Executive Summary on Africa

Developed countries need to give more of their income towards aid for poor countries and make sure the aid they give is real aid.
The Real Aid packet focused on the actual amount of money developing countries receive from the world. The term “real aid” refers to money that goes directly to the countries without any expectations or attachments for the citizens receiving the aid. In contrast “phantom aid” is money that never materializes for poor countries, but is instead directed at other purposes within the aid system. Phantom aid includes money that is not targeted at poverty reduction, tied to goods or services from the donor country, or aid that is poorly coordinated. In 2003, at least 86 cents in every dollar of U.S. aid was phantom aid. This is due to it being so heavily tied to the purchase of U.S. goods and services and because it is so badly targeted at poor countries. At least 61% of all money donated is phantom aid. And real aid in 2003 accounted for just US$27 billion or only .1% of the combined donor income.
The reason for the high percentage of phantom aid lies in the process of assessing the aid given by countries. The donors aren’t held responsible for the promises of aid they have made. Therefore many goals adopted by countries are very rarely met. Such as the “Pearson report” a target adopted by the UN that expected .7% of countries income to go towards foreign aid. But of all the countries that adopted it through the UN only five: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Luxemburg reached the target. None of these countries are part of the G7, which are the seven most developed countries in the world.
To address this problem, we as a class do not necessarily have to use any money at all. We should rather write numerous letters notifying our statesmen and representatives that we are aware of our country’s poor action, and to put pressure on them to work towards change. If we do donate money towards developing countries, we should heavily research the organizations that we are donating to in order to make sure they are using the money most effectively and to avoid turning our money into phantom aid.

Portfolio 2: Singer on Poverty

1. Are we obligated/have a duty to give to poverty?
-This speaks to the question of the lawyer. "Who's my neighbor?" The same person who believes that some people are not their neighbor would ask if they had an obligation to give to poverty.
2. Why should I give up my luxuries?
-This question relates to the logic of, "What would I get out of helping others?" Martin Luther King said the correct question was, "What would happen to them if I don't help?"
3. What are considered luxuries?
-Singer said that any unnecessary things such as buying juice when you can drink out of a water fountain is a luxury and we should give those up. 2 silver coins was a acknowledged luxury of the Samaritan, and he dutifully gave them up to help the beaten man.
4. What do we owe as individuals?
-As said before you owe as much as you can offer without putting your life in jeopardy. Instead of buying name brand sodas, buy generic. The Samaritan offered as much as he could, he also did not offer more than necessary. Knowing the beaten man would be better soon, he did not pay for a month's rent, rather a couple of days.
5. Do you recognize that the poverty situation is an unfair bad thing?
-Like the Levite and the priest acknowledging is the first step in helping. The Levite and Priest did not acknowledge the beaten man as their neighbor, so they did not help him. In today's society if people do not recognize that poverty is bad, then what motivation do they have to prevent it?
6. Why should distant people matter as much as those close?
-In Jesus' story Jesus purposefully said the beaten man was naked. This was because you then could not determine what class he was from. The Levite and Priest, not knowing this ignored him and failed to help. The point Jesus was making is that it does not matter what class, location or person is suffering, you should always help.
7.Is doing nothing as bad as harming someone?
-Simply ignoring a beaten man or a struggling nation is as bad as intentionally inflicting pain. The Levite and Priest's lack of action is equally as bad as a group practicing genocide. This is because the Levite and Priest were capable of helping the beaten man.
8.Where should we devote energies?
-We should devote our energies to opportunities that present themselves. The beaten man was an opportunity to practice compassion, and the Samaritan recognized this. A drowning person in a well is an opportunity and it is morally right to help this man. Even if it is no benefit to you.
9. Should I let my emotions dictate if I help?
-Yes, you should. The Samaritan could relate to the beaten man because he was an outcast as well. Therefore he acted with sympathy and compassion towards him. Today, we should find similarities in the poverty stricken people and therefore become moved to help them.
10. Shouldn't we all have equal access to world's resources?
-Yes, seeing that everyone is our neighbor and therefore everyone is human, we should treat everyone equally. Although the radio said that equality might jeopardize our resources.

Portfolio 2: Good Samaritan Interpretation

Through criticizing the lawyers question, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus was criticizing that the society he lived in was capable of assuming that there are categories of people-neighbors versus enemies. Asking "Who is my neighbor?" implies that there are people who aren't your neighbor. And if you view people as non-neighbors you therefore treat them without the dignity of humans. Jesus' solution is that society regards everyone as neighbors and treats them equally as such. Jesus explained this through his parable of the Good Samaritan. He showed examples of the inhumane treatment of people towards one another through the Levite and the Priest. Jesus then showed an example of his solution through the Samaritan.

John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus was said to become a great prophet that would pave the way for the Lord, Jesus. Both his father and the prophet Isaiah said that John would prepare the way for Jesus, to make Jesus' radical teachings less shocking because they were faced with John's previously.(Luke Chap 1) In John's teachings, he said to not fall back on the faith you were born into, but rather solidify your belief through good deeds. (Luke Chap 3) Jesus, too, called out hypocrites saying that good actions were the true example of devotion. John welcomed all and preached equal opportunity. In 1st century Palestine outcasts, such as tax collectors and soldiers could approach John with questions of salvation. John told all, from farmers to soldiers that they should give what they could, and not abuse their power. In Jesus' teachings, he too welcomed the castaways. In John and Jesus' time soldiers and tax collectors were hated due to the misdeeds of them. Many tax collectors took more money than necessary. But both John and then Jesus accepted them.

Refugees

Refugees like Jesus and the ones we saw in the UN video were forced out of their homes due to religious, racial or nationality reasons. They left in a state of dismay and confusion and the experience had a resounding effect on their lives. Jesus' past experience of being a refugee in Egypt caused him to reach out to the people who could not themselves. Because his family fled from persecution he knew the feelings of terror and helplessness that the people his mission focused on felt. Jesus centered his mission on the lowly and the suffering people. People who like him and his family were trapped, having little options. Jesus’ option was to run or be killed. