From: Michael Lorrey (retroman@together.net)
Date: Fri Mar 06 1998 - 06:42:32 MST
Mark Miloscia wrote:
> There is no doubt in my mind that most people would drop whatever they are doing
> and fly to Ethiopia or picket the US Capitol, do what ever it takes, and try to rescue
> their spouse or sibling or parent or offspring if they were one of those starving
> statistics. Most people would think it strange (irresponsible even) if I mentioned
> that my wife was "...dying in some Ethopian hell-hole. Darn those Warlords, it's their
> fault. Oh, by the way, did you see those Knicks last night, blew another game..." I
> bet Ethiopia would be hip-deep in Marines if Hillary C. was lost somewhere in-country.
That is the point. Since nobody we know is stuck there, and we didn't have anything to do
with creating the situation, its none of my business at this point.
If the people there want my help, they should a) ask for it, b) have something to offer in
return for my help, c) take my advice on fixing their own problems, and d) not object when
I take action on their behalf to fix the situation. They are in the situation they are in
because they cannot see the situation as I might see it. My actions are based on my own
perceptions and experience and knowledge, which is obviously more effective considering
that my country isn't anywhere near as screwed up as theirs.
Instead, these people refuse our help until things are royally screwed up, and then beg for
our help. When we come in and perform political/economic triage to fix things, they start
protesting, bombing, and demanding we leave. Seems too many people don't like the saying
"Be careful what you ask for, you might get it".
Mike Lorrey
mailto:mike@lorrey.com
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