Here v. There: What's The Difference?

Here.

There.

I recently watched a film that followed NBA superstar, Tracy McGrady, to the far reaches of Darfur. He was a green traveler, curious and self admittedly ignorant. In fact, one of his pre-test questions was “What is genocide?” But hey, at least he’s asking. Unlike the majority of his platinum pocketed colleagues, McGrady is genuinely interested in the issues….and in doing something about them. He went to Darfur to become a groomed activist, not a one-stop shopper or a brochure cover boy. As I watched his comfort zone expand to include tent camping, palm size insects, and dirt floor pow wows, a myriad of questions came to my mind. For much of the film, McGrady conversed with children about their experiences. He learned of their needs, their dreams, and their fears. When he asked what they wanted to be when they grow up, each one aspired to something great, something altruistic at heart: a teacher, a politician, an activist. NBA superstar? Nah, no thanks.

And there you have it: the contrast of here and there. These children’s responses were a far cry from what you might hear at a typical inner city school in the States. And so I began to ponder my biggest question of the day….What’s the difference? What’s the difference between America’s poor children and Sudan’s? What’s the difference in attitude, aspirations, and general mentality? What’s the difference between oppression here and oppression there? And even more specific to my suspicions, how does an oppressed African child have such a hopeful, giving spirit when an oppressed American child is monetarily concerned and educationally apathetic?

I promise I’m not just talking out of my butt here. Though somewhat limited, there is experience behind the theory. My fiance teaches in a title one school here in the United States, and I have personally been to Africa. Here, story after story supports that most poor American kids just don’t care to learn. The behavior is unruly, the hunger nonexistent. They don’t complete homework, don’t study for tests, and certainly don’t uphold education as sacred. On the other end of the spectrum, my own experience with African children (Ethiopian specifically) is the exact opposite. They would die to be in a school. They want to please their teachers and anyone willing to nurture them. They want to give back and affect change in the world. They dream of becoming doctors, teachers, scientists, and world leaders. So, again my question, what is the difference? There seem to be some fundamental variances in the cultural fabric of here and there.

Obvious ones are media, economy, and family values. Let’s start with media. I turn on the television today, right now, and what’s on CBS, one of the main network stations? Basketball. So much basketball, in fact, that we’ve entitled this time of the year “March Madness.” This is a big deal in American sports culture. And American sports culture is a heavyweight in the nation’s identity. In the olden days, sports were limited to certain days of the week. Now, you can find them any given day, yes even on Sunday. So what’s wrong with that? What’s wrong with having something like sports to generate community, competition and fun? The problem is that our children are buying into it, and selling their educational stock. They would rather have a triple double than a 3.0 GPA. And while high level athletic achievement is a fairy tale for the majority, too many kids believe that sports is their green card to success. They confuse fact from fiction. And television is the modus operandi. TV breeds idolatry. Kids see their favorite college players perform in front of a national audience, receiving much praise and adoration, and they want to be them. They worship these figures. Again, it is what they see; thus, it is what they aspire to be.

When Tracy McGrady ventured to Sudan, the children had no conception of his stardom. To them, he was simply a giant black man who was interested in their lives. African children have different idols. They are not plagued with media super heros. Their heros are tangible. Their heros have a direct influence on their lives. Their heros contribute to society on a level that transcends aesthetics, fame, and sex appeal. On the other hand, American children aspire to be someone that they’ve never met, never looked in the eye, never embraced. They want to be Kobie, Brittany, and Donald. Hence, fundamental difference number one.

Secondly, there is the matter of economy. Of course, we live in the land of plenty. They live in the land of famine. But that’s only in the material sense. Which leads me to another question, shouldn’t the two go hand in hand? Or does mo money mean mo problems, as Notorious B.I.G. tried to warn us? I don’t understand. Well, actually I kind of do. I think I understand what Jesus meant when he said that it's harder for a rich man to enter heaven than it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Hmmm...there's some food for thought. Was he just he just a bitter poor carpenter out to get the prosperous ones, or was he onto something here? Perhaps what Jesus said corresponds with the nature of Greed. That is, when wanting more is never satisfied.

Take a hungry child in a high chair, for example. You feed the child, who accepts the food until they are no longer hungry. When they reach the point of fullness, they close their mouth and turn their head in disgust as to tell you, “No thanks. I’m done.” At that point, they are satisfied. This is like the hungry African child. Now, take the ten year old at a birthday party. Having just stuffed themselves of all of you can eat pizza at Chuck E Cheese, their gluttonous eyes light up with the cutting of the three layer birthday cake. Though they are overly full already, they cannot resist the cake. Cake, after all, tastes different than pizza. They can “make room” to satisfy the sweet tooth. At least that’s what they think until they go directly to the jumping gym just to end up sharing their pizza and cake with all of their little playmates…gross. The party's over...all because of greed.

But that’s the nature of it. We think it gets us more, when it inevitably leads to purging…of something. There just isn’t room in us for more than that which we need. Something’s got to give, and often it’s the stuff that matters most: family, friends, and morals. Greed is gross, but it can be re-directed. What if we wanted less cake and more knowledge? What if we watched less tv and had more real human interactions? What if we used our minds rather than our bodies as measurements of progress? What if? Number two.

Lastly, let’s focus on the family. Fact: the majority of poor American kids are raised in a single parent household. Ok, well when I went to Ethiopia, I discovered that many are orphans living in communities amongst themselves, OR they are being raised a decrepit, HIV suffering grandmother. So, what’s the difference? Well, sorry to bring it up again, but maybe it’s the media. When an American kid comes home from school, they are alone or perhaps babysitting brothers and sisters. They could choose diligence and crack open their books OR they could choose pleasure and switch on the ole faithful blue box. In just one click, they have instant access to the latest music videos. Only two clicks, and they can resume their conquest of Grand Theft Auto, a “make up for lost time” Christmas gift from their absent, guilt-ridden father. On the contrary, a child in Africa comes home from school, if they attend one, and they help with household chores. They have community. They have accountability. They have discipline. It is part of the culture. The neighbors are known. They are not alone. They are surrounded with “family.” Perhaps there’s something to this immersion in real community with responsibility? Perhaps, this is a fundamental value difference that love is real people, rather than lofty, entertainment industry icon. Perhaps, there is no greater link to a child’s emotional development than a real, loving, present human being to talk to and share life with. Perhaps the human spirit is difference number three.

So, again what’s the difference between here and there? As my fiancé aptly put, “That is the million dollar question.” Is it the media, the money, or the human? Or are these just fruits of the underground spiritual climate of our culture. I have found that African people are deeply spiritual. There is a profound belief in a higher power and an innate understanding that God is good and faithful, even in the murky water and rebel terror and hunger. There is an unwavering faith, a devotion to good, a bright light in their eyes. And I just don't see it here. Am I blind? Or is there a distinct contrast? Though we live in the land of plenty, there is much we can learn from our brothers and sisters across the sea. Perhaps they know that being rich in spirit outlasts the five-minute fame of an NBA jersey and a seven figure paycheck. You know, I think Tracy McGrady would agree. Maybe I'll ask him the next time I see him on ESPN.