Americans working abroad can be criticized for not helping solve problems in their own country. A classic argument I've heard from those who do not support foreign aid is this, "We have veterans, wasting their lives away, homeless on benches, cracked out, drugged up, penniless. We have problems of our own to solve."
Those focusing domestically are probably not criticized nearly as much, but sure enough, they can be. "Why should I donate to this food pantry when children are starving from West Africa to India? How can you advocate for providing excessive comforts to _____ when AIDS, HIV, and Measles are ravaging Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia?"
What do I think about this? What what what.... what can people do. I just flew half way around the world but my heart is still in the fields of my home. What role does a person play in a global community? When you are part of the 1st World, rapidly becoming blind to the simplicity of life, how do you relate to those who have "less" than you?
Domestic -> Subtractive Role. Increase quality of life by subtracting unnecessary elements from society to reintroduce culture and community.
Foreign -> Additive Role. Increase quality of life by contributing technological advances that don't compromise culture, environment, and an established way of life.
And that's all I wrote.
This thought has really blossomed since returning from Africa. In my next blog post, I will extrapolate on where these thoughts have settled. I've had the time to run my thoughts past some trustworthy others and I think I am almost ready to describe my stance on domestic and foreign aid.
It's the same here - some days I get lost thinking about Cincinnati and walk out the door forgetting where I am. I propose that the most important qualities of service are perspective and application.
ReplyDeleteForeign perspective gives a better sense of how individual issues fit within the global picture.
Local application is the purposeful decision to make a sustained, lasting impact on one's immediate community.
Just some thoughts.