Food for thought

Paul Farmer calls for a “movement to promote the rights of the poor” (Partner to the Poor, 519). He argues that this movement must arise from rich nations, nations that “have”, like the United States. He acknowledges that our government is too often tied down by politics, adding that “powerful governments do not form movements. Their citizenry might” (520). However, based on my observations of American life compared to life in low and middle-income communities in South Africa and India, where people storm the streets to protest against the slightest increase in water tax, for instance, I worry about the plausibility of this call to action. Unlike the South Africans, we Americans, collectively, are a complacent people. We are as a whole concerned with our own routines and are afraid to break free in order to protest against the human right violations we hear about happening on the other side of the world. We hear about the genocide in Rwanda or political rights being violated by a U.S supported Egyptian president, and we are concerned. Nevertheless, once we have been updated in current news, we put away the paper and return to more pressing deadlines such as turning in an assignment for ethics class. Is there something inherent in the American culture or the culture in wealthy nations that makes us less likely to protest, for example, the removal of U.S soldiers in Rwanda, contributing to the continuation of the genocide? Why are only a select few speaking out when these atrocities are witnessed by many? So tell me, how can one mobilize this movement Paul Farmer calls for in such a complacent culture/people?

-Dhrusti (captivated by readings by and about Paul Farmer)