If someone was dying in front of you, and you could save them, would you? 

Now, would that change if instead of being right before your eyes, they were somewhere across the ocean?

This is the question that the United States has been facing for quite some time now, and while some have been wasting their days debating over whether someone’s life is worth saving when they are not directly in front of them, it is already too late for many who are actually living in countries experiencing a crisis. It is time for the U.S. to take action, and the sooner the better.

It has been a common sentiment that a country should fight its own battles while other nations avoid the conflict by ignoring them, however, this is unrealistic in the modern world. Major issues will inevitably spread, and it is better to end them before the number of casualties grows any more.

The “not my fight” rationale is what many countries used to justify their actions (or, more accurately, lack thereof) at the beginning of World War II. The United States refused to provide refuge to some displaced by the war, or join the fight until it showed up on their doorstep anyway.

When one country is destabilized, many others also become weaker, especially with the amount of global interconnectedness today. Effects from global crises are evident in the everyday lives of people all around the world, from increasing world hunger to rising gas prices. For the sake of the many countries who depend on each other, the United States needs to get involved in difficult situations worldwide, even if it causes frustration or discontent among the few who do not benefit. 

When people are suffering or dying, it goes beyond political boundaries, and the U.S. should provide as much help as possible. It would be a different story if sending aid to countries in crisis would deplete the United States of its resources, but this is clearly not the case.

Additionally, many tend to lose track of the fact that those living through the current global crises are real people, and that the death toll is more than just a statistic. Consider how the number of casualties from the war in Ukraine is continuing to climb. Many who were lost were uninvolved civilians, and every single one of them completely devastated those who cared about their family member or friend or classmate or colleague.

Finally, sending aid to countries in crisis can strengthen the United States’ relationship with them, and ultimately benefit the U.S. as well. In refusing to get involved in anything messy, the United States may also be throwing away the possibility of a powerful ally once they recover from their crisis. 

Similarly to the way that citizens have a responsibility to help their communities or U.S. states have a responsibility to support the federal government and each other, when one country is in crisis, the others should provide as much support as they possibly can.