Helping.
How can we define this concept? Helping, according to dictionary.com, is to
give or provide what is necessary to accomplish a taskor satisfy a need;
contribute strength or means to; render
assistance to;cooperate effectively with; aid; assist. This concept is what
everyone should aim to. Yet to what extend should we help? In what scenarios should
we help? Is it right to help no matter the cause? These are all questions that
from a young age we are taught in much disguised matters and scenarios. As
Puerto Ricans we are taught to help others, which is good, but to what extent
or cost? When it comes to the phrase “hazme un favorsito" we are open to
the idea of doing the favor, having in mind a future situation where we are the
ones that need a favor. For example,
when we first take an exam the teacher gives out the instructions which would
consist of "stay focus on your paper", "don't let anyone see
your paper", etc. etc. And we do it as told by the teacher. As the years
pass the habit becomes more flexible. Our eyes start turning to other papers,
later we start talking, and we exchange answers and even rely on others to get
a good grade in the test. Our excuse is the concept of helping. "Oh
teacher, I was helping him." Is this a problem or is it actually
"helping"?
In the chapter "Helping" in Down on
the island, Jim Cooper explains the different situation he had when he was
teaching English in PR. He describe how copying was encouraged by the public
education system and the society. Yet he was not able to understand why this
was until he learns about the culture and the traditions of the people in PR.
With the US
invasion the presence of capitalism was little by little taking its place in
PR. It took some time, time that I believe is still present and going, for the
Puerto Ricans to get used or to put in practice the capitalist principles. As part of a capitalist society we are
encourage to be competitive. We seek or best interest and not necessarily what
benefits the whole. We maximize our gains and we strive to be the best in
everything. So what could be best, helping or being self-centered and
selfish? The answer is depending on the
situation. Not necessarily just because in a situation one is not helpful means
one is being selfish.
How do I
define helping? Key words are cooperate and contribute to what is best not only
for one being but for everyone. This concept of taking into account the
well-being of everyone and everything is known as ethics. By enforcing you
would be considered (under a capitalist view) being in the equivalent point
where your maximization will be the same and your contribution to society.
I do believe that Puerto Ricans are less self centered than other cultures and promote helping others, but sometimes this is taken away do to the way we are living day by day.
ReplyDelete"As Puerto Ricans we are taught to help others, which is good, but to what extent or cost? When it comes to the phrase “hazme un favorsito" we are open to the idea of doing the favor, having in mind a future situation where we are the ones that need a favor" I think that it's really unfair to reduce that thought to only the Puerto Rican people because it is in human nature that when you help some one you would expect the same thing from them. The problem here is that when you do the favor in that precise moment you may or may not be expecting something in specific but definitely in the future you would expect some help from whom you helped. If you read about natural selection even the principle of altruism that consist on an individual giving up his life for another comes with an advantage to the one that scarifies: passing to the next generation his populations genes (survival) so I could certainly establish that all animals (including humans because we are animals) expect something when they do a favor or give something to someone
ReplyDeleteHelping is never bad, but sadly it may create dependance for those who may be in need of true progress, even though I think todays society tends to compete rather that help.
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