[Please note that the following is political. I could talk at length about my desire to see discipleship in place in these situations, but that's just not what I've chosen to talk about here. Do not doubt my devotion to that goal]
"The question isn't 'how do we fix this?' The question is 'How can we help Africans to do this for themselves?'"
This is the tagline for a short talk given by a lady named Jacqueline Novogratz regarding her work in the provision of aid to Africa and other developing areas of the world. Her talk gave voice to concerns which had long been running within my head without the necessary structure to accurately and, more importantly, persuasively present them. But more importantly, she answered those questions, or at least set me on the path to answering them for myself.
I have always struggled with Africa. I'd like to think that I am known among my friends as a man of compassion and caring, but yet too often I not only skip over the "send money to this starving family" infomercials but, instead, actively think and speak against them. Cyler came back from watching Uganda Rising and was clearly moved, I was almost angry with him. Here is one more example of a manipulative film trying to get us to pour more resources and time in to that continent. One of the largest arguments of mine simply being "why should I give you money if you decided to bring 8 (8!!!) children in to the world when you already couldn't feed yourself." Don't even get me started on the AIDs epidemic, again with the "STOP HAVING SEX!" solution. It is a horrible attitude, the children are indeed starving and the need for help is obvious, but I had many many reservations holding me back. I spent many years as a fan of the darwinian school of thought, and though, thankfully, I now acknowledge the Almighty God and His place over everything, I do still carry with me some of the "realism" involved in darwinism. In this case in particular, if the needs of the population have grown beyond the production of the land (and/or trade/barter relationships within reasonable distances) then the population will be 'naturally' balanced by the reasonable reduction in offspring production combined with the dying off of the weaker members of the society who cannot withstand these conditions. Unfortunately, the site of an empty pantry apparently makes people randy and we've got just enough modern medicine over there to keep very unhealthy people alive much longer.
That is harsh, and from the comfort of my room it is all too easy to say, and I know I'd be saying different if I were looking in to the eyes of starving child in some sub-saharan country. But I honestly wonder what we are supposed to do.
The bible talks about the poor and encourages giving to them, but are we talking about the same poor? The crippled beggar, a province struck with a famine one season, a widow without family (crippled in a high-patriarchal society), these are the poor that we are told to help. In these terms, has Africa ever not been crippled? Has it ever actually had a good growing season? Has it ever actually had a husband? I don't know my history very well, maybe it was an absolutely perfect land before colonialism. Is it the pollution belching plants over here in the developed world that are causing global warming, expanding the deserts well beyond their original borders? Is it the implanted, high-catholic "every sperm is sacred" mentality which is actually at the root of the over-population? Is it the attempts to change them over from a barter-based economy to capitalism?
I don't know what the truth is, but, at the moment, all I see is a massive chunk of infertile land populated by a massive population of remarkably fertile people, apparently opposed to birth control. I struggle, politically, with the idea of endlessly pumping money in to this pit which, from what I've seen so far, doesn't have much hope of actually becoming self-sustaining.
Ever had a leech attach itself to you? I'm told that the desire to dispatch that creature in the most expedient manner is overwhelming. Africa is a plush leech, made soft and cuddly enough to help us forget the staggering resources that are flowing out of us, in to it.
So that was my attitude, chosen not for its apparent virtues (none) but simply because I couldn't see anything else. This speech by Ms. Novogratz clearly delineated a realistic approach for the support and, more importantly, the sustainable growth of Africa. A realistic alternative to the status quo, helping them become productive members of society or, at least, getting them the real help which they need, instead of just handing over spare change. A treatment of the root cause, instead of simply addressing the symptoms. This gives me hope, because I now actually see all of the developing countries as they truly are, brimming with possibility for growth, ready for a change in a positive direction. The change in my mind is remarkable, it is no longer a leech. A lion with a thorn in its paw. I can actually say that I am beginning to see the proud creature which Africa could be once it gets to its feet.
Just to further clarify, for those who now think I am a monster, what I had said in this post is representative of a mindset which has recently changed. The questions that I ask here still remain strong in my mind, but I've got a new dose of compassion , hope, and (arguably the most important) passion to see what I can actually do in this area.
Watch the video. I'd love to hear what you think.
