10 questions - Simon Longstaff

A version of this article was first published: The Australian - 7 May 2011

Simon Longstaff, 52, ethicist, on religion, secularism, free speech and garage-sale bargains.

So far, it’s been a year of natural disasters: storms and floods in Queensland, earthquake in Christchurch, the quake and tsunami in Japan. When it comes to donating money and helping others, is it reasonable for charity to begin at home?

While I think it quite natural that we extend a hand to those within our own community who are in need of help, it doesn’t follow that we should be indifferent to the needs of strangers. Those of us born here have inherited our share simply as a matter of luck. In that sense, we do not “deserve” our good fortune any more than a Mumbai slum dweller deserves their fate. Given that we have the capacity to help each other as well as relative strangers, then I think we should do both.

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