When I think about what’s going on in Bali, I think of how something similar is happening across multiple places in Mexico. How, while here I’m a foreigner taking advantage of this place, in Mexico I’m a “local” with foreigners taking advantage of my place.
Even then, I know that if I was in Mexico, I’d probably still be a foreigner taking advantage of someone else’s places, given how I almost definitely would move to a different city from the one I grew up in –– similar to how Jarkartans and people from other islands come to Bali for their benefit.
This is when my globalist side begins to kick in, because maybe this perspective –– my place vs. your place –– is flawed. I’m sure it helped during humanity’s early days, but I think it’s this same form of tribalism that will keep us from moving into the next era.
That doesn’t remove the need to ensure all people get their fair share of the pie, but as the natural inclination of individuals is to find the best place, with the best opportunities for them and their families, the search for exploits and advantages that give an edge will hardly ever stop.
Humans are immigrants at heart. It if wasn’t for that, we would’ve never left the African Savannah, nor have required the need for complex tools and culture. Without immigration, the human story would’ve been a non-story.
When I look at things this way, immigration seems like a basic human right.
As lovely as it sounds, this doesn’t solve the clear disparity between immigrants that go from poorer to richer countries, compared to those that go from richer to poorer countries.
Whereas, in the past, immigration was a hard endeavor for everyone, regardless of your capital, modern comfort has made it so that those who can afford it can easily fly their way in on business class and a golden visa, while those who can’t must risk their lives across the waters dividing our world. Even within war refugees from different regions, the distinction is stark.
So should we make immigration harder for everyone? That doesn’t seem like the right solution. What about those places that claim to be overrun by immigrants, to the point of societal collapse? All I can say about this right now is, “I don’t know”.
All in all, it’s a tricky topic, and one I’ve been consciously and unconsciously deeply embedded in for most of my adult life. I’ve seen both the positives and the negatives, and I know there are no easy answers, but that shouldn’t scare me from thinking about it.
Questions that arose during this line of thought:
- What’s so special about this so-called “next era”?
- What about accepting one’s place in the world?
- What is fair?
- What about “specieism”?