Why Come Back?
I came across this blog post, and thought it was worth sharing.
“When we have so much poverty in this country, why are you going to other countries to help?”
It’s a good question. I told him that it comes down to levels. In the countries I helped support, like Burma and Cambodia, the poorest in the U.S. would be middle class in those countries. I told him about bad water supplies, parents selling children to survive… you get the idea. The real question is, “If it’s so bad out there, why did I come back.”
Well, it’s like this. America used to be the first among the world leaders. First in morality. First in innovation. First in progressive thoughts. Other countries looked to us for direction on any number of things. We were a shining example - we didn’t have to do anything except be Americans.
These days, other countries fear us. They despise us. By our own actions we are becoming isolated from the rest of the world. We’re no longer first, but we pretend we are, and have to constantly prove that “We’re number 1!”. And if you have to prove it, it ain’t true.
That’s why I came back. I can remember when we were respected instead of feared. I can remember when we held a moral high ground - when the idea of torture was not even considered. If we lose our way, the ramifications are far reaching - our mistakes extend all the way across the oceans to children in third world countries.
The author, while explaining why she volunteers in other countries, asks herself another question: Basically, why does she feel her time is suddenly better spent volunteering for the Ron Paul campaign? What a wonderful and logical explanation.