Do you ever feel bad for living in a first world country?

I understand Genevieve. And it sucks that not many people can't hold onto that feeling every day. Truth is, people go about their lives never giving a second thought to what's going on somewhere else. We have a lot to worry about in our own lives--bills, relationships, gas prices. Sometimes we need a wake up call. I don't think it's insane to be a human being and actually care about people. I admire your passion for life, but you cannot feel guilty for not being able to save everyone.

I think my ex-wife had the best answer I've ever heard. (She was a cop, and although I disliked the idea, she had a good reason). I asked her why she felt the need to save everyone by becoming a cop. She said she wasn't trying to save everyone. She just wanted to make a difference in at least one person's life. So, if I were offering advice, it would be hers. If you're trying to make a difference, start with one person at a time. Good luck, Genevieve...

No, I don´t think there is any reason for feeling bad for having ,what could be considered as, the Good fortune to live in a first world country, as you put it.

Perhaps what we SHOULD feel bad about is feeling indifferent and even discriminating against the less fortunate.

Unfortunately, living where we do, and being subject to the enormous flow of immigration that is ocurring at this time, the situation could be compared with those boats that managed to get away in time from the Titanic before it sank, with a fortunate few aboard.

Thousands of desperately swimming people in the freezing sea water cried out frantically for the boats to return and save them.

It must have been a terrible decision for those controlling the boats, as too many people trying to get in would have inevitably caused them to sink, thus losing the lives of everyone aboard.

This is the kind of situation, it seems to me, that is ocurring at the moment, and is the uneviable situation being faced by our Governments, and the situation could become worse!

Perhaps one should return to the source of the problem and try to make life better and with more opportunities for the people living in those countries concerned, where poverty and plagues, such as Sida, are rampant, rather as it would have solved the problem in the case of the overloading of the life boats, in the case of the Titanic, by providing more boats at the start, or , even more wisely, by having avoided the Iceburg in the first place, by making the necessary provisions

beforehand to prevent it from ever happening.

You can't take on the problems of the whole world. Your problem is that you're a deeply caring person who is too sensitive. Since it is unlikely you are going to change that without damaging yourself, you need to work out a practical solution. You can decide which career would be incredibly rewarding and help other people and work really hard to make it happen.

I am thinking about a wonderful woman named Laurie Marker, who started the Cheetah Conservation Fund, in order to help save cheetahs. She got her doctorate degree in her 50s and is now the world's top cheetah expert. it's just an example of what one person can really do to help. Forget about Tomkat and Brangelina. And don't worry about them so much. Let's hope they are trying to help in some way too.

You seem to be hung up between envy and guilt. What you need to stick to is your gratitude. We are truly blessed to live the life style we live. Just appreciate it. Everything is relative, you know. People living in a mud hut may wish they lived in a wooden shack. People who live in a lean-to wish they lived in a mud hut. People who live in a three bedroom Colonial, wish they lived in a mansion. People who live in mansions wish they lived it bigger mansions or mansions with a better view. Self improvement can be a strong motivator. It can also destroy you if you let it become an obsession.

Look at it this way. You move from a studio apartment to a two bedroom apartment. Someone else now moves into your studio apartment. You move to a condo, someone moves from their studio to your two bedroom and another person moves out of his mother's house into the studio. All of you are winners.

Our western wealth and life style is lifting up other people in the world, too. Look at India, look at China. There are over a billion people in China. Many are now the first generation to buy an automobile. Many are moving form being peasant labor in rural areas to factory and office jobs in industrial centers. Mud huts to studio apartments.

Life is like a marathon race. There will always be front runners and stragglers. But by simply participating in the race all the racers improve.

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No, not really. I have lived in third world countries, and without all the high tech gadgets, computers, yadayadayada, familys and communities come closer together. Have you ever noticed how rich brats are always on the phone, playing on their Iphone, and other crap. In third world countries, they don't have alot, so they're with their families.

No, I don't feel bad at all. But it does aggravate me to see and hear people take their freedoms for granted yet whine at every turn about anything they can dream up.

They could be living in Russia, Iraq, Darfur, Nicaragua, Somalia. But they don't consider that. They keep using up valuable resources and creating dissension.

My ancestors fought in wars so that I could have a free and comfortable life. It would be an insult to them not to take advantage of it.

You can still help others with charity donations and volunteer work.

I don't feel guilty...just lucky.

do you believe in God,that is his responsibility leave it to him