In college I have heard the term third world, a lot. Usually the conversation goes something like this:
Person 1: What are you going to do over break?
Person 2: I'm going to go home! What about you?
Person 1: I'm going to go to *insert country here* and do some *insert word: mission trip; volunteerism trip*
Person 2: That is so awesome of you. I'm so jealous. I had a friend that who went to a third world country, *insert country here* and it changed their life. They just loved being with the kids and they were so *insert word: grateful/appreciative/loving/happy/joyful*
Person 1: I'm so ready to just see what life is about and learn from the people.
And so on.
Reading A Small Place and Fault Lines: Views across Haiti's Divide, has reminded me of these conversations. It reminds me of people having impoverished and helpless views on other countries and then usually adding a layer by calling the country "third world". In class we discussed what we knew about Haiti. Everything that has been showed on the news and in other forms of media has shaped many people's ideas of Haiti and the DR. The only thing I used to know about Haiti was that the US went there to help the people after the earthquake and how impoverished it was. I didn't understand the larger context that the earthquake embodied what western colonization did to Haiti. The book "Fault Lines" discusses how the man-made disaster of Haiti as well as the natural disasters have be harmonious. Western aid often is based on stereotypes, the "white savior complex". The foreign aid in countries is packaged as a ignorant gift. The gift can not be exchanged, disregards needs and leaves out the opinions and efforts of what the natives of a country say they want or need. In my opinion it also puts a giant invasive bandaid on a problem, rather than actually addressing what is going on. Beverly Bell wrote in Fault Lines, about how you can be involved with Haiti. She talks about how it is important for "foreigners breezing in to do whatever they want", to not do that(Bell, 109). Do you think many large non-profits or government entities plaster their wants and desires and beliefs about countries over that country's narrative?
I found this article on Thought Catalog and thought it made some similar points to Beverly Bell. What do you all think?
"Do you think many large non-profits or government entities plaster their wants and desires and beliefs about countries over that country's narrative?"
ReplyDeleteYES YES YES!! I completely think that we use our privilege and power to "save" countries and block out the voices of their people. We see this a lot with non profits that are "donating" to funds such as the infamous KONY 2012 campaign. I remember this was a huge movement and many people believed that what they were doing was positive and helping out children. However, after the movement died down it was quickly learned that many of the donated money did not go to helping them out at all. It instead funded the leader of the movement's drug addiction and all of this was revealed when he was found naked, coked out on the streets of San Diego, CA. I think when we hear about non profit "movements" such as the KONY 2012 or Invisible Children fund campaigns, we believe that we are doing something good. Instead of using our privilege and education to research it, we just spend the money to "fix" the problem. Unfortunately, many of the proceeds do not go in full over to what they are even trying to help.
I could not agree with both of you more! this is something that has always bothered me and so many people dont understand why. Like when americans go on these mission trips and they come back feeling al great about themselves when really they did nothing but give themselves a false feeling of acomplishment. like Kadi mentions so many times we join these causes thinking they do these great things when really they are doing nothing but making us as american feel better about our selves. It is really sad and its just another example of how americans are so wrapped up in their own privilege they are blind to every thing else.
ReplyDeleteTo answer the question you asked Michelle, yes! I think it is very often the case that non-profits and government agencies who say they are helping are actually doing more harm because they are trying to promote their own agenda instead of actually doing the work that needs to be done.
ReplyDeleteI am well-known in my friend group for being cynical and pessimistic, but in this case I am just being realistic. Of course everyone would like to think that these major non-profits are out there doing whatever they can to help people in need, and of course people want to believe that the money they donated to help a cause is actually being used in the proper way. Sadly, this is not the case in a lot of instances, specifically in this case, Haiti.
I think people genuinely wanting to help out others is something truly amazing and something we should all strive to do. Making profit off of others misfortune is a gross injustice and something we should fight back against.