I have thought about this from my childhood, my position has changed back and forth, and the time has come for me to once again review my position.
The debate involves the definition of "Quality of Life".
For a very long time, I believed that it was more important for humans to live with dignity than to live with comfort. So if it was a choice of India economically prospering under British rule and living in poverty as a free nation, I felt the latter was better as a citizen. Same thing goes for the condition of slaves -- the slaves of USA at the time of Abe Lincoln had food and shelter, but no respect; and after the civil war they were free, but had no jobs or means of livelihood. But I like said, I believed that living in freedom was more important than just living.
As I grew up and as I experienced first hand the miseries of human life and the humiliation of being poor, I changed my position to: Stomach first, Mind later. See also: A Hungry Man Commits No Sin.
I have come to believe that entertainment, sports, and freedom are the privileges of those who have had their meal.
Then, yesterday two pieces of news broke out: One was about a ten year boy in India obtaining a Cisco networking certification (perhaps to feed his family.) The other one was that India's plan to send a man to the moon. I have since been in contact discussions on the topic. It is definitely something to chew on.
See Also:
- Read: Discussion on Quality of Life among some of my friends the above links prompted.
- Thread on SlashDot on the Propriety of India's Space Mission
