Comments on: We Are all Romantic http://jameswoller.com/2007/01/22/we-are-all-romantic/ The journey of a man without a home... Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:54:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: cath http://jameswoller.com/2007/01/22/we-are-all-romantic/#comment-546 cath Mon, 22 Jan 2007 20:03:59 +0000 http://jameswoller.com/?p=65#comment-546 Mr Woller, Great blog! Some good stuff that I can agree with on and stuff that I have to most certainly contest! First up – I could almost do you up for plagiarism! Glad to see that our people and wonderful continent are influencing you and grabbing and pulling at your heart strings. Perhaps in one of your next blogs you could share about the strengths and lessons that “Africa” has for Christianity and humanity in the west. Next up – what’s with this thing of a generic term for “Africa”. Africa is a massive continent with tons of different cultures and tongues! So lets see, couldn’t agree more with you and idealistic romanisticm that so many come with – but hey at least they come and if they are open and filled with love then maybe they will see that Africa has more to teach them than they have to teach her. The bigger problem is with the people that come with that Evangelical type of attitude that dictates “we are the way the truth and the life” when in fact it is Christ who is the way. In doing so their eyes are dimmed to the new perspectives of Christ as etched into his cultural creations. Success becomes defined in monetary terms. Let us stop here and ask the question: who was/is more successful – Uncle George or Mother Theresa? I am glad to see that you couldn’t agree more with me ;-) when you say that a translation process needs to take place as one participates within the community. I believe that is the way that mission and trips to other places must be approached. It is only in participating with people that you can really get to love them – ultimately that’s what it boils down to – if we have not love we have nothing. I think that when we participate – then we can actually begin to experience the traumas and injustices that people are facing. When we participate people are no longer turned into projects and into programmes. Rather they can be seen as common humanity. I love the Chinese proverb that says: go to the people, live amongst them, love them, start with what they have, build on what they know. So this is where I have a little bone to pick with you - $3 a day is an injustice. Having to cram 20 kids into one little home is an injustice. It happens and in the short term cannot be stopped – but it is an injustice that humanity has created and an injustice that humanity can prevent. so I don’t think in any way you can say its OK that they only get $3 a day. Is this not just a refuge to ease the pain and anger that such injustice creates. Why not have the ideal that every management position be filled with Swazi’s. if not swazi’s then why not Africans? I believe Jesus had ideals and he strived for them and is still striving for them. Isnt that what the Kingdom of God is about – there is the ideal that we cannot reach yet – it is still to come but yet Jesus brought it. Please, my friend, don’t lose those ideals. Jesus hated injustice and so should we. Having said that I do agree in part with you – we cannot come with western ideal and ways of doing this because yes, it is different here. that doesn’t mean to say that people don’t want to live in dignity. By exploiting cheap labour for each to get his slice – are we not just continuing the cycle of injustice and exploitation so as to better myself. Here’s the other thing, if we go on with the idea of coming to Africa to do “development” work – are we not just perpetuating this Evangelical type of western attitude that my way is the right way. the term development has very condescending connotations attached to it. If they are not developed you are insinuation that they are undeveloped, uncivilised, immature. I would contend to say that the term transformation would be a better and more positive, uplifting term to use. So the question I have for you is as to how your ideals have been smashed and how have they been re-shaped. Perhaps that is a life time journey. Perhaps some stuff to think about is how this time in “Africa” is going influence you when you get home. what, if anything, needs to change in who you are and in how you live your life? Anyway, thanks for the blog – lots of good stuff in there to discuss! Hopefully more and more will come out here and fall in love not just with a generic Africa but with the people themselves. After all it is only through the people that the spirit of Africa is felt! Viva Amarula! Mr Woller,
Great blog! Some good stuff that I can agree with on and stuff that I have to most certainly contest! First up – I could almost do you up for plagiarism! Glad to see that our people and wonderful continent are influencing you and grabbing and pulling at your heart strings. Perhaps in one of your next blogs you could share about the strengths and lessons that “Africa” has for Christianity and humanity in the west.
Next up – what’s with this thing of a generic term for “Africa”. Africa is a massive continent with tons of different cultures and tongues!

So lets see, couldn’t agree more with you and idealistic romanisticm that so many come with – but hey at least they come and if they are open and filled with love then maybe they will see that Africa has more to teach them than they have to teach her. The bigger problem is with the people that come with that Evangelical type of attitude that dictates “we are the way the truth and the life” when in fact it is Christ who is the way. In doing so their eyes are dimmed to the new perspectives of Christ as etched into his cultural creations. Success becomes defined in monetary terms. Let us stop here and ask the question: who was/is more successful – Uncle George or Mother Theresa?

I am glad to see that you couldn’t agree more with me ;-) when you say that a translation process needs to take place as one participates within the community. I believe that is the way that mission and trips to other places must be approached. It is only in participating with people that you can really get to love them – ultimately that’s what it boils down to – if we have not love we have nothing. I think that when we participate – then we can actually begin to experience the traumas and injustices that people are facing. When we participate people are no longer turned into projects and into programmes. Rather they can be seen as common humanity. I love the Chinese proverb that says: go to the people, live amongst them, love them, start with what they have, build on what they know.

So this is where I have a little bone to pick with you - $3 a day is an injustice. Having to cram 20 kids into one little home is an injustice. It happens and in the short term cannot be stopped – but it is an injustice that humanity has created and an injustice that humanity can prevent. so I don’t think in any way you can say its OK that they only get $3 a day. Is this not just a refuge to ease the pain and anger that such injustice creates. Why not have the ideal that every management position be filled with Swazi’s. if not swazi’s then why not Africans? I believe Jesus had ideals and he strived for them and is still striving for them. Isnt that what the Kingdom of God is about – there is the ideal that we cannot reach yet – it is still to come but yet Jesus brought it. Please, my friend, don’t lose those ideals. Jesus hated injustice and so should we. Having said that I do agree in part with you – we cannot come with western ideal and ways of doing this because yes, it is different here. that doesn’t mean to say that people don’t want to live in dignity. By exploiting cheap labour for each to get his slice – are we not just continuing the cycle of injustice and exploitation so as to better myself. Here’s the other thing, if we go on with the idea of coming to Africa to do “development” work – are we not just perpetuating this Evangelical type of western attitude that my way is the right way. the term development has very condescending connotations attached to it. If they are not developed you are insinuation that they are undeveloped, uncivilised, immature. I would contend to say that the term transformation would be a better and more positive, uplifting term to use.

So the question I have for you is as to how your ideals have been smashed and how have they been re-shaped. Perhaps that is a life time journey. Perhaps some stuff to think about is how this time in “Africa” is going influence you when you get home. what, if anything, needs to change in who you are and in how you live your life?

Anyway, thanks for the blog – lots of good stuff in there to discuss! Hopefully more and more will come out here and fall in love not just with a generic Africa but with the people themselves. After all it is only through the people that the spirit of Africa is felt! Viva Amarula!

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