one personal relationship for the world

The importance of internal qualities in responding to exploitation

Bob,

Thanks for your interest in discussing your article Why Haiti is so poor. I'm just returning from a two week trip to Haiti, where I stayed at St. Joseph's Home for Boys, worked at our office in Delmas 75, and visited the slums where our partners live. This is a good opportunity for me to reflect on the meaning of our project and whether it really does make sense to try to address global issues through internal change.

I appreciated the straightforward presentation of the problems Haitians face in your article. I agree that it's important to understand the multiplicity of reasons for poverty. So I was struck by what I thought was a missing reason that is a crucial piece of the puzzle.

Though you begin the article by saying that the causes of poverty are human, 'rooted in greed and power,' all of the explanations in your article are external: they address a political, social, or economic condition. Of course, it is possible to act at this level, and that is what we normally do. There are thousands of development projects in Haiti that are focused on one or another external problem. It seems that this approach doesn't produce lasting change in Haiti, though, and the reason must be that the real problems are too deeply seated.

It is dangerous to highlight the role of exploitation in creating poverty for another reason. Though it is natural to do this, and often completely accurate, it exacerbates conflict, and suppresses our sensitivity, our capacity for a profound, active compassion, and the ability to respond by creating new social forms.

What are the internal problems? On the side of the oppressors, there is greed, and the desire for power (as opposed to power itself, which is external). On the side of the oppressed, there is lack of clarity, insight, and moral courage. On the side of all, there is selfishness, self-obsession, mediocrity, small-mindedness, and superficiality.

In general, we are overly sensitive to our own needs, narrowly defined, and we are insensitive to what lays underneath the surface. Our ability to understand, including seeing the ramifications of what we do, is weak; our courage to do good is minimal; and we do not know how to have reverence or perceive inner beauty. Above all, our capacity for relationship - vital, dynamic relationship - is minimal.

All of these are the 'internal' aspects of poverty, and they are every bit as real as the external ones you discuss. It's understandable that we don't often discuss them. This is partly because it is so hard to know how to respond at that level. We can't realistically aspire to change our very identity, which is so deeply committed to personal survival and gain. The best we can do, it seems, is forge a minimally civilized world where at least human rights are delivered. Furthermore, it is dangerous to reach too deep, and idealism is easily converted into ideology, sometimes justifying destructive action on an even larger scale.

And yet that kind of realism is very unsatisfactory and simply impossible for me. Sometimes I am surprised (and grateful) at my own reaction to injustice, which I have managed to keep alive in spite of the evidence. Why is there injustice in the first place? Is it possible that someone would actually to harm another? Why do thievery and oppression happen at all? After all, these are our true brothers and sisters (in my opinion), and if we only knew this we could not wish to hurt them. Furthermore, and from an even deeper philosophical and spiritual perspective, we are actually the suffering person ourself. Of course, seeing this requires a sensitivity that most do not have, but that does not make it any less real or true.

Religious organizations recognize that there is a 'spiritual' component to political problems and address that by converting people to their religious principles. In my opinion, that is not necessarily a helpful approach, because it also increases polarization between the internal and external. My question is this: Is it possible to connect what is at the origin with practical action, and can we do that at a large scale?

My answer is Yes. I am encouraged by the idea that theoretically there is no reason this is impossible. And I am encouraged even more by a few signs of it actually happening.

There is no blueprint for creating that kind of world, but in general it means engaging people to respond at precisely the level at which the harm is being generated (that's why I like your article - for pointing out those places). If this problem is US policy, we need to engage the US public, holding them responsible for their countries actions, and providing opportunities for them to respond. If the problem is corruption, we must develop a culture of openness and integrity. We can reduce power mongering and limit the power of the elite by harnessing the latent intelligence and energy of the majority. If the problem is archaic social and educational institutions, we can create organic cultural forms such as decentralized learning centers. There is always such a response worthy of our humanity available. The goal of People in Need Partnership is to develop such tools in the field of broken relationships (one of the primary roots causes of poverty).

What about the myriad efforts to address one or another immediate need? There are many organizations with creative, thoughtful approaches to sanitation, water, agriculture, reforestation, health, education, etc. These can be very helpful, but only if there is a dominant presence of the internal qualities of care and understanding. Action which is exclusively external, or which is based on the use mainly of policy, money, or charity, is dangerous and harmful. It's crucial to always be sure to carve out a space for understanding in the deepest possible way what are the causes, and what are the ramifications of our action.

True, it is rare to find the response that I am speaking of. But it's possible and it happens, and it is part of what makes life meaningful and the only thing that can really resolve the problems we are speaking of. Our capacity for this is also much greater than we realize. Though denying the possibility of it ensures its defeat, striving for that exquisite sensitivity deepens and makes it ever more possible.

Your own experience of being happier working without pay is a similar idea. It demonstrates, to yourself and others, your real motivation. I know you have a commitment for and love of Haiti, and I wonder if what I said here makes sense to you, even if you don't agree with it. And thanks again for providing such a helpful forum for those of us who share your concerns.

Geoff