I think you've made the best point in your last comment, Aleiav. Even if it's all for nothing, at least we can try. I've been noticing in myself lately that I have the "just one man" problem, meaning that I usually figure "my contributions aren't going to save the day so why bother?" A horrible, or at least a bit of a cowardly, trait to be sure, and one that I'm not real proud of.
I've been thinking alot about it lately though, and maybe it's time to stop worrying about it. I mean, so what if I don't help anything? It doesn't hurt to try. Also, your point about knowing who your'e donating to is an excellent one. As long as you pay attention to the watchdogs and whatnot, you're money probably is, despite my earlier comments, going to (or at least close to) the place you intend it to.
On a related note, I can't afford the fancy shit myself 
. Not to say I'm poor, as that would be both a lie and a disrespect to those who actually are, but I live off my cheques (and that isn't to say, like, my cheques pay the cell bill.. it's more like, a summer's work pays for school then I'm effectively broke for the next 10 months). Maybe people like myself should be contributing in other ways, though, like through community service, or participation in events (e.g.: the aforementioned AIDS walk).
I'm getting off track here, but this has made me think. Not to be over dramatic, but maybe it's time for some self-examination, if not a bit of change. I'll stop rambling here, but first feel thanks are in order for the maintenance of the maturity level here. Usually these kinds of conversations degenerate pretty quickly and this one, well, hasn't.
You're right, Sedge, and I feel I've overstepped my bounds here. My personal experience with people who are, for lack of a better term, "compassion posers" may have led me to shoot my mouth off prematurely, and I apologize. Aleiav, to you, too, I'm sorry. This whole fasle compassion thing is one of my hot button issues, and, as I said, past experience has led me to jump to conclusions. Of course you're both right (and know that I'm a bastard who never backs down, even when he's wrong, so congrats :P), and you're doing what you can, which is, as you've both mentioned, the best most anyone can be expected to do.
I also may have taken exception to what I interpreted as assumptions about my own compassion levels, which, admittedly, may have hit a bit close to home. Truth is, I don't do enough on this front, and when it comes up, I'm reminded of that. Sometimes my dissapointment in what I see as personal failures (in this context, anyway) manifests itself in the form of callous or unnecessarrily harsh comments.
While I still maintain what are perhaps certain... alternative opinions on the matter, I agree, on the whole with what you two have said. Finally, If either of you would like to take the discussion further, I'd be more than willing to do so (it, in all seriousness, could be enlightening for me, if nothing else), but feel this isn;t the place for it. PM me, or something, and I'd be glad to discuss it.
Again, all apologies for any offense.
No one suggested that the alternative to monetary donation was war, nor did the news post (which, I asumed, was the topic at hand) suggest donating to charities such as the international red cross or the Peace corps. What it focused on was pressuring the G8 governments (actually, the US government specifically) to "keep [their] promises", and offer debt relief and aid to African nations. The implication,then, (or at least the way in which I understood it) was that the US government should offer monetary relief to the Governments of said nations.
On another note, it really make my blood boil when people make claims about caring so deeply about the state of said nations, but in reality, spend virtually no time actually thinking about it save for when the time comes to take 15 minutes out of your day to donate, or it is brought up in conversation, and you feel compelled to show your 'compassion' (again, not saying YOU specifically do this, it's just the way most people are). Like, we sit here, comfortable as possible, pretending to understand or be empathetic, but examine your own life... how many 50 dollar pairs of pre ripped Abercrombie jeans do you own (metaphorically speaking, of course)?
But I'll withdraw, and say that I agree with you. Something must be done, yes, that is a given, and donating to independant (independant of corrupt governments, that is) charitable organizations is probably realistically the best thing most of us (myself included) can do.
Apologies to anyone this may offend. I know this is not a popular opinion, and I probably now look like a total ass, but I've said what I believe, and that's all I can do... Again, I mean no offense to any specific person, and I hope no one will take it as such.
I think the point big brother was trying to address was the fact that charitable donations aren't really helping, as the bulk of the money is never used for the intended purposes. It's easy to sit here and talk about "doing something", but in the end, donating money/rallying for government donation is really only self serving. It may make us feel better about ourselves, but does it really help?
Aleiav, you talk about enforcing respect for life. I agree entirely that such a concept is important, but the news post mentions only enforcing western 'commitments' to trade, aid and debt relief, essentially meaning monetary assistance. Pumping funds into the continent isn't going to stop the conflicts or improve the infrastructure.
I may be way off base here, and like I said, I know very little about the situation. What I do know is that we have been pumping money into places like Africa for years, with little result on the whole. Not that we shouldn't help; we should definitely do so, but maybe it's time to approach the matter from a different angle?
Europe and America made a mess in Africa over the last several centuries and they should help clean it up. The former colonial powers pillaged the continents natural resources (including the native people) and people wonder why they can't get their act together. We can't just turn our backs on this troubled region. The entire world would benefit enormously if these countries had stable governments, a majority of people in the middle class and control over their own resources.
It's a noble sentiment. Subsidizing Africa has been trouble in the past, since the bulk of donations tend not to make it past the corrupt governments of the individual countries.
I found this article below to be an interesting counterpoint, especially coming from a guy who grew up in Africa and lived there for 30 years.
http://www.theothersideofkim.com/index.php/essays/36/
It's funny how there can be two sides to such a charitable issue.
If anyone is interested in the G8 you should check out the HBO movie The Girl In The Café. It's a heartbreaking look at the process.
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