| Decade after decade I keep hearing from so many people and organizations about their efforts in combatting the poverty in Africa. Yet, stubbornly, this plage is resisting every move we make. Or, may be we are not really interested in defeating this curse, but rather, our goal is to feel that we are a part of a great and noble quest?
We live in the world that is covered by Evil and to go against the tide is a little too dangerous for many. But, as dark as our souls are, many have a 'need to walk on the path of righteousness', so they continue to perpetuate this state of despair, to help the needy. I may be naive, at least some will say, but as hard as I try, I fail to understand how teaching someone to read for over 30 years without much success is anything but dumb or may the Truth be told - evil. (I think that if these people were responsible for the rebuilding of Germany and Japan after the World War 2, we would still had hearings in the Senate as to "Why does it take so much money to feed German and Japanese people?".)
I remember a report, from a few years ago, about the struggle with the AIDS virus in Africa. In one of the countries, I believe in Congo, government had focused passionately on the abstinence, and it worked enough to significantly lower the number of new cases. While in other countries, local social worker was explaining, how difficult it is for the people to abstain from the sexual activities, even for women infected with the AIDS who are having children, and as a result, passing the virus to the newborn - something to do with the culture and their purpose in life...
The report continued to say that now that Congo is improving its situation, they will get less money (in our society we punish those who follow the path of righteousness), so more money could go to the countries where responsibility is not a part of the culture.
Evil always rewards and we are more than willing to help. A new effort was recently launched around the world, by many renowned artists and celebrities to 'HELP' Africa once more. Number of concerts were held in various countries to raise the money. It came to the point that even some African people, very few still, have dared to raise their objections that so much of the help is going to feed the army of corrupt, and so very little is coming through to the people who deserve and need it...
Wouldn't it be nice if the help went to those countries where people accepted responsibility for the choices they make? So we could show at least a single country where roads are being built, farms are thriving, economy is improving, corruption is being defeated and despair is no longer a part of life. People in other countries might even realize that irresponsible choices will not be rewarded. But I suppose, that it is not what this effort is all about...
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