Excuse me, while I perform a one-man version of George Frederic Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” The actual story is here. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Bill Gates Bono Melinda Gates TIME Magazine Related Narnia's Big DayWhat's Narnia about? Tilda Swinton tells us it's "anti-religious."
I love Bono’s music. Firmly believe we are brothers in Christ and I trust his heart. His philosophy however is pure socialism as this article clearly attests. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry but no chorus’s come to mind.
If you want to know whether to laugh or cry simply look up any of the articles (aldaily.com has had a couple) about how Bono with his seeking aid for African nations is probably HURTING the people he wants helped even more. I believe Bono has a good heart and certainly is an individual who does much with what he is given but we’ve all heard what road is paved with good intentions. Just wish he was a bit more educated to the reasons why people in Africa are suffering as opposed to succumbing to a quick answer to the emotions that suffering can create in us.
Boy, you guys are SO right on. The way to help Africa is to promise $10 billion to fight AIDS and then forget all about it. That’s why W. gets MY vote for man of the year.
You’re making my point for me Martin. Believe it or not but the aid that has been given to African nations often times hurts them far more than anything else because the money doesn’t go to who it is suppose to go to. Rather it goes to the leaders of these nations that are the ones responsible for the plight of their people. Read here: http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,363663,00.html
Unfortunately in this society we’ve been bred to think throwing money at a problem will solve it when in fact I’ve yet to see an example of where that has actually worked. Los Angeles schools sure get a lot of money thrown at them but I’ve yet to see any upswing in results, rather I’ve seen a DOWNGRADE. This is the point, being rich and giving mass amount of your earnings to causes is all fine and dandy but that does not make you a person of the year.
Look I’m not saying the Gates or Bono are bad people (far from it) but unfortunately our world has become a little bit more complex for us to simply celebrate those who have provided the most money to others. Christ sure didn’t give money out with any regularity, which is something to think on…
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Not every African nation is governed by wackos with guns or Mobutus lining their own pockets. And there are NGOs on the ground in Africa who know how to get aid where it needs to go. Sure, mistakes have been made wtih relief efforts like this … the Ethiopia/Somalia famine of 20 years ago is a case in point. But (1) you’re painting all African nations with one bigoted brush; (2) you seem to think you’re in on some secret that Bono and Bill Gates are too dumb to figure out. Some nations (Somalia, Sudan) won’t get much in the way of aid because their political situations make it impossible to distribute. But in other nations (Uganda, Malawi) AIDS prevention programs are having an effect.
I happen to work for a nonprofit that administered a 6-year project in Communist China funded by a $2.9 million Gates Foundation grant. This project went in and built a treatment center in Henan Province for children with cerebral palsy; it also implemented treatment programs at existing facilities in neighboring cities. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN CHINA, kids with CP are getting education and physical therapy and graduating with the ability to get jobs and participate in the economy, instead of being left at home to lie in their beds their entire lives. This project has changed both cultural and governmental attitudes toward the disabled in China; the project is now self-sustaining and the government will take over its operations.
So don’t tell me that Bill Gates can’t change a situation for the better by “throwing money” at it. Take your smug ass over to those Los Angeles schools and volunteer to help out, but don’t sit on it and criticize what you don’t understand.
Thank you Mark. My apologies if any of my remarks come across as smug, because that’s the last thing I’m trying to convey. What I am trying to convey is that most of us have largely adappted a world view that money solves problems, when in fact it is appearing more and more like it causes MORE problems. Again I point to the example Christ gave in His own ministry where money did factor in at times but never was it the main factor. Remeber it is the love of money that is the root of all evil and Africa being as corrupt as it is is where we are faced with the most evidence of this. So all the aid concerts and such in the world can lead to little if we aren’t willing to go the extra step. THis is why taking money from the rich in the form of higher taxes and what not may sound good but really isn’t. I’d rather have those individuals focus on their respective industries fully and give what they like instead. For the rest of us we must take to heart the message that money isn’t what changes things, it is our actions. This is why regardless of one’s monetary state we can make a difference, a big difference. I appluade Time’s decision to give the disctinction to our troops in the past but that should be the exception rather then the rule.
I’ve rambled enough though but again, my basic point remains, I think Bono and the Gates are good people and their heart is indeed in the right place, but just because they have given or raised the most money does not make me believe they should be a “Person of the Year.” Time’s reporting should look to raise awareness of individuals who have done the grunt work and provide a great example to people of what giving’s one time can do. Obviously the example of the Gates’ and Bono can be lost because we do not nearly enjoy the privelges they do to provide what they do.
Alrighty then. No point in arguing with you guys. If SOME African govts are corrupt, then they must ALL be corrupt. Fortunately the same logic applies to politicians in THIS country. I just hope you’re consistent in how you apply your apathy. If I find that you ever voted in this country, I’m going to be extremely disappointed in you. Have a merry—on second thought, don’t bother. And whatever you do, don’t put your change in the red kettle, ’cause the guy ringing the bell will probably just run down to the bar and drink your money away.
One further thought: Do you guys have any proposed solutions for the so-called systemic problems in Africa? Let’s say we follow your advice and withdraw all Western aid; most of the continent will then succumb to these systemic problems and descend into anarchy. Then what?
Since you asked, I believe the only time our government should get involved in the affairs of other countries is in our self defense or the defense of our allies. (I believe our allies should only be those who believe in the personal freedom of their people regardless of how they feel about George or whomever else is the White House)
I think charitable aid is always best distributed by those who have earned the money. I think if you have made the type of money that Gates or Bono have you might know something about teaching others to be prosperous but at the very least they have the right to do with their money of they see fit. Non-corrupt governments should have no problem working with private charities.
Bottom line. I believe God created economic law just like He created physical laws and moral laws. Further I believe that the economic law He created is very similar to laisez faire (please pardon my spelling) capitalism. It seems to have worked every time it was tried.
Thanks for asking.
>>Non-corrupt governments should have no problem working with private charities.
Well, that certainly narrows things down. To zero.
Mark, kindly tell me whether you think the U.S. currently practices laissez-faire capitalism, and if not, tell me when we strayed from the path. Then show me where, in the annals of laissez-faire capitalism, any govt. has implemented a system where all land reverts back to its original owners and all debts are forgiven every 50 years. Then write me a little essay comparing and contrasting what you call laissez-faire capitalism with the economic principles put forth by God in Leviticus 25. Then repeat your original remark with a straight face.
>>I believe the only time our government should get involved in the affairs of other countries is in our self defense or the defense of our allies.
———-
Er, but by definition, if we get involved with other countries only in self-defense, we won’t have any allies.
Here’s a working link for the Der Spiegel article:
http://tinyurl.com/as7vw
Believe it or not, I actually find myself agreeing with a lot of what Shikwati says. Aid IS more efficient if you can steer it past the govts and the UN World Food Programme and get it to the people who need it … and if you direct at least some of it toward economic/business development and govt reform, not just toward handouts.
But what is it that makes you guys think Bono and Gates are unaware of the issues Shikwati raises?
I absolutely love “Empire of the Sun”. I lived in Japan for a number of years, and I totally identify the conflicted view he has of his captors – fearing them for their cruelty as well as admiring them for their courage. The manipulative yet sympathetic Malkovich character is great, and the scene where the American planes attack the base – with Bale looking on and cheering, is one of the most incredible scenes in cinema, in my opinion. Apparently Spielberg spent some millions on that one shot, hoping that the young star would be able to keep up with all the action and pyrotechnics. And it worked!
has chevy chase always been on crack?
o, and yes, i loved that movie. and the book, probably the first memoir i ever read.