics so that they work hand-in-hand with their knowledge to curb poverty. As such, it is right to think that we are indulging in activities that could be foregone to save the children that die every day of diseases that can be managed. Everyone has a duty to play in caring for one another and their needs if we are to fight poverty
