Questions about starvation in West Africa, and stuff...

[LaylaMonroe]

This might be a sensitive subject, I'm not sure...

So today was a boring news day on CNN, so I went to MSNBC. On the home page was a picture of a sickly looking child with the headline "1.5 million children could starve to death in West Africa." I skipped over it, looking for "real" news.

As I was skimming the rest of the page, I had a split second thought wondering why I skipped past the sickly little boy to find "real" news. I grew up during the time in which every Sunday morning, the Save the Children, Feed the Children, and other commercials were shown during each commercial break, and it was on for a really long time after Fred Price. I got to the point, probably like many of you, where I really dreaded those commercials and when I got old enough to do so, I would turn the channel or just turn the TV.

So my questions (please answer one, some, all, or skip the questions and just share your thoughts):

1. Do you think we (in general) are desensitized to these types of ads?

2. How do you feel/react when you see these ads?

3. Have you ever contributed to any of these organizations who send aid to starving children?

4. Do you think there's any solution at all to this problem? I mean, this is a pretty old problem...

5. How in the world did it get that bad over there????

[lordluvr]

1. Do you think we (in general) are desensitized to these types of ads?  Yes.  I'm not quite sure why though.  I don't know if it's because of the proliferation of such ads, or how they tend to over-dramatize an already sensitive subject, or an innate distrust for such organizations based on news reports or what.  I just don't know.

2. How do you feel/react when you see these ads?  Initially, I'm saddened and want to do something, but as the pleas persist, I start to tune out.

3. Have you ever contributed to any of these organizations who send aid to starving children?  No.

4. Do you think there's any solution at all to this problem? I mean, this is a pretty old problem...   I'm reminded that the "poor will always be with you...", so I'm not sure there's a wholesale viable solution.  If there is, I suspect there'd have to be some systemic remedy on a large scale, involving the cooperation of multiple governments.  I don't see that happening.

[LaylaMonroe]

I had to add another question that just came to mind... lol. Sry.

[LaylaMonroe]

1. Do you think we (in general) are desensitized to these types of ads?  Yes.  I'm not quite sure why though.  I don't know if it's because of the proliferation of such ads, or how they tend to over-dramatize an already sensitive subject, or an innate distrust for such organizations based on news reports or what.  I just don't know.

2. How do you feel/react when you see these ads?  Initially, I'm saddened and want to do something, but as the pleas persist, I start to tune out.

3. Have you ever contributed to any of these organizations who send aid to starving children?  No.

4. Do you think there's any solution at all to this problem? I mean, this is a pretty old problem...   I'm reminded that the "poor will always be with you...", so I'm not sure there's a wholesale viable solution.  If there is, I suspect there'd have to be some systemic remedy on a large scale, involving the cooperation of multiple governments.  I don't see that happening.

Thanks, LL.

I think I totally agree with you. I think the desensitization might be a result of what you said (seeing too many of the ads, the over-dramatization, mistrust of the agencies) and a bit of powerlessness. I mean, honestly... when I think about that problem (and many other social problems), I just see them as WAY too big for me. It's just not something I can fix personally, and I don't even feel like any contribution I make is enough to make a difference. Maybe that's the problem. Maybe if we ALL (all = everyone in every country on earth that is capable of helping) did a little something, it would make a difference? Idk.

[lordluvr]

Thanks, LL.

I think I totally agree with you. I think the desensitization might be a result of what you said (seeing too many of the ads, the over-dramatization, mistrust of the agencies) and a bit of powerlessness. I mean, honestly... when I think about that problem (and many other social problems), I just see them as WAY too big for me. It's just not something I can fix personally, and I don't even feel like any contribution I make is enough to make a difference. Maybe that's the problem. Maybe if we ALL (all = everyone in every country on earth that is capable of helping) did a little something, it would make a difference? Idk.

I think it would make a difference, but the next question that comes to mind is: for how long?  How long does that difference last?  How long do we ALL have to make contributions before a system can be put in place to (fix/reduce/eliminate?) the problem as we see it?

[LaylaMonroe]

1. Do you think we (in general) are desensitized to these types of ads? Yes. For reasons I stated in previous post.

2. How do you feel/react when you see these ads? I'm a little embarrassed to admit, but I usually feel disgusted. To explain, it's not toward the actual people, but the scenes. They just work so hard to appeal to your compassion that it turns me all the way off. I usually roll my eyes, shake my head, tell God thank you, and change the channel. To be fair, I used to feel really saddened by it, and even now, there's a slight sadness, but for the most part, it's just a feeling of defeat (irt the problem) and disgust with the campaign itself. I mean, it's a pretty ugly problem, and I get them wanting to show us how ugly it is, but... I just can't....

3. Have you ever contributed to any of these organizations who send aid to starving children? No. But I would like to do something to help starving kids in a hands-on way, so probably more locally than globally.

4. Do you think there's any solution at all to this problem? I mean, this is a pretty old problem... I haven't given it much thought just because it's such a HUGE problem, I don't feel like I'm big enough to come up with a real solution. They need rain and I can't make it rain. However, I do wonder if population control might help. Like I really do find myself wondering why they keep having babies they can't feed and then going through the horror of watching them starve to death. In addition to sending food, maybe we should be sending birth control as well.

