Comments

• 

  written on 16-Apr-2009

  Jennie Weyant says:

  Hey, thanks for coming to campus, and it was really nice to meet the two of you who came down. Best of luck to both (and all) of you.

• 

  written on 16-Apr-2009

  Darshana says:

  I went to the screening today for one of my classes, in which we have been discussing how much good foreign aid actually does for the countries like those visited in the film - my professor was the one who stood up and said she was embarrassed by the scholars who criticized it at the beginning of the panel discussion! I really appreciated that the filmmakers had no agenda, and simply documented what they came across on their journey, either good or bad. It was important to hear what the people who were receiving the aid thought about it - what they thought they needed, and what they thought didn't help at all. I was also slightly annoyed that the filmmakers weren't given the respect I think they deserved by some people, seemingly because they were just "young white kids." I admired their honesty and the courage it must have taken to make this film, probably knowing there would be opposition.
  
  Anyways, Daniel and Tim Klein - I just wanted you to know that not everyone was struck mostly by the "negativity" in the film. I thought it was very honest and definitely thought-provoking. Thanks for coming!

• 

  written on 16-Apr-2009

  Laura L. Hollis says:

  I am the person who spoke up at the University of Illinois showing and tried to shame the professors whose criticisms were so personal and so irrelevant. I am writing to offer two thoughts:
  
  Many who have worked in this area for decades, as well as dispassionate observers - have reached the same conclusion - that "top-down" aid does not work as it is intended to. Alvaro Vargas Llosa, Paul Polak, and David Bornstein are three writers you should contact, as they will be able to shed light not only on WHY these earlier programs have not worked, but WHAT ELSE can be done that WILL work.
  
  These writers explain that the initiatives and programs that work best are the most "entrepreneurial" ones - the ones working directly with the intended recipients, becoming aware of their actual needs, wants, constraints (medical, nutritional, climatological) If mistakes are made when these programs are small, grassroots efforts, they can be fixed and then scaled UP successfully. The problem with the big, multi-million dollar programs is that those running the programs have little familiarity with the region, culture, etc. So when problems arise (and problems ALWAYS arise), they are systemic failures. But rather than admitting ignorance, the "answer" is always, "we need more billions." And if you oppose this, you become someone who is not interested in alleviating the plight of the the suffering.
  
  This accusation is manifestly unfair, but you need to be prepared to defend against it. And this brings me to my next point.
  
  Your film was poignant and heart-rending. But as I said last night, it skewers a number of sacred cows. Many academics believe that the only good program is a government program. No matter how many times dictators take money from western nations and blow it on themselves, academics here will insist that what's needed is "more money."
  
  The first professor criticized you for a film you never made! Why should you address suffering in America in a film about suffering in AFRICA? Are the difficulties of those who've lost money in the stock market to be equated with the sufferings of that child with HIV? Shameful.
  
  Here's the real issue: the LAST thing many academics want to hear is that entrepreneurship and market initiatives are solutions to poverty. They will not listen to that message in this country, and they will not listen to it elsewhere. They loathe capitalism and mistrust individual initiative, so what your film presented was anathema to them. And these were not YOUR suggestions or criticisms, but those of the political leaders, NGOs, villagers, and others you interviewed in Africa. When those who purport to want to end poverty refuse to listen to the poor, doesn't that tell you something?
  
  In 19 years in higher ed, I have heard plenty about how "capitalist imperialism" has destroyed nations, reduced them to poverty, etc. But now it is apparent that so-called "capitalist imperialism" has been replaced by a pseudo-intellectualist imperialism. By which I mean that a worldwide army of "scholars" who publish for like-minded others in peer-reviewed journals think they know better than the intended recipients of their "beneficence" what those people need. God help anyone who tries to - or does - prove them wrong.
  
  My advice: DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR FILM, ITS VOICES, OR ITS MESSAGE. The people who criticize you cannot abide anyone pointing out their failures. They profess to "speak truth to power." But they have BECOME the power, and will not permit anyone to speak truth to them. They could not actually challenge any of the things your speakers said. And it would be manifestly politically incorrect to mock the Africans themselves. So they did the next best thing - they mocked the filmmakers.
  
  Don't fall for it. You did a fine thing. Be proud of yourselves. Be proud of your film. Welcome the attacks - it means you are doing something right. And I will look forward to hearing more from all of you.

• 

  written on 11-Jun-2010

  Destiny Online money says:

  Do you know Destiny Gold? if you play the online game,you will know Destiny Online Gold is the game gold. In the game, if you had more buy Destiny Gold, you will had a tall level. But if you want buy Destiny Online Gold , you can come here and spend a little money to bought Destiny Online money.

• 

  written on 24-Jun-2010

  voyage century gold [http://www.voyagecenturygold.com] says:

  If you want to had a tall level voyage century gold, I think you need the voyage century online gold, with thevco gold you will quickly to had a tall level, but if you want to voyage century online money, you can search voyage century gold

• 

  written on 13-Apr-2011

  anime0324 [http://www.animemodelstore.com/] says:

  Tattoos are still many parts of the country as well as prison sentences.Having origins in the adult pvc figure collection.

• 

  written on 06-May-2011

  pandora canada [http://www.lovebeads-canada.com/] says:

  Fall is merely fever currently pandora canada brewing. For it, some adjustments pandora jewelry to fashion are drawing near pandora store quickly. For 2010, fashions are pandora online looking after towards innovative allure buy pandora along with a piece of the pandora jewelry canada 80s Girl Power trend added too pandora sale. Basically, the extra fun, desirable. As pandora on sale well as same costs nike pandora silver air max jewelry. Five Hot pandora 2011 Hot Jewelry Trends .The higher pandora bracelets the Better: This fall air pandora bracelet max nike , youre attending have pandora bracelets canada to have wear bigger, chunkier items pandora charms bracelets of jewelry.

• 

  written on 28-Jul-2011

  UGG mini classique [http://www.uggbootsparis2011.com] says:

  cette possibilité avec aperçu sain et bien plus encore blockbuster fournit déclenché une vague passe-temps impliquant l'intérieur du groupe antitrust de Washington, ugg paris , quand de grandes entreprises parcourir fortifier leurs pratiques, normalement avec son ex - organismes gouvernementaux ainsi que des faiseurs de pluie préférentiel. Varney se fournit utilisé un oeil à la fascination renouvelée, le lancement préalablement les suivantes période de quatre semaines qui votre femme donnerait à la femme affichage se rapportant à Cravath, Swaine & Moore., UGG Classic Cardy , (Cravath rejetée pour aider à enquêter que l'utilisation des services de d'autre que d'exprimer qui jour initial Varney sera septembre, un FEW)

Leave a Comment

Name:
Email (will not be published):
Website URL:
Comment:
Subscribe to comments?
Security code:

Add comment