Invisible Children
- Thread starter WNYDiscoIIErik
- Start date
My daughter is all about this right now and wants to organize a poster day (whatever it is coming up). I think it's great that she's taking an interest in world affairs and wants to organize her peers.
Of course, she's 14 and wants to save the world (wants to become a neo-natologist, but do some time in Africa a la Doctors without boarders).
This is also my same daughter who thinks the poor/unemployed should just get a job.
She's a little confused right now. [Not to mention hormonal]
Of course, she's 14 and wants to save the world (wants to become a neo-natologist, but do some time in Africa a la Doctors without boarders).
This is also my same daughter who thinks the poor/unemployed should just get a job.
She's a little confused right now. [Not to mention hormonal]
I knew some InvisibleChildren proponents here, they were complete idiots. reminded me of the occupy idiots.
i did not watch the video and dont care to.
I do care about legitimate aid workers and missionaries and volunteers that are over there making a difference in those peoples lives and trying to improve their standard of living and health as well as educate them. especially the ones that make multi year commitments to a group, tribe or town or whatever and don't leave them.
i did not watch the video and dont care to.
I do care about legitimate aid workers and missionaries and volunteers that are over there making a difference in those peoples lives and trying to improve their standard of living and health as well as educate them. especially the ones that make multi year commitments to a group, tribe or town or whatever and don't leave them.
KyleT said:
Josh, if it makes any difference to you. From our conversations this is the group I would lump you into. It's the wannabe douchebags giving everybody those stupid tribal Christmas gifts that nobody wants or could practically wear that I have a disdain for.
you're good in my book. These other shitheads aren't.
LRflip said:
They made for easy pickings at the Marine House, once they had their fill of living in a mud hut they would get all dolled up and come over to get a "taste" of the USA.....
Ballah06 said:
X100!!!!!!
If more people started thinking realisticly like this we'd be a lot better off!
The world is a cruel place - nature isn't fair. Some are fortunate, some aren't.
What has always perplexed me is this insatiable lust for helping those "less fortunate" elsewhere when we have citizens in our own back yard in dire need! I guess it's "cooler" to got to Uganda and Botswana then it is to go to some neighborhood in Detroit, town in MIssisipi, or reservation in NorthbDakota. My wife teaches kids in Va who's parents are criminals, they don't get full meal all day and they don't have a coat to wear when it's cold! I have a feeling we won't be seeing concerts and prime time specials with Bono and George Clooney for children in Eastern Kentucky or the coal towns of WV!
emmodg said:
For celebrities, I get it. The vast majority of them tend to focus on the biggest need (third-world countries) and most of the time, I wouldn't doubt that it has at least a little to do with boosting their own image.
Here's what I don't get. The target of these "Africa must be cooler than helping here", "fix the US first and screw everyone else" comments almost always seem to be directed at those of us who are doing our damnnest to improve the quality of life for people overseas. How often do you walk by someone sitting on the couch and call them a lazy fat ass for not being on their feet in the local soup kitchen? Should we all announce what we do to help the human race so you can judge whether or not we're each worthy of praise or ridicule? I think those accusations come across as childish, and here's why.
If we come across an astronaut, or an animal rights activist, or any other host of professions that don't immediately appear to meet the needs of those in our back yard, do we start the banter? You waste my tax dollars on field trips to the moon! You spend your time saving dogs instead of raising money for cancer? How dare you.
What is perplexing to me is the lack of respect some grown men have for someone's career choice. If it doesn't directly benefit you, your family, or the people in your back yard, it's worthy of attacking, right? Am I missing something?
I studied anthropology in school so I could spend the rest of my life figuring out ways to better the lives of the people I met in Africa as a teenager, specifically through education. Maybe a few of the kids we educate will grow up to turn the tables for Africa, maybe not. Your wife is a teacher (which I applaud), I'm sure you've heard those sentiments before.
What I'm trying to understand is what characteristic does a man need to posess to feel the obligation to take pot shots at someone else's choice to help out another human, regardless of their geographical location.
It's not about "blame" or "ridicule" and quite frankly I could care less what a man does for a living as long as it's legal and attached to some sort of ethical guide line and/or ideal. Hooray for you! Keep doing what you're doing and I hope you're successful at whatever it is you do. I suggest you not get so defensive about your career choice. Right now I teach people how to drive 2 miles-an-hour in a HMMWV or $80,000 Range Rover - could care less what others think.
For me it's quite simple. I guess I have my own "list" if you will for those I help when I can.
