Posted by Bill Cecchini on: 11.13.2008 /
Part of a heated discussion I had with an older coworker today:
Upon finding out that I’m studying to become a Physician Assistant, my never-shy colleague interrupted: “I never see PAs. I’m paying good money for that visit and the last thing I want is some nurse or PA to diagnose me. If I get stuck with a PA I ALWAYS ask for the doctor.”
I was quick to answer: “Well, you might not have to worry about me ever seeing as there is a good chance that I’ll end up working overseas in some sort of [free?] missionary clinic.”
The next 15-20 minutes were dedicated to my coworker telling me that I’m wrong for wanting to work in a overseas missions clinic when there are plenty of needy people right here in the United States.
She wasn’t quite sure what to say when I challenged her with this: “Well, how about this: while you’re busy helping the needy in THIS country (intentionally calling her out for NOT), I’ll help another country. That way we’ll be doubly effective!”
“I’ve been to Mexico! I’ve seen the slums of Costa Rica! I’ve seen the world’s needs,” she pleaded. I couldn’t help but chuckle as her comments reminded me of the clearly racist person who says, “I’m not a racist! I gave a speech on MLK in the 6th grade!”
“The United States doesn’t care about [some poor country] because there is no financial gain us,” she continued to argue.
“Well,” I responded, “fortunately we aren’t limited to caring about only the things/places that the United States cares about. We are free to give our time and money to any cause we find worthy.
“We should help our own country first,” she commented.
“I disagree. What makes us more valuable than people in other countries? What makes my life more important than that of the person in Kenya?”
We finally agreed to disagree. I ended the conversation thanking her for her comments. Just as the embrace of our hug was released, she got the last word:
“You’re young. You just don’t understand politics or our world.”
I remained silent and smiled. :-)
(also posted at FriendlyChristian.com)
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
1It seems elitist of your coworker that she never sees PAs yet she thinks PAs are good enough for the ‘needy’ in the US. If they aren’t good enough for her why are they good enough for others?
Anyway I don’t agree with her saying you should stay in the US. Go help the needy people you want to help. Why should you have to help people in the US? As you said, are people overseas less important? Less valuable? Why not go overseas?
Comment by: joe
2Sounds to me like you both have a point. There is desperate need abroad in many places. There is a hidden brokenness in our own communities.
But then, there doesn’t appear to be a whole lot of difference in either of your attitudes. You castigate your co-worker for not doing something in her own community when you aren’t [or don't appear] to be doing anything either because of some (probably mythical) dream of working abroad at some point in the future. Sort out your own house before putting down others in online fora.
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
3Joe, why do you think Bill’s dream of going overseas is probably mythical?
Comment by: joe
4I’ve been around Christians all my life. There is much talk of ‘going abroad’ to the mission field, but precious little action. I hope I’m wrong, and I hope Bill does go somewhere and do something useful. The chances are that he wont.
Comment by: Jason
5If she won’t see a PA then let her wait in queue for a couple of hours till a doctor is free.
We all live on the same planet. Isn’t it past time that we get over this tribalism idea where we only help those in our tribe and defend against everyone else? If you have identified a need and seek to redress it what does it matter that the need is a mile away or a thousand miles?
Bill, I know you’ve worked abroad before so I can see how your work now is building to help them again. You could gain valuable medical and resource management skills in another country that you might not in America. The reason is because you will have to cope with much less as Guatemala (or Nigeria or rural China) will have fewer resources that North America. You could call it learning to swim at the deep end.
If and when you come home you’ll bring back these skills to benefit people at home. I can’t see how you lose out except financially in the short term. If money isn’t your motivator then that isn’t a problem for you.
Anyway it isn’t important who you help, as long as you help someone.
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
6Thanks for your answer, Joe. I take your point that many more people say they’ll go than actually do go. To me Bill seems like the sort of person who follows through but only time will tell.
Comment by: Mike O
7She has no right to tell you where to give or what you should do. There are a billion things that need our support in this world. I’m a Christian, so I’ll say God has called some to help here, and some to help abroad. Go where you are called, and don’t worry about it.
She closed by saying you didn’t understand … she doesn’t understand.
To joe’s point, if Bill were saying some sort of “I’ll give when I have have the ability to give” type of thing, I would agree … it will probably never happen because life sucks all your resources, no matter how much you have. But if this is a course he has set himself on … if it’s what he is aiming for with his life, then it likely is not mythical. that would be akin to saying anyone who aspires to something less than glamorous, like being a mechanic for example, is chasing a myth. Why? If it’s what they want and it’s what they’re geared to do, then it’s not a myth, it’s a goal.
Comment by: Where Should We Give Our Resources? | All Reason
8 11/21/08 5:13 PM | Comment Link |[...] ..Real Full Article [...]
Comment by: Martin Gugino
9Bill - your coworker sounds like a flaming idiot. (I mean that in the nicest way.)