what can i do?

"Revolted by the images transmitted to us day after day from conflict zones, at one time or another we all ask ourselves this simple but crucial question: what can i do about it?"
- International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva, press release, 2004

I often get really frustrated that so many people around me don't wake up to the tragedies in the world and the resources they have to combat the injustices. For example, that was the thrust behind the garage sale idea I pitched to my pastor. My heart wanted people to realize that the junk in their basement that hadn't been touched in years could mean clean water for an entire village in Africa. That's incredible and I want to share that perspective with others.

The above quote challenged me a bit in my frustration. I think what I realized was that until people learn or see enough that their hearts recognize the severity of injustices and the need for change, they skim over the headlines as though they were still distant. We all have a breaking point, enough is enough is circumstantial in this case.

Here's an example to help me explain my thoughts. If you are an American, your sympathy likely lies with the American troops in Iraq. Our media does a great job of highlighting the lives of those serving and the fallen. If you know one of those troops, you are drawn even more to the news of death and injury and danger. This perspective has drawn many to protest war, wear yellow ribbons, etc. Those people have been moved to action, am I right?

However, if you are me and you have Iraqi friends then you (I) might be moved differently. I have a few dozen Iraqi friends to whom I once taught English, and they email about once a month. I've seen the scars of their shattered lives.... You see, that's why my heart stirs the way it does. My heart cry of "what can I do?" was in response to the images I've seen in their lives. I wanted to help, I wanted to help Arabs and Muslims and refugees in their misunderstanding and darkness and suffering.

So maybe I'm not made so differently with my soapboxes and social justice and love for Muslims, maybe I just know different revolting news.

Don't get me wrong, I still believe there are thousands too many sitting in their recliners shaking their heads that the problems are too big- remember that scene in Hotel Rwanda when the reporters realize no matter if they get footage of the genocide to the news stations, people will keep eating their dinner and carry on with life. And there's the many thousands more that say, who is Darfur? (That's another blog.)

You know those bumper stickers that say "start seeing motorcycles"? I want to make a new one that says "start seeing injustice" or maybe "start seeing what you can do in the world"



Is this "private" setting a pain? Is anyone going to the trouble of visiting still? I'll try it out for a while and see what you guys think and how it goes.

p.s. Oddly enough my spell check didn't know Darfur was a word.