Comments on: Myanmar and telescopic philanthropy http://pjmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/ Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:59:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: reena http://pjmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1955 reena Fri, 30 May 2008 03:22:20 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1955 couldn't agree more. charity begins at home. most people who claim to care about myanmar actually do didlee-squat for anyone. one thing they say about liberals (but i think it applies to many people liberal or not) is that: they love humanity but don't like humans very much. holds true every time time i stop and observe "do-gooders". even gandhi was horrible to his own family in the name of the nation of india...! couldn’t agree more. charity begins at home. most people who claim to care about myanmar actually do didlee-squat for anyone. one thing they say about liberals (but i think it applies to many people liberal or not) is that: they love humanity but don’t like humans very much. holds true every time time i stop and observe “do-gooders”. even gandhi was horrible to his own family in the name of the nation of india…!

]]> By: Onaswarm links for Sunday, 18 May 2008 « David’s Blog - What Did You Think? http://pjmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1798 Onaswarm links for Sunday, 18 May 2008 « David’s Blog - What Did You Think? Mon, 19 May 2008 10:21:55 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1798 [...] Roger’s Rules » Myanmar and telescopic philanthropy #attawapiskat [...] [...] Roger’s Rules » Myanmar and telescopic philanthropy #attawapiskat [...]

]]> By: Sean Casey http://pjmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1729 Sean Casey Fri, 16 May 2008 14:39:28 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1729 What a most splendid and delicious way of telling people to go fuck themselves! And die! Kudos to you, Roger, and God bless all your majestic mischief. Shall I see you at polo this afternoon? What a most splendid and delicious way of telling people to go fuck themselves! And die! Kudos to you, Roger, and God bless all your majestic mischief. Shall I see you at polo this afternoon?

]]> By: Frances http://pjmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1708 Frances Tue, 13 May 2008 22:10:06 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1708 Dear Roger, I am an admirer of your insights, and I agree to a certain extent. I believe you are reacting to the pressure to force feelings. And you are right, we shouldn't feel guilty for being happy or content or not continually wringing our hands in grief. Amazing isn't it, that Americans are capable of caring about those outside their tribe or family. We just have to make our caring for those near us actual in work and deed (like the Samaritan). Other than contribute money (and our taxes), remember we can always pray for those in need. Dear Roger,
I am an admirer of your insights, and I agree to a certain extent. I believe you are reacting to the pressure to force feelings. And you are right, we shouldn’t feel guilty for being happy or content or not continually wringing our hands in grief.
Amazing isn’t it, that Americans are capable of caring about those outside their tribe or family. We just have to make our caring for those near us actual in work and deed (like the Samaritan). Other than contribute money (and our taxes), remember we can always pray for those in need.

]]> By: Karen Colvard http://pjmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1707 Karen Colvard Tue, 13 May 2008 19:26:54 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1707 Roger, I would fully support any argument about the ineffectiveness of the current "international community" and its aid to the developing world. A lot of what passes for accomplishment is self-serving do-goodism. However, your notion that we are responsible only to ourselves and those close to us? I think we may have a duty to transcend such selfishness, and selfishness it IS. How about this, from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10 verses 25-37. On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn in Jericho and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." New International Version All the best, Karen Roger,

I would fully support any argument about the ineffectiveness of the current “international community” and its aid to the developing world. A lot of what passes for accomplishment is self-serving do-goodism. However, your notion that we are responsible only to ourselves and those close to us? I think we may have a duty to transcend such selfishness, and selfishness it IS. How about this, from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10 verses 25-37.

