This is where I am coming from...
First off, I apologize for the length of this post. Personally, I am not a fan of the long post. So, I understand if you do not read this, but as the author I encourage you to do so.
I had a great conversation with my wife last night. We got on the subject of politics and AIDS. This is something that I have been doing a lot looking into recently. HIV/AIDS is a huge problem. Most of us do not really see it in our daily lives. So, it's not a pressing issue. I mean, I don't have HIV, and no one I know has HIV, at least I do not think I know anyone with HIV. So, it is kind of remote from me.
We were talking about my recent blog posts, the ones about calling your representatives. She was saying that she does not look at politics as something that she is a part of. Something along the lines of, "I know that I have a voice and I vote for these people and they represent me and my voice, but beyond that I don't feel like a part of the system." That is definitely a paraphrase, and it may be more of what I heard and less of what she actually said. Sorry honey if I misrepresent you.
Anyway, I go off on this harangue about how politicians are to represent their constituent's interests, but if they do not know what it is that their constituency is concerned about then, they are just going on what they think.
So, what difference can one person make? I'm sure they can make some sort of difference. I mean, I call my Senator and tell them I want them to vote for something and they may just say "Okay, crazy." But, if say fifty people call and say the same thing, maybe they start to listen. Or, if fifty people call and all say the same thing, but also say they are calling on behalf of the ONE campaign, maybe they really listen. The ONE campaign at last count has 2,430,750 people signed on including several celebrities. (not that being a celebrity makes you any more special, it just gives you a little more influence because you are on TV more often than the average human) So, maybe you call and say you are calling on behalf of 2.4 million people and someone at least thinks about what you say.
While talking to her, it sort of hit me that maybe I really do care about all this. Initially, I started looking into it because I had heard a few things about how "HIV/AIDS is the leprosy of our age" or that "HIV/AIDS is the single, most important issue on the planet". Those are pretty big statements. All I really knew about AIDS is what I learned in health class. So, I started listening to people talk, and started reading things. The more I heard, the bigger the problem got.
A few years ago South East Asia was hit by a terrible tsunami. Roughly two hundred eighty-three thousand people died. The world gasped. Then, the world responded. Well, imagine if one of those tsunamis happened every month. That would suck.
NOTE: If you do not like the word suck, you can sub in your favorite word or phrase for when something is not good, e.g. stink, be bad, be like getting kicked in the face by a horse with cleats on, etc.
So, daily tsunamis are not all that realistic, but that's about the number of people that die from HIV/AIDS every month. That's about 300,000 people every month. Or, about one person every 8-10 seconds.
At some point, it becomes overwhelming. You may start to think, I can't do anything about this. You may even get to the point where you ask yourself if you really believe God is bigger than HIV. It may seem heretical to say, but if you take a look into the enormity of the problem you begin to wonder if this thing can be beaten.
The answer has to be a resounding yes. We have to go from "I can't do anything about this", to "I can't do nothing about this."
Please excuse the double negative.
We are the people that can do something about this.
Better yet, We are the people that can change the world.
Better yet, We are the people that are going to change the world.
Do I really believe that? If so, how does that effect the way I live my life?
posted by Shannon Smith @ 2/02/2007
7 Comments
Links to this post
7 Comments:
I've begun to notice this caring thing from you recently. It's strange to think that Shannon Smith "cares" about anything. It's not really your MO. Maybe the becoming a father thing is getting you in touch with your sensitivity. Maybe it's hanging out with Jason. Maybe it's God decided to grab your heart on this one. Anyways, its inspiring. So keep prodding, keeping caring. I can't imagine a much better thing to care about and act on.
Its interesting because I have been doing some work with college students and a way of teaching that helps them become more "engaged" with society... this process helps people realize that they can be change agents or groups of change agents. Not only can we learn and live this out through school and experiences in college, but these experiences and challenges should become a part of our daily lives.
I talk to my students about speaking about things they are passionate about and teach them how to call others to action. Why... so often do I hesitate to do the same? I think this is one of those ways (your blog) that you can become more invovlved in helping others become active, especially about this issue, which is so important!
Thank you for bringing me into this conversation. Its one that needs to be ongoing and I hope to start to recognize and take part in making a difference and using my voice on an individual level and a political level.
This is Traci--- The previous post is my thoughts... I am just practicing using Shannon's MAC... I may get one... I already started making mistakes though... hmmm...
I'll agree with Jonathan that it is exciting to see you impassioned and further see that passion move you to action. I may not agree with the solution proposed to this particular problem (gosh that makes me sound like a butthole) but it's exciting to see someone moved to action.
What solution is that? Having your tax dollars work to improve the lives of the less fortunate?
You know they are wasting your money on other less noble things. Why don't you start complaining about those things instead?
Wow, calm down. Rational discoure is what separates us from the apes!
Like I said before I am completely for the idea/concept of the program. Don't put words into my mouth and assume that I'm against defeating AIDS and poverty when we've only "talked" about this over the internet. I'm just not as sure as you that its execution i.e. the manner in which aid is given, education etc. is the best.
I actually consider myself an Ape, so I am offended by that
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about moving out of indifference, Shannon.
As I've been studying the AIDS crisis in Africa, I've been learning that the crisis is particularly severe there because adult, familial, and tribal systems that normally care for orphans are being obliterated by the disease. kenya expects 1/4 of its adult population to be dead from AIDS by 2010. Right now, that country alone has over 2 million orphans, and within three years it is only going to get worse.
I think one thing we can do is look for people that we can partner with to pray for, work with, and support them in whatever way we can to care for kids and work to bring about a different future for these ravaged areas.
be praying for me and jason's trip to africa.
by the way, last night, we started up our second bball season, and 60 guys from all different backgrounds actually got excited to play sports to help people even though they are incovienced by not having refs. pretty cool.
you want to fly out for a game? we need a big guy bad
www.hopesports.blogspot.com
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home