system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
CMV Bring born in America doesn't make you more deserving of help/benefits than anyone else.

I'm a white, male American and all too often, I hear people say something to the effect of, "Why are we helping them when we have our own problems right here in America?" I absolutely couldn't disagree more. Sure there are folks in bad situations in America, but there are a whole lot more people in much worse situations/grave danger in other countries that truly have no means of helping themselves.

Why does this logic seem to be so prevalent, and what am I missing?

When I was in the military, I heard this from absolutely everyone, military or not. I simply don't agree that because you were lucky enough to be born here that you deserve the help more.

This also applies to immigration. Yes, there are bad people trying to get in, but for every one of those, there are 100 people that are simply looking for a better situation for themselves/their family. Sure, they take jobs but it's not like they're taking them *from you*. They are taking the nasty, hard work, low paying jobs we don't want to do anyways.

I have talked to my mom about this several times to try to understand the other side. It usually boils down to, "It's fine if they come here as long as they do it legally." I respond with, "What did you have to do to become a citizen? Could you pass the naturalization test? Who is the fourth president? What date was Pearl Harbor? etc." Her response is, "Well, I was born here." EXACTLY! So why does this make you more deserving of the life America provides to you than them? Just because you're luckier than them?

Get a cab in Denver. Your driver will be an Ethiopian immigrant. They will do their best to speak English to you, they will be as nice and patient as possible, and they'll work all night long because they appreciate the opportunity to be here. Are they less of a human than you? Are you better than them because you were born here, and so are more deserving of *anything*?

I feel like we're too far along as a species for nationalism to still play a major role in our affairs with one another. Racism is, of course in the exact same boat.

I'm almost certain I'm missing something because I sincerely do my best to understand the other side, but I just can't wrap my mind around this one.

Can someone please provide me with an opposing viewpoint/argument so that I can try to understand it at least?

Thanks guys.

Edit: Being*
gpt
I think it's about in-group and out-group. And when it comes to your fellow countrymen, it's an acceptable by many, and often even encouraged in-group situation. Plus there is the case that you can only do so much, since you have finite resources and if you make the situation in our country better for more people, our country is likely to be stronger, better, safer, happier, and more prosperous overall. Then you can help other countries.

It's kind of like taking care of your family first and then helping charities and so on. Same with our country vs other countries.

Just like someone being born part of your family doesn't make them more "deserving" but most people would surely be more inclined to help your family and friends, than random strangers.

And as far as being lucky enough to be born American, etc., yes, luck has a lot to do with being born a certain way, in a certain place, etc. Some people are born and have Jeff Bezos as their dad, and some are born to inherit the Walton fortune, and others are born to abusers, etc. Yes, birth does matter and none of us can do anything about that, else many of us would.