1) My family
2) My friends
3) My countrymen
4) All others
When I donate, I do so for organizations that help those in my neighborhood, town, then state. When I give old coats away they go to kids where my wife teaches and what's left over gets sent to an organization that gives them to tribes in reservations all over the country. Anything left over, which is rare I suppose, goes to aid organizations that do work in other countries. I guess I just think that when our own back yard is no longer hungry, no longer has to fear violence, crime, joblessness, and sickness we can THEN be better able to help others elsewhere. It my opinion, nothing more, nothing less.
We, as American Citizens, are so much more fortunate and downright lucky than I think many of us realize. History and time has been somewhat more "lenient" on us than other countries. I'll take the bone-headed assholes in Washington any day over some gun-toting, qat-chewing warlord in Sub-Saharan Africa! Again, it's a unfair and at times cruel world - wars are fought, crime occurs, death and disease "happens". I feel lucky as SHIT to be a US Citizen so I try and return the favor and help those here first. I'm not "better" than anyone who goes 8,000 miles to help a village in Sudan.
For me it's quite simple. I guess I have my own "list" if you will for those I help when I can.
1) My family
2) My friends
3) My countrymen
4) All others
When I donate, I do so for organizations that help those in my neighborhood, town, then state. When I give old coats away they go to kids where my wife teaches and what's left over gets sent to an organization that gives them to tribes in reservations all over the country. Anything left over, which is rare I suppose, goes to aid organizations that do work in other countries. I guess I just think that when our own back yard is no longer hungry, no longer has to fear violence, crime, joblessness, and sickness we can THEN be better able to help others elsewhere. It my opinion, nothing more, nothing less.
We, as American Citizens, are so much more fortunate and downright lucky than I think many of us realize. History and time has been somewhat more "lenient" on us than other countries. I'll take the bone-headed assholes in Washington any day over some gun-toting, qat-chewing warlord in Sub-Saharan Africa! Again, it's a unfair and at times cruel world - wars are fought, crime occurs, death and disease "happens". I feel lucky as SHIT to be a US Citizen so I try and return the favor and help those here first. I'm not "better" than anyone who goes 8,000 miles to help a village in Sudan.
varova87,
my wife is a middle school teacher in maryland. her students have been talking about this all week. the important factor, that is not being spotlighted, is that teenage americans are actually concerned more about this than their cell phone (at least for the moment). i think it is exciting that an issue, whatever issue, can get the attention of children that age.
personally, i feel anyone that has made it their profession to somehow better the human condition is commendable. regardless the geographic location, anyone that is trying to make the world a better place is okay in my book.
my wife is a middle school teacher in maryland. her students have been talking about this all week. the important factor, that is not being spotlighted, is that teenage americans are actually concerned more about this than their cell phone (at least for the moment). i think it is exciting that an issue, whatever issue, can get the attention of children that age.
personally, i feel anyone that has made it their profession to somehow better the human condition is commendable. regardless the geographic location, anyone that is trying to make the world a better place is okay in my book.
emmodg said:
I certainly mis-understood your first post. Appreciate the clarification, and agree with the vast majority of those statements.
Never my intention to get defensive about my profession, and it was an emotional response. The recent attention on Uganda has people like me under the microscope when we're already often a target of misunderstanding.
Devildog01 said:
Agreed, it is like a vaccum but this film maker wants this guy tried in an international court!! HAHA is he high? We have US special OPs in that region take him out.
Ballah06 said:
Exactly because once we send aid we do not know who is giving it out, money it all goes to dictators someone needs to over see that all money goes to where it is needed. That has been the problem for many years, I would remove the UN and the WHO because they are useless.
knewsom said:
You know what knewsom I am tired of your holier than thou posts do you actually think that people here on Discoweb are stupid?
ChrismonDA said:
Yup. It was quite "amazing" seeing all the U.N. and NGO vehicles roaming around in Liberia at the time when that was their largest mission in the world and the place still lacked improved roads, safe drinking water, power, etc. The tree-hugging foreigners who initially came to change the world, quickly succumbed to the good life of visiting various restaurants, embassy parties, etc. and just talking about how much they cared. Meanwhile, the local transitional gov't, laughed their way to the bank as they spent all of the foreign aid money and the locals continued their strife for meaningless existence as the majority begged foreigners for some "small small"...
Shit in places like this hasn't changed and will not change.
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Ballah06 said:
I find most of those types are in it for a "personal experience" and great addition to their resume. It's a joke quite frankly. Like I said - It looks more "exotic" and "worldly" to have "Travel to Africa" on your resume than "Travel to Inner-City Detroit" or North Dakota.