i dream of a world where clean water is commonplace and not a luxury. a world in which caring acts dominate violent ones. simply, i dream of a world in which people can worry about how to live life and not how to survive it.
too much? too ideal? possibly. probably. but a girl can dream right? i can (almost) understand indifference to local and global issues, but dont you dream of the same kind of world? im just trying to help create the world we both dream of. i didn't mean that you should no longer drink water, but just understand the problem with bottled water. the unfortunate truth is that all the social actions that im posting about address issues that directly affect you and your future. you don't have to care, but just be aware. you don't have to help, but just don't criticize. there are many people out there fighting to create a better world for you.
it seems to be the trend wherein if there is someone who is trying to make a positive social impact, there will always be criticism of what they are doing. charities are criticized for not donating 100% of donations towards aid, overseas volunteers are criticized that their work will not be sustainable, and buying a homeless man a coffee is seen as not making a difference. im guilty of the above criticisms, but the underlying principle is that these people are just trying to help. and isn't some help better than nothing? why does help always have to be criticized? maybe so we can help in a better way. nothing spurs passion more than a little criticism and critical thinking. so bring your criticisms and i will bring solutions!
just wait, we're planning a caring revolution. just wait for it :D more to come.
No matter how complex global problems may seem, it is we ourselves who have given rise to them. They cannot be beyond our power to resolve- Daisaku Ikeda
Great post. Even I used to wonder this a lot when I first started to think about development and related problems. But over time, I realized that if we don't criticize, it CAN actually be HARMFUL. Good intentions aren't enough in this world, and even people with good intentions can go on to have a harmful effect on the very people they are trying to help. International volunteers can rightly be criticized because if they go in with little knowledge of the community they're trying to help, and with a very Western point of view -- they can actually cause harm to the community. Advocacy groups can actually have a negative impact in the way they pressure and shame governments, and so on. Read this great article (http://humanitarianrelief.change.org/blog/view/challenging_the_western_approach_to_advocacy_part_3).
ReplyDeleteI think doing something is good, but when that can turn out to be harmful it's important to criticize to ensure that the best possible approaches are being taken.
thanks for the comment akhila =) one of my biggest fears is going overseas and not being "useful", not adding sustainable value and help to the community. have you read 'Dead Aid'? It talks about how foreign aid keeps africa in the poverty loop.
ReplyDeleteand as a (very sensitive) girl, i have a hard with criticism sometimes, but then i realize that critcism is SO healthy. that i need it to keep motivated and to do things better. it's only when someone questions or challenges me that i really explore my true motives and improve myself.
thanks again!
It's one thing to get constructive criticism so we can all improve the system, and it's another thing to get garbage from people who are just SITTING and don't think for a second the fact that they're so privileged.
ReplyDeleteIt's one thing to read Dead Aid and The Blue Sweater to try to understand what our roles are as oversea volunteers, but that doesn't mean we need to be taking bs from others who are trying to discount the fact that we simply care and want to be part of the solution despite how small of a difference we may make.
I know what being very sensitive feels like, and you're right, it helps you discover your true motives and make sure you dig deeper. And here's a hug for you!
very true ruby, i think what really hurts me is when people question and criticize my desire to help overseas when they arent doing anything but ... criticizing. i've been told that "i wish you all the best, but don't believe what you're doing is helping" and that was pretty tough for me =(
ReplyDeleteit was pretty discouraging at first, then i felt defensive, and then just thought about how to use it for the better.
i wish people weren't so negative, but its inevitable. it's those kinds of people that motivate to prove them wrong. so i can encourage them when they see that what im doing really can make a difference!
thanks for the hug =) i like hugs =)
I read the post (love the continuous self-reflection, KLugo!:D) and was about to respond but...
ReplyDelete...then I saw Akhila's comment & it touched on similar points as I was about to make so...
...I decided not to comment anymore but...
...then I read Ruby's post and it reminded me of a question I have been wondering about for a while...here's what I hear you guys are saying and what I have undoubtedly said in the past:
1) We need criticism because we can be harmful without it.
2) Those who are not doing anything don't have a right to criticize.
That tells me inaction (and I use the word well aware of all its negative connotations) is never an alternative to be considered. Then as I think about it more and I wonder if, at some point, it SHOULD be considered as an option:
When do you (should you ever) say I will choose intentional inaction over potentially harmful action?? Where do (again, should we at all) draw that line??
What if you dedicate your life to learning & sharing (those lessons) because too many people find 'taking action' a lot more hip than 'learning & sharing'??
Is 'just because' action really much better than intentional inaction? is it possibly worse?