Cultivating the culture of giving back

This is in reference to the letter, “The selfish affluent class,” by Dr. SN Mamoon, published in your daily on November 25, 2014. Having read this piece, I was smiling to myself. In all societies there are some who have a "preferred" birth, meaning they get more opportunities than many others just by birth. When they utilize and exploit those opportunities, they pull themselves above the rest. Once they attain the wealth, the next step is to preserve it, which is only natural. We are all selfish, not only the affluent class, it is human nature.

So many have left this country. The reasons are many. Yes a lot of them have taken with them the wealth they earned here, seeking opportunity for a better life. I migrated myself. What I think is that all of us who have wealth have an obligation. We have earned it from this soil or any soil for that matter. We should give back. It is not geography that matters. It is total humanity that matters. Wherever we are, whichever our country be, we should give back as much as we can.

So I suggest: do not look at what someone else is not doing. First look at yourself. Look at what you could do. Quoting John F Kennedy, "Ask not what your country can do, ask what you can do for your country."

Maaz
Dhaka