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Saturday, June 25, 2005
Can we make it better?
Recently I read Scott's blog site regarding the pain in the world. The starving children and the persecuted in places like the Sudan.
I would like to talk about it from a different point of view. This is not intended to be negative, but rather an alternative.
I cannot help but think that while it is good to give food and money for tents etc, maybe we also need to help these people in other ways.
WHY are they starving? WHAT are they running from? HOW can we honestly provide true shelter for more than a year or so for them??
If we cannot stop the persecution, and yep, that means through active intervention in a country, then how can stability ever come to that region?
How about another view entirely, IF there is no stability why not take them totally out of the situation, to other countries so that they and their descendents can truly have a chance. Yep, I am SURE many will think me cold and unfeeling for that one!
Same for hunger. Feeding the children and population is good, admirable....but perhaps we need to TEACH them how to farm for themselves, maybe even farm for them and with them for the first couple of years. Teach them how to find water, how to dig wells.
As for cooking, how about solar stoves to make sure there is no further impact to their environment by cutting down already sparse trees or using coal which is polluting.
I understand the FIRST they need to eat...but in my entire lifetime the same countries and the same children seem to be hungry (ok, they have to be different children because I am older now).
So while we feed them, maybe we can also try to stop the oppressors and help the oppressed BELIEVE they really CAN have a future of self reliance and self dependence and.....trust in the world as a good place to live.
I would like to talk about it from a different point of view. This is not intended to be negative, but rather an alternative.
I cannot help but think that while it is good to give food and money for tents etc, maybe we also need to help these people in other ways.
WHY are they starving? WHAT are they running from? HOW can we honestly provide true shelter for more than a year or so for them??
If we cannot stop the persecution, and yep, that means through active intervention in a country, then how can stability ever come to that region?
How about another view entirely, IF there is no stability why not take them totally out of the situation, to other countries so that they and their descendents can truly have a chance. Yep, I am SURE many will think me cold and unfeeling for that one!
Same for hunger. Feeding the children and population is good, admirable....but perhaps we need to TEACH them how to farm for themselves, maybe even farm for them and with them for the first couple of years. Teach them how to find water, how to dig wells.
As for cooking, how about solar stoves to make sure there is no further impact to their environment by cutting down already sparse trees or using coal which is polluting.
I understand the FIRST they need to eat...but in my entire lifetime the same countries and the same children seem to be hungry (ok, they have to be different children because I am older now).
So while we feed them, maybe we can also try to stop the oppressors and help the oppressed BELIEVE they really CAN have a future of self reliance and self dependence and.....trust in the world as a good place to live.
