Thursday, April 10, 2008

Where is my goat?

oh I see, it is way up there.
why did it go up there? for two very different reasons.

Africa seems to be a favorite target for many philanthropists but I often get annoyed, if not insulted by the do-gooder, condescending, fake attitude of these people. These rich people think suddenly by going to Africa, they are suddenly so deep and full of conscience. Just by going there, they think they have done something amazing.
Remember when Paris Hilton wanted to be show she has become a better person. How do she show her changed attitude? oh yes, she wanted to "give back" by visiting Africa. Salvation.
Take the show Idol Gives Back, which is essentially a money raising show by American Id0l, focusing on the plight of Africans. First of all, why only Africa? because it is fashionable? have they looked at the other poor parts of the world? Do they even know of them??
Let me not digress. They show you these videos of these singers or what not, that mix in with the poor African people. This is the way a typical clip progresses: They show the famous person/s talking to a couple of poor black people, then they show a crowd of black people dancing or something and the rich white are standing on the side and laughing and clapping - oh yes they are really in with the crowd now. and then they hug the people and offer some deep reflection. Hallelujah.
Oh come on!! I wonder what the African people themselves are thinking - oh here comes the big white man on their high horse again - it must be that time of the year again when the fund raisers are on.
And after all that of course the rich white people go back to Hollywood, and live their lives of excess and debauchery.
Ok maybe I am exaggerating. And maybe that is not the way the Africans themselves see it. I have never asked any African Americans actually what they think of this all.
All I know is that if they kept doing that about Iran, i would be pissed off.

well this was a long verbiage. I will divulge the second reason why my goat is up later.

5 comments:

jeerjeerak said...

i didn't get here in time for your color poll, but what you have right now is so hard on my poor eyes!
you don't want me to undergo another lasik, do you :P

styx said...

They may not be giving in the best way, but at least they are giving!

I think it is much better than the charity events they do for people in the US. It takes a wider understanding of the world to donate in developing nations than to keep their resources in the same rich country.

jeerjeerak said...

much better, thanks!

A Fly on the Wall said...

jeerjeerak - you are crazy! :-P just when i was hoping the whole doodaa with the colors was dying down, you bring i up again :-D hehe!!!

where have you been? I've missed your blog updates!!

Kanmi the Conqueror said...

/signed

and what is stynky talking about?
what have they really given when they go to "visit" ?