Into Africa
The Oregonian
November 14, 2004
By confronting the continent's crisis, we will be helping ourselves as well as others
Last month, before the election and the impending holidays, I heard Bono give a compelling and impassioned speech. The nutshell version was: Africa is burning alive, struggling with the pandemic of AIDS, extreme poverty, unpayable national debt and an ineffective trade industry.
I'd turned a blind eye to the problems he discussed. I've skipped over articles about Africa in the paper. But what he had to say hit me where I live.
The rock star quoted numbers to melt the coldest heart: 6,500 Africans will die of AIDS today; 8,200 will be infected, many of them children receiving no food or water today, tomorrow or the next day.
Africa's debts are generations old but passed on to these hopeless orphans. Their trade industry can't market successfully because products from rich nations cover the shelves, making theirs invisible. Bono compared current global assistance to extinguishing a forest fire with watering cans. He pleaded, "Please call the fire brigade."
Why should we help? Africa is continents away. Not one minute of my busy day is affected by their plight. Or is it?
Bono made this point. Our generation will be remembered for three things: The Internet, terrorism and how we deal -- or don't deal -- with Africa. Oh, yeah, we're going to make an impact on the world, too.
My older siblings are remembered for Vietnam. My parents, World War II. But us? I don't want to be remembered as the generation that didn't answer the call Africa is making.
By helping Africa, America might deal with some of its own problems. Namely, terrorism. Bono said, "Brand USA isn't so shiny in other countries right now." We look like bullies stealing everyone's lunch money. Yeah, we're busy in Iraq and Afghanistan, but look at our parents' legacy.
He said a huge percentage of America's budget was spent rebuilding after WWII. After we kicked butt, we stayed around and put the world back together. Nobody looked better than America. That generation still looks good.
How do we shine up Brand USA? By allowing Africa to feed, educate and heal their citizens instead of paying off their grandfathers' debts. Help them trade and donate antiretroviral medications.
By helping Africa survive AIDS, we'd be making friends with a desperate nation that is 40 percent Muslim. As Bono said, "Doesn't it make sense to make friends with our potential enemies?" Well, yeah, it does.
I left that evening confused about how I could help. I made my mental note to log on for more information. And then I realized I'd already done something to make a difference. I'd invited Bono to Christmas.
For decades my seven siblings and our families participated in massive gift exchanges -- a ritual of shopping and shipping gifts to family members I rarely saw. I resented celebrating Christmas in the mall.
For years my clan resisted changing traditions, but I finally put my foot down and refused to participate. Despite accusations I was shooting Santa off the roof, what emerged was a Christmas miracle. We pooled our Christmas money and contributed to charity.
As soon as the decision was made, a need arose. A motel cleaner with two babies in my sister's community was abandoned by her husband and needed a heart transplant she couldn't afford. We sent our Christmas money to her social worker, who contacted a newspaper. That inspired other contributors, including a cardiac surgeon. This woman got her heart.
Last year, a Congolese refugee family settled in Portland. We provided assistance with utility bills and housekeeping supplies. They still need help, so they'll get this year's fund, too.
These Christmas presents fit much better than another sweater. A co-worker spends her vacations working in clinics in Mozambique. I can't manage the child care and plane tickets to do the same, but I can buy 20 toothbrushes for her to take along.
I can log onto Bono's Web site: www.data.org and learn about local faith-based communities actively supporting Africa. I can write government leaders and tell them to spend more money in Africa, cut the red tape and send antiretroviral drugs.
I can read more of my newspaper. Those stories about Africa really do affect me. They're a cry to my generation to step up, make friends and show, once again, why we are the greatest country in the world.
Jeanne Faulkner is a freelance writer and registered nurse in Portland. E-mail: jjlclo@yahoo.com