"America IS these communities"
great article. the idea that private citizens know better than government what their money should be used for regarding the world's poor is a very important one.
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There is a smug view in Europe that the United States is particularly mean when it comes to helping poor countries. Whatever list you make of generosity to those less fortunate than themselves, the Americans will be near the bottom of it.
But it's not quite as simple as that - and certainly not the way the Americans see it.
There's no question that there's a search for America's role in the world and for its heart and soul in how it relates to the world.
Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Columbia University
It's true that United States "official development assistance" is less than 0.2% of its gross national product (way below that of Luxembourg, Holland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, all of which exceed the 0.7% target set at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992).
But when non-governmental generosity is included, the US moves up the list - not to the top, but way above the bottom.
Private aid
Americans will tell you that they are generous but in different ways.
President Bush is not alone in wanting a role for private charity
According to Carol Adelman, who was one of the top officials in the American aid effort, the measure used by many in the global community to gauge a country's generosity only counts government foreign aid "and the United States has for many centuries given a lot of private aid overseas".
She calculates that US businesses give $2.8bn every year; American charities give $6.6bn; the country's colleges give scholarships to foreign students worth $1.3bn.
And this last way of helping, runs the argument, is particularly effective on the old premise that the best way to cure hunger is not to give food, but to teach people how to grow it.
It's Dr Adelman's contention, moreover, that this aid is much more effective than government aid which may get skimmed by bureaucrats.
Open door policy
On top of that, America does not exhibit the xenophobia evident throughout much of the rest of the developed world.
America is these communities - people on every street corner who are writing cheques, giving millions and millions of dollars
Rev Herb Lusk
In Europe the door to the poor is locked; in America, it's true the door is guarded but it is open to many more people, particularly from Latin America.
And this means that huge sums are remitted to poor countries by immigrants to the United States, and this too is effective because it's direct people-to-people aid
"It's going directly to them to start up businesses, buy medicines, build clinics, build schools, buy food", says Dr Adelman.
Churches also give generously. It's true that they donate bibles and religious instruction - but also medicines and agricultural advice which have no theology.
Church aid
Talk to the Rev Herb Lusk of the Greater Exodus Baptist Church in Philadelphia who has launched a campaign to help Aids victims in Africa, a campaign endorsed by President Bush who called Herb Lusk a "social entrepreneur who can make things happen".
"You can't look at America and look at what the State Department gives and say that's how much America gives," Rev Lusk told the BBC.
The US is increasingly engaged in African reform efforts
"America is these communities - people on every street corner who are writing cheques, who are giving millions and millions of dollars".
Herb Lusk is not pastor to a people overflowing with money yet they dig deep.
"My church gives 10% of its income to Africa. The problem is a problem that has to be solved not by governments but by people - people giving to people."
Americans do not give like other people do.
They don't assume the government knows best and leave generosity to politicians and officials.
The figures do not show America as the world's most generous people, but nor do they show Americans as the meanest.
Change of mood
And whatever the statistics say, there does seem to be a change of mood in the country, a retreat from a harsh isolation where the world could go hang.
Professor Jeffrey Sachs who runs the Earth Institute at Columbia University thinks his country's government needs to do much, much more - but the change is coming.
"There's no question that there's a search for America's role in the world and for its heart and soul in how it relates to the world," he told the BBC.
"There's a lot of anxiety; a lot of confusion - and openness right now to consider the peaceful and development approaches to the world."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4091528.stm
Re: "America IS these communities"
But how does it then compare when you add in other countries charitable and private donations?
Not that I'm saying that America is mean, just that if you want to take those points into consideration then you have to consider them for everyone.
I don't get "America is these communities" either, what does this mean?
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On top of that, America does not exhibit the xenophobia evident throughout much of the rest of the developed world.
This is also a bit of an ambiguous statement, are you saying that because America has more illegal immigrants than the UK that their less xenophobic? As far as I can see illegal immigration is as much a problem there as it is here, and the views of the people are probably broadly similar.
Re: "America IS these communities"
The problem isn't that you (as the US) don't give enough aid, the problem is that you have a history of exploiting poor countries. Through force.
We screw over other countries too, we're just more subtle about it :bow:
Re: "America IS these communities"
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We screw over other countries too, we're just more subtle about it
Thats because you have so much more experience at it that us. ~;)
Re: "America IS these communities"
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Originally Posted by doc_bean
The problem isn't that you (as the US) don't give enough aid, the problem is that you have a history of exploiting poor countries. Through force.
We screw over other countries too, we're just more subtle about it :bow:
You say that and your from Belgium?! Sure we might not be so great lately but such blanket statements don't make due for when it happened.
I guess I should comment on the article.....
Hmm, I can't really say anything without seeing the private donations from Europeans as well. Like what someone said above.
Re: "America IS these communities"
it is very vague relating to other countries
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, the US moves up the list - not to the top, but way above the bottom.
How much is "way above"? 5? 6? 7? 20? places?
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In Europe the door to the poor is locked; in America, it's true the door is guarded but it is open to many more people, particularly from Latin America.
How is it locked? Do they say "no your poor you don't need charity"? Obviously he hasn't heard about the G8 summit where countries of Europe (most of the press says about UK but they mention other countries) want debt relief for Africa
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America is these communities
pretty poor grammer for a Dr. ~;)
Re: "America IS these communities"
Since when have doctors been known for great english??????
Re: "America IS these communities"
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Originally Posted by ShadesPanther
pretty poor grammer for a Dr. ~;)
is that sarcastic?
i'm pretty sure that this statement is grammatically correct
"[America is]" - singular "[these communities]" plural
these communities are america
america is the sum of these communities
it sounds odd - but i think that this is the reason for its use; to make you look twice and think about its meaning
Re: "America IS these communities"
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Originally Posted by discovery1
You say that and your from Belgium?! Sure we might not be so great lately but such blanket statements don't make due for when it happened.
I was referring to the way the countries work in the present. Democratic memory is pretty short.
To be fair, Congo was an atrocity, but the Belgian public had very little to with it, it's was mostly the King's playing ground.
Re: "America IS these communities"
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Originally Posted by TuffStuffMcGruff
is that sarcastic?
i'm pretty sure that this statement is grammatically correct
It is. What the hell was he supposed to say?
"America are these communities."
"America is this communities."
"America is composed of this group of communities."
Sheesh.
