#6: Me First = You Suffer

Recently, it’s become quite common to hear the phrase “XYZ" First.
 
Trump administration boasts America First as a signal to prioritize the United States above all else. The United Kingdom voted yes on leaving the European Union to “reclaim” its sovereignty, which is the equivalent of Britain First.
 
This “XYZ" First isn’t limited to just nations.
 
For example, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike boasts the slogan Tokyo Residents First to prioritize her people above all else.
 
It appears as though some are starting to presume that this “XYZ" First is the newest global trend.
 
However, this assertion - at its root - is virtually identical to the discriminatory ideology ever present from the olden days.
 
Colonialism existed since the ancient times, as early as 3000 BC in Egypt, 900 BC in Greece, and 500 BC in Rome. In the simplest of terms, colonization means that the Prioritized Nation dominates and controls the Subordinated Nation, hence My Country First. 
 
During Japan’s Age of Civil Wars (15th to 16th century), the “nations” ruled by the warlords boasted My Country First and repeated a century of countless wars.
 
Colonialism beginning in the 16th century by Western European nations, and that beginning in the 19th century by the US and Imperial Japan, were exploitations to demand My Country First.
 
Slavery is yet another form of exploitation under the assertion My People First that existed since the ancient times. This demand was taken to such extreme that “people called slaves” were born into slavery, and they were shackled to bondage for life by brute force.
 
Hitler and Nazi Germany mass murdered Jewish people and made series of invasions under the slogan Aryan Race First.
 
As such, these dark chapters in human history were none other than violations of human dignity by force and terror. In such times, serial murderers are the Prioritized People. Behind the glory of the Prioritized, bloody evils undermine the basic human rights of innocent people.
 
“What’s wrong with prioritizing one’s own country and people?” some may ask.
 
It’s wrong because behind such assertion, there always follows the qualification Even if other countries and their people are subjected to sacrifice. In every case mentioned above, Me First is made possible only by forcing the deep sorrows and humiliation upon those others who are violated and shamed.
 
“May be so. But all countries prioritize their own people,” some may say.
 
Yet, even if all countries do so, if such is not the right action to undertake, then it surely doesn’t justify me and you to do the same.
 
Terrorist organization ISIS is demanding Radical Jihadist First to behead those who don’t agree with its interpretation of Islam. Nevertheless, if everyone followed suit, then the world will become a bloodbath.
 
Trump administration is demanding America First to construct a border wall at Mexico’s expense. And it’s alluding to tax or sanction its foreign trade partners in hopes to bolster the US economy. Nevertheless, if everyone followed suit, then the world will experience a full-blown trade war resulting in everyone buying their staple goods at a higher price than before.
 
Also, Trump administration’s travel ban targeting six predominantly Muslim countries (the first ban was blocked by a federal judge in Washington state, and the revised ban excluded Iraq to target six countries – this revised ban was also blocked by a federal judge in Hawaii as of March 15) is demanding American Safety First in exchange for the free and safe travel by the innocent people of those six countries – some of who are refugees and immigrants desperately fleeing for survival. Nevertheless, if everyone followed suit, then global travels will become perilous or even banned – not granted asylum even when one’s country becomes unsafe to live.
 
If everyone in the world demanded As long as it’s good for me, then it’s fine for the others to suffer, then will we be seeing an outpour of peace and love? Rather, the world will be mired in cruelty and hatred. And as it will be for the world, so will it be for the smaller units like countries, states, and communities.
 
This assertion of As long as it’s good for me is at the root of a myriad of issues and challenges that we face today.
 
Indeed, the higher our morality, the less we demand As long as it’s good for me. To that end, we must retain an unrelenting will to repudiate As long as it’s good for me, then it’s fine for the others to suffer. 
 
In hopes of universally advancing human rights and world peace, the United Nations General Assembly explicitly banned slavery in 1948 and colonialism in 1960. These were remarkable moments in human history when global morality advanced to new heights.
 
And today, let us pursue further moral advances to resist this mathematical expression, (Me First) = (You Suffer).
 
If each and every one of us can resist Me First and replace it with After You, then this society which we all share will surely become brighter for everyone.

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