Comments on: Dear Jason http://www.kylevermeulen.com/2010/04/29/dear-jason/ video, photo & non-profit marketing Wed, 07 Sep 2011 05:38:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jim http://www.kylevermeulen.com/2010/04/29/dear-jason/#comment-7 Jim Sun, 02 May 2010 20:26:22 +0000 http://www.kylevermeulen.com/?p=8#comment-7 <p>My thoughts exactly! It's too bad so few people have taken the same tack as you.</p><p>What is amazing here is that Jason was on the phone call (and perhaps it is the snark that got him there), when there are so many in the wake of Haiti that should have been as well.</p><p>It well be a turning point in American "charity".</p><p>Everyone's got a lot to learn here.</p> My thoughts exactly! It’s too bad so few people have taken the same tack as you.

What is amazing here is that Jason was on the phone call (and perhaps it is the snark that got him there), when there are so many in the wake of Haiti that should have been as well.

It well be a turning point in American "charity".

Everyone’s got a lot to learn here.

]]> By: Ashley http://www.kylevermeulen.com/2010/04/29/dear-jason/#comment-6 Ashley Fri, 30 Apr 2010 01:49:25 +0000 http://www.kylevermeulen.com/?p=8#comment-6 <p>The above should have said Kyle, not Chris. Sorry Kyle!</p> The above should have said Kyle, not Chris. Sorry Kyle!

]]> By: Ashley http://www.kylevermeulen.com/2010/04/29/dear-jason/#comment-5 Ashley Fri, 30 Apr 2010 01:39:51 +0000 http://www.kylevermeulen.com/?p=8#comment-5 <p>Chris - cheers for your thoughtful and kind post. </p><p>Jason - cheers for being open to change. That's awesome, and really important for all of us who are trying to make a difference in the best way possible. </p><p>As a development worker who has spent many years in developing countries (including Zambia) I admit that the 1millionshirts idea makes me cringe. It does. I can't deny it. There are better ways to help and I'm sure with all the incredible passionate and talented people involved in this debate, a better way will emerge. </p><p>Jason, I understand your frustration with how development debate plays out. It's not pretty. I also clearly understand Alanna's points on why communication about development is often so harsh. Sometimes I would agree it's even necessary to be harsh (see Good Intentions are Not Enough's blog about the need to be snarky).</p><p>Please remember: while the Bill Easterly's and Alanna Sheikh's out there might not have your feelings in mind, they DO have the best interests of people in the developing world in mind. It's not much of a consolation perhaps but, at the end of the day, it's what really matters.</p> Chris – cheers for your thoughtful and kind post.

Jason – cheers for being open to change. That’s awesome, and really important for all of us who are trying to make a difference in the best way possible.

As a development worker who has spent many years in developing countries (including Zambia) I admit that the 1millionshirts idea makes me cringe. It does. I can’t deny it. There are better ways to help and I’m sure with all the incredible passionate and talented people involved in this debate, a better way will emerge.

Jason, I understand your frustration with how development debate plays out. It’s not pretty. I also clearly understand Alanna’s points on why communication about development is often so harsh. Sometimes I would agree it’s even necessary to be harsh (see Good Intentions are Not Enough’s blog about the need to be snarky).

Please remember: while the Bill Easterly’s and Alanna Sheikh’s out there might not have your feelings in mind, they DO have the best interests of people in the developing world in mind. It’s not much of a consolation perhaps but, at the end of the day, it’s what really matters.