5. How in the world did it get that bad over there???? I have no idea. Hopefully someone can school me on the history.

[LaylaMonroe]

I think it would make a difference, but the next question that comes to mind is: for how long?  How long does that difference last?  How long do we ALL have to make contributions before a system can be put in place to (fix/reduce/eliminate?) the problem as we see it?

Good question. We need an economist. Where's Bunnies?

No seriously, Idk, but to add another question (which, I think solidifies your point): if, by some miracle, we were able to fix the problem completely, how long will the change last if nothing else changes?

[lordluvr]

Good question. We need an economist. Where's Bunnies?

No seriously, Idk, but to add another question (which, I think solidifies your point): if, by some miracle, we were able to fix the problem completely, how long will the change last if nothing else changes?

If it fixes the problem completely, then I'd have to assume that the solution also addressed the cause(s).  As such, I'd suspect that the change would last indefinitely.  However, the last part of your question throws a monkey wrench in that theory.  Because if "nothing else changes" then that means that whatever caused the problem hasn't changed either.

[docjohn]

Yes;the proliferation as such takes away from the effect.

Also,the enormous waste/fraud weakens trust.I've seen many reports that even non-profits spend 80 % plus for overhead.

Then the rampant fraud;leaders starve their own people/block deny aid-hold UN workers @ gunpoint.Look @ Arafat,Mubuak,Gaddafi-billions in Swiss banks and the locals don't have even bread + water.

Some,like LL said -has to pass;JESUS said we'd always have the poor.

[LaylaMonroe]

Do we use that scripture as a pass? I hear it a lot, but I don't think it relieves us of our responsibility to care for the poor. That was Jesus' way, wasn't it?

[sjonathan02]

Do we use that scripture as a pass? I hear it a lot, but I don't think it relieves us of our responsibility to care for the poor. That was Jesus' way, wasn't it?

I don't think so.

Yes, Jesus cared.  But, was he able to care enough to eradicate the problem?

[lordluvr]

I don't think so.

Yes, Jesus cared.  But, was he able to care enough to eradicate the problem?

Gee, he paid the debt for our sins.  What more do you want? 

[lordluvr]

Wow.  It occurred to me, after I said that in jest, that it really is about the bigger picture.  When Jesus said that to his disciples, he was trying to get them to see the bigger picture. There's more I'd like to articulate, but I'm just not able at the moment.  Can't get all of the thoughts together.

[sjonathan02]

Gee, he paid the debt for our sins.  What more do you want? 

    How 'bout a sandwich once in a while, eh? 

[sjonathan02]

Wow.  It occurred to me, after I said that in jest, that it really is about the bigger picture.  When Jesus said that to his disciples, he was trying to get them to see the bigger picture. There's more I'd like to articulate, but I'm just not able at the moment.  Can't get all of the thoughts together.

[church] Hmm, interesting..[/church]


I'd like to read that when you get your thoughts together.

[LaylaMonroe]

I don't think so.

Yes, Jesus cared.  But, was he able to care enough to eradicate the problem?

I'm kinda stuck on that.

Yes, of course he was "able" to care enough to eradicate the problem. He could've solved the problem then, and He is able to solve it today. I don't think it is His will to solve it, but that might be going too far off subject. Idk...

But yeah, I think that every time an issue of poverty comes up, the church (actually, it's more individual than collective) responds with "well, we're always going to have the poor, so...." and they use it as a way to dismiss or minimize the problem altogether. I'm not saying EVERYONE who quotes that scripture does that, but in my experience, a lot have. Yes, we're always going to have the poor. It could be one of us one day. It could be one of us TOday, for all we know. There, but for the grace of God, go I. We're going to have the poor among us, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to help them. Proverbs 28:27 says that those who provide for the poor won't want for anything. And Matthew 25 talks about how what we do to the least of them, we're actually doing to God. I think there's another scripture that says that he who gives to the poor lends to the Lord. And then there's the one that says that if we ignore the poor, God will ignore us.

So I'm sure He expects us to look out for them. Not saying I know HOW... I'm just saying I don't think we should just dismiss it with "well they're always gonna be around, so..... **shrug**"

[LaylaMonroe]

  How 'bout a sandwich once in a while, eh? 

Okay, THAT was funny.

[under13]

It's all scams and propaganda to make Africa look bad (remember Kony). I'm not as learned on the subject as I want to be, so I can't fully answer all of your questions, but if you ask people who have actually been to Africa, they will tell you that it's not like what they show on these infomercials. Most of Africa is industrialized and the people are not all starving. As for why it's like that, it's because of colonialism. I don't think those people were starving and in a civil war before the Europeans came.

I don't watch the ads, as I don't really watch TV, but I would just turn it off. Whatever you donate to them will not actually help much if at all. There are also starving children in Europe, why don't they put them on TV?

[blyempowered]

Good thread guys!

[lordluvr]

[church] Hmm, interesting..[/church]


I'd like to read that when you get your thoughts together.

I'm trying.  But, I'm just coming up with a mini-novel without really getting to my point, which I can't clearly define for some reason.