In speaking with Sister Freda in Kenya (I will discuss our poignant visit with her in a following blog) and observing the local businesses such as US Aid, I was blown away by the services America provides to Kenya in both the non-profit and government health care sectors. I even discovered the US provides (and fully funds) free, yes, free doses of the aids retrovirus medicine in Kenya. In addition, I lost count of non-profits which contribute in terms of volunteer manpower and monetarily to better this country. While I think this is important and genuinely needed, I can't help but feel that on a global scale America is stretching itself too thin.
As a result, the US has a deteriorating economy, weakened infrastructure, suffering education system and a government which has lost the faith of the American people and favor in international politics. President-elect Obama, of Kenyan descent, came two years ago as a state senator to Kenya and boldly called out the Kenyan government's agenda and challenged the country's leadership to make certain changes for the benefit of the nation. This is a man hell-bent on change. As the future President of the United States, I sincerely hope he can deliver his promises for the good of America and the nations affected by the choices made by the US as a superpower. I also hope that as the government prepares to switch posts, America will take a good, hard look at itself and make positive, constructive change in the states before reaching outwards. How can we properly provide accountability and aid to other countries when we are in major debt and in desperate need of repairs ourself?
I say this partially because we need to realize limited funds and resources only stretch so far before we bleed dry, partly because we look like hypocrites trying to fix others when we have so many issues of our own, partly because we have started to care more in ways for the needy abroad than internally (perhaps because its trendy and sometimes easier to help strangers than our own neighbors) but mostly because we have a responsibility to use government funds to serve and assist the American people as a first priority. As a Christian, I absolutely support and insist on helping the less fortunate, but charity begins in the home and America is our home.
We tax, take, gather and give out to various causes and countries around the world without inwardly reflecting on our own issues and shortcomings, often meeting immediate needs, instead of developing strategies for long-lasting change which will promote self-sufficiency. Perhaps its generosity, perhaps we see ourselves as a sort of caretaker, watchdog or savior or the world, but we never stopped to consider that America may be in need of saving too. It's time for our government to reassess what's working and not working, then seek out realistic solutions. No other country is interested in helping America with its own problems, so if our own government won't make improvements, who will? I am in no way urging people to stop giving abroad (in fact, I éspecially encourage giving time or food, adopting, educating, etc.), I am just asking for us to rexamine the best way to create a long-term, positive impact abroad while also trying to meet the needs of our less-fortunate neighbors here in the states we have an obligation to help get back on their feet.
If we don't stop and pay attention to our wounds or stop the bleeding, our problems will only become exacerbated and we will be in danger of bleeding dry, robbing ourselves and future generations. Let us work on our debts ad find proper solutions to our own wounds before attempting to heal the afflictions of others. How did we end of spending so many billions of US dollars to save a country that didn't even ask to be saved and now wants us out, meanwhile we have ignored the needs of our own people? This has ultimately resulted in a myriad of current national dilemmas and a catastrophic debt which the next generation will be paying off for years to come. The younger generation of Americans are left to wonder where the money will come from to support our social security and other government funded services down the road.
Government expenditures must be taken with careful consideration and sober caution if we want to improve our currently dire fiscal situation and preserve the future for upcoming generations. And when we extend assistance to other nations militarily, financially and in practical ways, I pray we invest wisely and in some cases with specific thoughtfulness for the good of both the US and beneficiary nations. I share this observation with sadness but also with an intention of creating truly lasting solutions to world problems instead of throwing money at them: many countries America aids either don't want our help, want our money but don't desire change or want change but can't attain it without significant external intervention due to a poorly organized, corrupt or inefficient government. All this must be crucially addressed and taken into account in order for our help to develop any lasting, positive solutions globally.