]]> By: Jason Sadler http://www.kylevermeulen.com/2010/04/29/dear-jason/#comment-4 Jason Sadler Thu, 29 Apr 2010 23:30:51 +0000 http://www.kylevermeulen.com/?p=8#comment-4 <p>My only wish is that more people were like you. More people took the time to sit back and see the light of something and try to help. I've never once said I wouldn't change my views, in fact I've asked for help on many occasions. I can get people to donate t-shirts, it's apart of my life. How can I help that process do something bigger? The t-shirts don't have to go to Africa, ever.</p><p>I look forward to the call tomorrow to share ideas that my group has thought of and hopefully listen to people who want to help me help others. I fear there will always be cynics no matter what and that's unfortunate in any industry really.</p><p>One question for you regarding Bill Easterly: Should a NYU Professor and renowned author have a fake twitter account that belittles and pokes fun at someone trying to make a difference? That just makes me scratch my head.</p> My only wish is that more people were like you. More people took the time to sit back and see the light of something and try to help. I've never once said I wouldn't change my views, in fact I've asked for help on many occasions. I can get people to donate t-shirts, it's apart of my life. How can I help that process do something bigger? The t-shirts don't have to go to Africa, ever.

I look forward to the call tomorrow to share ideas that my group has thought of and hopefully listen to people who want to help me help others. I fear there will always be cynics no matter what and that's unfortunate in any industry really.

One question for you regarding Bill Easterly: Should a NYU Professor and renowned author have a fake twitter account that belittles and pokes fun at someone trying to make a difference? That just makes me scratch my head.

]]> By: Chris http://www.kylevermeulen.com/2010/04/29/dear-jason/#comment-3 Chris Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:43:26 +0000 http://www.kylevermeulen.com/?p=8#comment-3 <p>Tim, <br/>Neither of this things are evil. Neither of them create poverty, they simply get in the way of fighting poverty. There's an abundance of corruption out there (perhaps even within Americas agricultural policy) that are evil. Don't make it sound like sending useless items to a country is comparable to embezzling money or rigging an election. There's a HUGE difference between stupid and evil. </p><p>Kyle, <br/>I have that same shirt from 4 years ago. I haven't touched it in years as it reminds me of how naive I was back then. I first became interested in East Africa after watching Invisible Children, and now I'm usually too embarrassed to tell people that. It's good to hear your story. </p><p>On a side note, I've never understood the purpose of ODW. I have several friends who are all about it, but maybe you could explain it to me. I like charity:water, I give them money, I like several charities and I give them each money. Why would anyone give to ODW?</p> Tim,
Neither of this things are evil. Neither of them create poverty, they simply get in the way of fighting poverty. There's an abundance of corruption out there (perhaps even within Americas agricultural policy) that are evil. Don't make it sound like sending useless items to a country is comparable to embezzling money or rigging an election. There's a HUGE difference between stupid and evil.

Kyle,
I have that same shirt from 4 years ago. I haven't touched it in years as it reminds me of how naive I was back then. I first became interested in East Africa after watching Invisible Children, and now I'm usually too embarrassed to tell people that. It's good to hear your story.

On a side note, I've never understood the purpose of ODW. I have several friends who are all about it, but maybe you could explain it to me. I like charity:water, I give them money, I like several charities and I give them each money. Why would anyone give to ODW?

]]> By: Tim Ogden http://www.kylevermeulen.com/2010/04/29/dear-jason/#comment-2 Tim Ogden Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:19:20 +0000 http://www.kylevermeulen.com/?p=8#comment-2 <p>Kyle, I have to disagree on one point.</p><p>Shipping a bunch of T-Shirts to any country in Africa IS evil. </p><p>It destroys livelihoods, It makes people poorer. It prolongs poverty. </p><p>That is evil. </p><p>Is it a big evil? Probably not. It's certainly nowhere near as evil as American agricultural policy. But hurting people by doing something that is know to hurt people, no matter what your intentions, is evil. </p><p>Tim</p> Kyle, I have to disagree on one point.

Shipping a bunch of T-Shirts to any country in Africa IS evil.

It destroys livelihoods, It makes people poorer. It prolongs poverty.

That is evil.

Is it a big evil? Probably not. It's certainly nowhere near as evil as American agricultural policy. But hurting people by doing something that is know to hurt people, no matter what your intentions, is evil.

Tim

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