Comments on: Loans that change lives http://shmatt.com/posts/2007/10/09/loans-that-change-lives/ Adventures in life and church planting. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:50:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: shmatt http://shmatt.com/posts/2007/10/09/loans-that-change-lives/#comment-878 shmatt Sat, 13 Oct 2007 13:00:48 +0000 http://shmatt.com/posts/2007/10/09/loans-that-change-lives/#comment-878 <p>I must also add that I also see a danger in programs such as Kiva in that we can blindly give in a sanitized way that aleviates our guilt while mantaining a seperation from the true horrors that happen in the third world - horrors that we could not conceive happening within our own society.</p> <p>Once you see how devalued human life becomes in such a situation, you cannot avoid being compelled to help in some way. </p> I must also add that I also see a danger in programs such as Kiva in that we can blindly give in a sanitized way that aleviates our guilt while mantaining a seperation from the true horrors that happen in the third world - horrors that we could not conceive happening within our own society.

Once you see how devalued human life becomes in such a situation, you cannot avoid being compelled to help in some way.

]]> By: shmatt http://shmatt.com/posts/2007/10/09/loans-that-change-lives/#comment-877 shmatt Sat, 13 Oct 2007 12:55:46 +0000 http://shmatt.com/posts/2007/10/09/loans-that-change-lives/#comment-877 <p>David, you are right! But I do think you missed my point that I think it is arrogant that we believe we are the answer to the problems in the third world. </p> <p>One one hand you can look at the vast problems western society and values being imposed on African culture has caused (I talk about Africa here, because I have been there). Hovever, on the other hand, malaria isn't a western invention, and neither is drought, cancer, starvation, poverty or AIDS.</p> <p>I believe that the west, however, can aid those in the third world by simply aiding them live with the basic opportunities that we take for granted.</p> <p>I see Kiva as a simple way where we can help, where the recipient of finance is provided with an opportunity to grow themselves a sustainable source of income, and still take on the responsibility of repaying that which has been given to them. </p> David, you are right! But I do think you missed my point that I think it is arrogant that we believe we are the answer to the problems in the third world.

One one hand you can look at the vast problems western society and values being imposed on African culture has caused (I talk about Africa here, because I have been there). Hovever, on the other hand, malaria isn’t a western invention, and neither is drought, cancer, starvation, poverty or AIDS.

I believe that the west, however, can aid those in the third world by simply aiding them live with the basic opportunities that we take for granted.

I see Kiva as a simple way where we can help, where the recipient of finance is provided with an opportunity to grow themselves a sustainable source of income, and still take on the responsibility of repaying that which has been given to them.

]]> By: David http://shmatt.com/posts/2007/10/09/loans-that-change-lives/#comment-876 David Sat, 13 Oct 2007 05:21:33 +0000 http://shmatt.com/posts/2007/10/09/loans-that-change-lives/#comment-876 How do loans from Western people like yourself, break the dependency on Western finance? Are you from the West or not? Anyway, why give or lend them anything? They are resource rich, let them manage themselves, without the patronising oversight of "Western wisdom". It's time to stop all forms of meddling in other country's affairs. How do loans from Western people like yourself, break the dependency on Western finance?

Are you from the West or not?

Anyway, why give or lend them anything? They are resource rich, let them manage themselves, without the patronising oversight of “Western wisdom”. It’s time to stop all forms of meddling in other country’s affairs.

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