If you ask most people about the conflict in Kenya right now their response will be: "What conflict?" The reason this is so, is because important global news is over-shadowed right now by the over-hyped, over "pop-culturized" US Presidential Elections, and other Western News. Important global events such as news about Darfur or the present month-long political conflict in Kenya that has caused the death of almost 1000 people, and displaced 300,000 others is not even talked about on the 24 hour "News" channels such as CNN or Fox News.
This shows a blatant disregard for the global realities we live within. We have to wake up to the fact that countries are no longer disconnected the way they were, even a generation ago. That is what globalization has done; it has shrunk the world, it has made it small and intimate. Does not this reality force upon us responsibility as well, to at least cover news that comes out of these places, let alone to force us to help?
Someone said recently:
"Distance can no longer decide who is our neighbor. We can't choose our neighbors anymore. We can't choose the benefits of globalization without some of the responsibilities. We should remind ourselves that "love your neighbor" is not advice: it is a command."
Think about Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10.30-37)
"And who is my neighbor?"30In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
What is our responsibility toward other countries in a connected, global world, run by a global-market? Is it just to have all the amenities of the Western world while children in other countries are dying of immunization's that cost 2 cents?
Do we, as a kingdom of priests have a responsibility to the poor ones? To pick them up off the ground, tend to their wounds and pay a hotel manager so they can have safe and warm living conditions?
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