Amanda's got some really thought-provoking stuff up about how the uproar about public schools and what's being taught in them (history, sex ed, creationism) could act as a long-term dismantling of the public school system: making mucho bucks for the privateers. Check it out.
And yea, I'm still irritated with the hullabaloo about the Tsunami. Sure, it's great, the whole world throwing money and people out there; the media frenzy is amazing (everyone's so glad to stop talking about Iraq and whether or not Ashlee Simpson really knows how to sing).
And here's why I'm still really irritated:
Guess what happened today?
About 600 people in South Africa died of AIDS.
That's about 219,000 dead people in South Africa every year. Dead for a stupid, preventable reason. Not a natural disaster. One we can do something about through AIDS research, education, prevention, and giving money to local sustainable community project in SA.
Where's the money? Where's the public outcry? Where are the hordes of relief workers? Nelson Mandela's son just died of AIDS. Wake up, people.
In this country, the highest rate of HIV infection is among black women. Where's that on the news? How come Cheney and Edwards had absolutely no idea this was so during their debates?
Yea. It bugs me. We play "who's giving the most money" on Christmas, and tell people to blow off the other 364 days a year.
Monday, January 10, 2005
What's Happening
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2 comments so far. What are your thoughts?
I've been thinking a lot about how it may be the case that human beings just aren't very good long-term goal oriented sorts of creatures, and I wonder if this has something to do with the disparity in help between AIDS in Africa and the Tsunami stuff. (Of course there are all sorts of other reasons, from blatant nationalistic apathy/hate to...whatever.)
The basic idea is this: "Oh! Tsunami! Well, you don't see THAT every day! Send money!" VERSUS "AIDS? Well, that's going to take some time."
I'm not saying it's the rational way to view things--but it may be somewhat part of how we're hard-wired.
Posted by jp
jp - I agree with you. And it still totally pisses me off.
It's easier to see a one-off thing through than an ongoing battle.
Posted by Kameron Hurley
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