Jeremiah J. Bowden, Class of 2014

“The plight of the poor in Cairo moves even the coldest of hearts to a position of sympathy and solidarity. As I look down upon the slums, which literally lie in the shadow of the beautiful hotel where I am staying, I cannot help but to see it as a breeding ground for resentment and eventual conflict. This raises the question of what ought to be done to address the extreme disparity that exists between the rich and poor, not only in Cairo, but across the globe. The United States has largely made its poorest population invisible, perhaps it is better to be reminded that the poor are among us always and that we have a responsibility to care for them. Surely, the first step in rectifying their situation is by being confronted with our own positions of privilege and remembering our duties to the least among us, which will be the only way we will be led to act.”