that says ONE on it. It's one of the rubber-band ones, that Lance has made so popular. THis wristband reminds me of people less fortunate than myself, nations less fortunate than this place I just happened to be born in. Sometimes it pisses me off, because I cannot figure out what good my life is for people who are needy, people who live on a different continent, but are not less worthy than me. There is so very much wrong in the world, death and injustice, decay and despair, and my feeling of impotence makes me want to take the wristband off.
A few months ago I read an article in Time Magazine by an economist named Jeffrey Sachs. He is now in charge of the UN Millenium Project, and the goal is to half the world's extreme poverty by 2015. An estimated 1.1 billion people live on less than $1 a day, and they cannot live like this. 8 million people will die this year because of their lack or resources. My wrist band is to remind me and help others learn about the ONE campaign, which put's public pressure on politicians to hold the U.S. accountable to fulfill its commitment of 0.7% of the the U.S GNP to the UN Millenium Project. This money will be used for education, AIDS relief, environmental, agricultural, economic aid, and debt relief for fellow humans being crippled by their circumstances.
I cannot do anything. I cannot help. I am not a lawyer, an economist, a doctor, a politician. I have no connections, no influence, no political capital, no wealth. I wear this wristband and languish in America. I want to tear this wristband off, but I cannot.
"We must never be satisfied with mere protest or complaint about the things we believe are wrong. Rather we must do the harder, more creative, and ultimately more prophetic work of finding and offering alternatives. "
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord"
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
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2 comments:
Bro,
I totally agree. There have definately been many times this year that I have been convicted about this same thing. I don't have much of an answer either, but I too wear a ONE wristband, and I am trying to spread the word up here at school, I feel that is important. Also, sometimes listening to the song 'Cold Cash and Colder Hearts' by Thrice helps, at least to get some rage out. But continue to have hope, and don't give in, even though it seems like only very little, it is better to wear this white wristband, and to at least talk about it with others, for the first step is to realize there is a problem, and this white bracelet will hopefully help us to remember, and not only when we feel like it. I know the compassion you are feeling, I feel it too. But don't forget, and continue to let your voice be heard, who knows what can happen.
hey, the link for my first post is wrong, this one is right. Sorry.
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