"Helping" and "Exploitation"
My brother's actions infuriate me.
He has gotten back from a trip to Haiti to "help". All the while there he updated his status on Facebook about the various good deeds he did so people could admire and dote. He now has posted hundreds of pictures of glaring Haitian children, and him smiling handing out "supplies" and whathaveyou.
Breath. I think this is disgusting exploitation. So many people gave him money (myself included) to go on this trip. I did not help to have him be put on a pedestal.
What got me the most was a series of five pictures. He had someone with his camera take pictures of an impoverished Haitian women giving birth. There's one of the water breaking and plenty of her face as well. Awful. That is not even close to being appropriate for Facebook. If you have to, write a blog or something, but it's just terribly awful to do that on social networking site. I'm sure he never asked that women if it was alright. He had no motivation for journalism, or even education, solely to impress his peers. I don't see posting these photos as awareness, but something else much uglier.
My friend who works for a non-profit organization in London was helps poor Africans is also enraged. She informed me that with all the effort and people's money he put into finding a very expensive flight there with his minimal skills as an EMT could have employed many local Haitians and be put to use in a much better way.
My brother basically got to play doctor and brag about it, without taking the time to go to school or take a step back from the reality of the selfishness of his choices, regardless of what it looks like on the surface.
I had to say something, because I didn't want to make this a battle on Facebook. But wow, wow.
He is Tom Cotter on Facebook. If you feel inclined, send him a private message to take down these photos. I don't want to spam his wall or make this a public argument, but I want him to understand how wrong some people may think this is.
He has gotten back from a trip to Haiti to "help". All the while there he updated his status on Facebook about the various good deeds he did so people could admire and dote. He now has posted hundreds of pictures of glaring Haitian children, and him smiling handing out "supplies" and whathaveyou.
Breath. I think this is disgusting exploitation. So many people gave him money (myself included) to go on this trip. I did not help to have him be put on a pedestal.
What got me the most was a series of five pictures. He had someone with his camera take pictures of an impoverished Haitian women giving birth. There's one of the water breaking and plenty of her face as well. Awful. That is not even close to being appropriate for Facebook. If you have to, write a blog or something, but it's just terribly awful to do that on social networking site. I'm sure he never asked that women if it was alright. He had no motivation for journalism, or even education, solely to impress his peers. I don't see posting these photos as awareness, but something else much uglier.
My friend who works for a non-profit organization in London was helps poor Africans is also enraged. She informed me that with all the effort and people's money he put into finding a very expensive flight there with his minimal skills as an EMT could have employed many local Haitians and be put to use in a much better way.
My brother basically got to play doctor and brag about it, without taking the time to go to school or take a step back from the reality of the selfishness of his choices, regardless of what it looks like on the surface.
I had to say something, because I didn't want to make this a battle on Facebook. But wow, wow.
He is Tom Cotter on Facebook. If you feel inclined, send him a private message to take down these photos. I don't want to spam his wall or make this a public argument, but I want him to understand how wrong some people may think this is.