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn in Jericho and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” New International Version

All the best,
Karen

]]> By: CJL http://pjmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1706 CJL Tue, 13 May 2008 18:07:22 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1706 "...a man who has a disinterested love of the human race–that is to say, who has got a fixed idea about some way of providing for the management of the concerns of mankind–is an unaccountable person . . . who is capable of making his love for men in general the ground of all sorts of violence against men in particular." Sound like any democratic presidential candidates you know? “…a man who has a disinterested love of the human race–that is to say, who has got a fixed idea about some way of providing for the management of the concerns of mankind–is an unaccountable person . . . who is capable of making his love for men in general the ground of all sorts of violence against men in particular.” Sound like any democratic presidential candidates you know?

]]> By: Judith http://pjmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1705 Judith Tue, 13 May 2008 18:03:13 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1705 Concern for the universal "abstract" humanity or the individual self-absorbed self...it's never an A or B chice...it's both A & B and sometimes a more complex C. Besides, concern for the distant faceless brother, as a way to go beyond one's self, is, in a backward sense,also a selfish act bc/ it enobles one's character which makes living with one's self more agreeable. I certainly wouldn't want to spend time with myself if I became desensitized to humanity & it's plight across the Pacific. Suppose, it's all a matter of weighing the dialectic in man when one takes the time to be aware & reflect...now that's the challenge. Concern for the universal “abstract” humanity or the individual self-absorbed self…it’s never an A or B chice…it’s both A & B and sometimes a more complex C. Besides, concern for the distant faceless brother, as a way to go beyond one’s self, is, in a backward sense,also a selfish act bc/ it enobles one’s character which makes living with one’s self more agreeable. I certainly wouldn’t want to spend time with myself if I became desensitized to humanity & it’s plight across the Pacific. Suppose, it’s all a matter of weighing the dialectic in man when one takes the time to be aware & reflect…now that’s the challenge.

]]> By: LSD http://pjmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1704 LSD Tue, 13 May 2008 17:11:05 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1704 You put it well, and I guess you will probably be attacked for it. While it is a good thing that Americans are willing to give; even separate from the question of the aid being received or not, I think you are correct in detecting the smell of something rotten. The call to mission, or responsibility that is implied by ngo's when they suggest that the american psyche, in particular, is expected to possess a world view is obnoxious, and even racist. I challenge the idea that a world view is even possible. There are no short cuts to being a better person. -Better to have a clear-eyed appreciation for your own point-of-view. You put it well, and I guess you will probably be attacked for it.

While it is a good thing that Americans are willing to give; even separate from the question of the aid being received or not, I think you are correct in detecting the smell of something rotten. The call to mission, or responsibility that is implied by ngo’s when they suggest that the american psyche, in particular, is expected to possess a world view is obnoxious, and even racist. I challenge the idea that a world view is even possible. There are no short cuts to being a better person. -Better to have a clear-eyed appreciation for your own point-of-view.

]]> By: Judith http://pjmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1703 Judith Tue, 13 May 2008 13:42:59 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerkimball/2008/05/13/myanmar-and-telescopic-philanthropy/#comment-1703 The choice; concern for the universal, "abstract" humanity or the individual, self-absorbed self...it's never A or B...it's both A & B and sometimes a more complex C. Besides, concern for the distant faceless brother, as a way to go beyond one's self, is, in a backward sense,also a selfish act bc/ it contribute to & ennobles one's character which makes living with one's self more agreeable. I certainly wouldn't want to spend time with myself if I became desensitized to humanity & it's plight across the Pacific. Suppose, it's all a matter of weighing the dialectic in man when one takes the time to be aware & reflect...now that's the challenge. The choice; concern for the universal, “abstract” humanity or the individual, self-absorbed self…it’s never A or B…it’s both A & B and sometimes a more complex C. Besides, concern for the distant faceless brother, as a way to go beyond one’s self, is, in a backward sense,also a selfish act bc/ it contribute to & ennobles one’s character which makes living with one’s self more agreeable. I certainly wouldn’t want to spend time with myself if I became desensitized to humanity & it’s plight across the Pacific. Suppose, it’s all a matter of weighing the dialectic in man when one takes the time to be aware & reflect…now that’s the challenge.

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