Why do many Americans have a difficult time understanding extreme poverty in Africa?

Answer 1

Not having experienced such poverty, why would expect them to understand it?

Answer 2

No, we need to educate in order to stop poverty. A great book to read about this is "How to Change the World" by David Bornstein. I have lived in the poorest areas of the world, I watched one young man many years ago create a center in Peru, that started with only 14 to 20 children who were shoe shine boys and newspaper kids on the street. Twenty years later that whole city has changed because this young man created a program that one child at a time, then more and more and by creating a program to educate and get these families involved change the complete social economic statue of a community. Just as the Gates Foundation and other millionaires have found out, you can't just give money away to make change, you need to educate so that people have the opportunity to make choices so that change can occur. I once said to someone I wonder what that man is thinking sitting in that field, and the person who worked in that area answered, he isn't thinking for he has never been educated into wanting to think. So I entered the field and asked the man "What are you thinking, and he answered what is thinking..." I was shocked. But it's a true story, that is when I realized poverty needs to be educated. When someone doesn't know that by buying bones to make a broth gives you no nutrition, but the same cost of those bones you could buy beans and have a broth and protein and is a better choice, comes from knowledge and education. Boiling water so that you wash a cut so it doesn't get infected comes from knowledge and from living in a educated society, some people have no idea of even this simple idea as a reality. If you really care about this topic I would say read the book I mentioned. Now with the internet and the world becoming global I just picked up but have not yet read The Long Tail about living in a global society. It's all again about being educated, for without some education we couldn't even be having this discussion or know how to use the internet. Remember alot of places in the world still do not even have electricity, running water, or toilets and a sewer system. They don't even know the words or the concept of living like some of us do. Again education creates change, but poverty is the cause of a few rich wanting to retain power, and with ignorance of the masses the rich stay rich, education of all makes a more level playing field. There will always be people of extreme wealth, that is something that has existed throughout humanity in one form or another. It is how the rest are able to live. Look at the USSR, everyone was given a equal education, however even under that form of government there were the top people who lived in wealth. But in time through education the masses realized that they wanted a different way of life. Now many have nothing, but through education they chose freedom of choice over security of financial wealth. Within a short period of time, people became homeless, and crime became rampant in many areas. So there is no utopia, but education will bring about choice of the way an individual lives.

Answer 3

I think a better questions is: Why do Americans have the need to help the poverty in Africa, but ignore the poverty in their own backyards.

Answer 4

Because in America poverty has a car and color TV and food is so plentiful that one of the most serious health problems facing the poor in America is obesity. We live in a society where the majority of the poor have access to abundant food, adequate if not luxurious shelter, and government services or charitable services to meet their basic needs. It is difficult for americans to understand that in many places in the world poverty means starving to death, when in america poverty means you are behind on your bills, can't afford cable and have to buy generic brand cereal.

Answer 5

Some Americans have difficulty understanding poverty at all. I recall a man I knew in the Air Force who couldn't understand how people here could not afford food. If we can't understand it here, why should we understand it elsewhere?

If one has experienced poverty, it is probably easy to understand it elsewhere.

Answer 6

We all understand it. We just don't care because we live in America. Too far away to give a hoot.

We don't even care about the poverty stricken in our own country.

If you want to put the blame on someone, blame the people making 7+ figures a year.

The majority of people in America are barely able to take care of their families without worrying about their money situation.

What are you doing about the poverty situation in Africa besides reminding everyone in America about it?

Answer 7

We complain about paying for the roof over our heads
They exist in filthy shacks

We complain about the cost of groceries, worry about paying for our healthcare, insurance, cell phones...
They worry about when they will be able to eat and feed their children again.

We find it difficult to lose a days pay when we are sick. Then you have to pay for the doctor bill.
They would be fortunate to have the medical care we do.

We always ask, why, if they are so impoverished, do they not use birth control.
In our country, our elderly go to nursing homes when they become too old to care for themselves.
For them, their children are the ones who will care for them when they are old. (if they live to be old)
It's often hard to make ends meet here, but at least we have the chance and the resources!

Answer 8

we dont, American Idol raised 300 million dollars for the Africans, that place is an infestation, we just keep pumping money into Africa yet we get no positive results

Answer 9

Why is it so important to care about poverty in another country when it is happening in this country RIGHT NOW?!?

Answer 10

I agree with Roger. They do understand. They just don't care.