Comments on: Helping children in Morocco

By: JohnB

JohnB — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 04:22:41 +0000

The first commenter is evidently writing with an unkind spirit, and as such, is already in error. As said by other commenters, any benefit that derives, whatever the motive or intention, is benefit and thus to be desired. And the kindness of these participants is to be admired.
He is pointing to an issue, though, and that is the patronising attitude of western, one might almost call it neo-colonialism, that provide a cover for, and that eventually leads to the great deceptions and covert political agendas that go about the world and cause havoc.
I have seen functioning societies torn apart and massive amounts of suffering and death caused as a result of those masquerading, covert, political agendas.
The aid workers will have a lot to learn from those children they go to help, and I am sure they will. Just be careful and look well to your own safety!
And learn from those with a healthy emotional directness, but retain the vast wealth of the benefit western cultural norms.
And sure, nobody is perfect.
Enjoy and be kind. All success to you!

By: Brian Micklethwait (London)

Brian Micklethwait (London) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:13:02 +0000

Alisa: indeed.

I suppose the point of the “you’re just enjoying yourself” argument is that you are neglecting to think about whether you are really helping. You are causing harm, and you do not really care about the poor people at all! Well, you may be causing uncaring harmc, but that’s a distinct argument. The uncaring bit certainly does not apply to Elena, and I doubt MCT is causing much in the way of harm.

For me, the fact that Elena will get a fun (I hope) and interesting foreign trip out of all this is a feature, not a bug. Given that she is also taking a first hand look at what MCT is doing in Morocco (for me an even bigger feature), it would be silly of her not to take the chance of also exploring the place a bit more, if she has the time. This would be true even if the trek had not already been set up as a fund raising operation by MCT.

I believe this to be yet another example of the fixed quantity of wealth fallacy rearing its ugly head, or in this case of happiness. Happiness cannot be created, only transferred. If the poor are being made happier, someone rich has to get less happy. They can’t all get happy at once.

Yes it can. No they don’t. Yes they can.

By: Alisa

Alisa — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:25:27 +0000

Thank you, Brian. BTW, I forgot to mention the obvious, and that is that even through the simple act of tourism, a perfectly selfish tourist is helping at least several people in the country of his destination by doing business with them – such as eating in their restaurants, buying stuff in their shops and markets, riding their taxis, using the services of tour guides, and even giving out candy and small pocket change to the ever-present groups of kids. A win-win, I think.

By: Brian Micklethwait (London)

Brian Micklethwait (London) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 10:45:43 +0000

Not for the first time here by any means, Alisa takes the words right out of my mouth, in a way that is almost spookily exact.

What matters is not the motives of would-be helpers. It is whether they are actually helping. I am not yet 100 per cent convinced about that in this case. Like I said, helping people is hard, and it can go wrong. But meanwhile a friend is giving it a go, and her friends are happy to assist. One thing’s for sure. She, and the rest of us, will learn a great deal, about Morocco and about MCT’s efforts to make Morocco better.

By: Alisa

Alisa — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 10:24:03 +0000

The fact that this particular project is privately financed is very important, but I don’t see how it is relevant to the point Roger Clague is trying to make (assuming for a second that is what he’s trying to do, as opposed to just trolling). The question I have for the likes of Roger is: and even if it was true, why is it wrong for a person to enjoy themselves – for example, by visiting an interesting country like Morocco – while trying to help those in need of help? Is help only worthwhile when accompanied by the helper’s suffering? The reason I bring this up and dignify Roger with a comment, is that I think that you’d be surprised how many seemingly good and non-stupid people would answer ‘yes’ to that question.

By: Perry de Havilland (London)

Perry de Havilland (London) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 04:27:05 +0000

I usually delete comments like YogSothoth’s… but not this time as it is just a statement of the truth.

By: Nick (nice-guy) Gray

Nick (nice-guy) Gray — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:15:42 +0000

The best way to raise self-esteem would be to hand out copies of Atlas Shrugged. When they realise how important the Atlas Mountains are, that will boost their egoes!

By: YogSothoth

YogSothoth — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 22:55:40 +0000

Sheesh, Roger – it’s right there in Brian’s original text:

The trekkers are all paying their own travelling expenses.

What a fucking douchebag you are.

By: Elena

Elena — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:06:38 +0000

Depends what you’re into Roger. You clearly have not done your research properly, as I am covering all the costs myself. Every penny I raise goes to the charity in question that is run in an extremely intelligent and efficient manner. I know the ‘truth’ Roger, as I am intimately acquainted with the workings of this charity. No one is paying for me, I am paying for me. Not a single penny I raise goes to me. These sort of offensive, vile, ill-researched comments make a mockery of my efforts and the many years the doctors running it have dedicated to it. I know you’re quite proud of your ‘poverty porn’ comment, but it’s not clever.

By: Roger Clague

Roger Clague — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:23:56 +0000

This is poverty porn. Having a holiday and pretending you are doing it help children. That you know the person makes it worse. You should tell her the truth.