I believe I covered most of this in the article. Fairness is, indeed, a human construct, a perception that has nothing to do with the world in which we live and everything to do with how we live in that world. Life is not unfair, it is indifferent to fairness.

Therefore, as you say, it is our responsibility to intervene--to show compassion and work for justice on behalf of the oppressed and the unlucky, and to acknowledge the unfairness of any system that privileges one group over another, especially when we ourselves are the beneficiaries of that privilege.

The opportunity vs outcome debate is a smokescreen to protect oppressive systems. In the US, for example, where there is such a stark contrast in Black vs White family wealth, we still need affirmative action.