Thinking aloud

It's not the end, it's the beginning of the end. A mountain has be climbed here only to reveal higher peaks behind it

Bono on the recent G8 leaders pledging to double aid to Africa.

It's not the result that matters, but the struggle. I venture a query to this commonplace wisdom.

In this case, the result is the end to hard-core poverty in Africa which I think is what a lot of people really care for.

However there is a subtle shift in the way people far removed, distant from the plight of poverty in Africa or those not directly involved in the aid efforts to shift their focus from the end goal to the struggle.

These kind of people tend to criticize alot. Those who are at the front line, I guess would really know what it means when they say, " There are higher mountains to climb."

But those far away, people like me, people like you could read it the long way, using it as a quote to justify looking at the struggle rather than the end goal. We may be tempted to think, it is the struggle which gives meaning to the result. Or at least when results don't come, we can pat our back and say, " Well at least we tried..."

But for those at the other end of trying to end poverty, of those affected by poverty. Of those trying to fight rampant corruption and lethargy which is preventing aid from reaching the needy, of those trying their very best to empower the poor, to give them back their dignity, it is the goal that gives meaning to their struggle. These are the people who cant truly quote Bono above. They know it first hand, and are grateful for every little victory that comes by.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 at 7:45 PM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.