Watch the Harvard debate (attached) and write a blog post responding to it and its issues, citing moments from the debate at least twice.

As the granddaughter of holocaust survivors, I often think “that could have been me.” It was not my grandparents wrong doings that had them in that terrible position, rather just bad luck. This feeling that “could have been me” still comes up constantly. When I see a person less fortunate than I, I do not believe that it is their fault that they are in that situation, rather that a series of unfortunate events must have led them their. I am comforted to know that Michael Sandel and Rawls share this belief, but have proven it in a more eloquent manner. Michael Sandel begins by arguing Rawl’s point of a “veil of ignorance,” which is a method to help determine morality of certain issues. When the veil is on, the person is ‘ignorant’ of how everything works, and must decide how society should distribute wealth in order to make it more equal for all. After Sandel states principles that come from the veil, Mike points out that Sandel is too focused on the bottom. Mike adds a different perspective, and says that he would choose a merit-based principle. However, when Mike began to argue that our current system is fair, I started to disagree with him. Kate made a point that I strongly agree with: growing up in an environment where I am academically pushed, I know that if I did not have this push or had no support, I would most likely not even be applying to colleges. Sandel cites an experiment that only 3% of selective Universities is made of people who come from poorer backgrounds. Mike explains that Rawls argues that people are where they are today because of arbitrary factors. I was blown away by the way he proved how arbitrary the factors can be. He proved it by having the people who are first in birth order raise their hands- most of the students were. Birth order is unrelated to effort, it is arbitrary effort is shaped by random factors. Making the conclusion that income, wealth, and opportunities should not be based on arbitrary  factors. This video has strengthened my belief that life is, for some part, out of the individual’s control. But also put a lot of pressure on me as the eldest child of my family.