The Easy Way Out
February 28, 2010
I was speaking to a friend last night trying to explain how I regulate or compartmentalize my life between Canada and Africa. The best way I could possibly negotiate my way through it is to say that I think we should enjoy our freedoms here but not abuse them. This quickly led me to the precipice of a diatribe on how very little of our population show up to vote where as in other countries people wait in line for hours and risk their lives for a chance at participating in democracy, how that even though roughly 12% of our GDP goes to health care, that at least the system is there,etc. Then I thought to myself how much longer do we have to explain these issues by comparing the haves to the have nots? Is this age of dualism in advocacy and activism relevant or is it becoming antiquated? It’s starting to feel like the easy way out, the lowest common denominator way of educating regarding African development. Granted I am guilty of this too but there has got to be a more respectful way to honor the African people we are partnering with.
Darcy
Feb.28th, 2010
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