CynicalIdealist
4th November 2011, 05:58
One of my sociology professors showed this video to class today. http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/hans_rosling_on_global_population_growth.html
I sort of stumbled when I commented on how full of crap that video is, because I have trouble explaining myself. I threw out things about how the first world keeps the third world in debt, and briefly mentioned how NGOs are doing the work that governments should be doing, etc. I also said something about how the video was too white man's burden-y.
What I realize is that on international economy and the way that the West/philanthropic organizations relate to it, people are incredibly ignorant, and even if I know a little more about that relationship than the average person I myself am ignorant. I can throw out platitudes about how the IMF/World Bank/West keeps everyone in debt but without REALLY knowing what I'm talking about, process, function, etc., I can only speak in platitudes.
For instance, my parents are sort of ex-radicals who become victim of NPR and other crap, so they hear about what some doofus setting up microfinance/credit in other country or Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation or whatever, and they get optimistic at this. But I simply do not know where to get started with convincing liberal idealists like them that they're wrong.
I sort of stumbled when I commented on how full of crap that video is, because I have trouble explaining myself. I threw out things about how the first world keeps the third world in debt, and briefly mentioned how NGOs are doing the work that governments should be doing, etc. I also said something about how the video was too white man's burden-y.
What I realize is that on international economy and the way that the West/philanthropic organizations relate to it, people are incredibly ignorant, and even if I know a little more about that relationship than the average person I myself am ignorant. I can throw out platitudes about how the IMF/World Bank/West keeps everyone in debt but without REALLY knowing what I'm talking about, process, function, etc., I can only speak in platitudes.
For instance, my parents are sort of ex-radicals who become victim of NPR and other crap, so they hear about what some doofus setting up microfinance/credit in other country or Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation or whatever, and they get optimistic at this. But I simply do not know where to get started with convincing liberal idealists like them that they're wrong.