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Newsweek Magazine's current headline is Why Haiti Matters by Barack Obama.
(The author's name was left in the same bold face font on the front page for a double punch. In fact, that's what I noticed before really looking at the photo of a distressed Haitian beneath his name. That's just how media works, though. So that's not why I'm flustered).
This article by the voice of the United States is supposed to be telling us why its important to take care of Haiti right now. Basically he tells of their previous state of poverty and destitution and how things were finally starting to look up for them before all of their progress was shattered. He may have had in mind to make that the reason for helping them rebuild their lives: so they can have a better chance at life now. But what I got from it was that Haiti matters so that the world can see how valiant and fantastic America is. Really. Read this excerpt that has been turning over and over in my mind the last two days:
But above all, we act for a very simple reason: in times of tragedy, the United States of America steps
forward and helps. That is who we are. That is what we do. For decades, America's leadership has been founded in part on the fact that we do not use our power to subjugate others, we use it to lift them up—whether it was rebuilding our former adversaries after World War II, dropping food and water to the people of Berlin, or helping the people of Bosnia and Kosovo rebuild their lives and their nations.
At no time is that more true than in moments of great peril and human suffering. It is why we have acted to help people combat the scourge of HIV/AIDS in Africa, or to recover from a catastrophic tsunami in Asia. When we show not just our power, but also our compassion, the world looks to us with a mixture of awe and admiration. That advances our leadership. That shows the character of our country. And it is why every American can look at this relief effort with the pride of knowing that America is acting on behalf of our common humanity.
- Barack Obama. Why Haiti Matters, Newsweek. Jan 25, 2010
What do you get out of this?? Does it not seem uncomfortably prideful to you?
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Proverbs 16:18-19 says, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud."
ReplyDeleteSounds like the article should've been titled, "Why America Matters." Reading this has me flustered too, but really doesn't surprise me. Seems like pride has become and American plague.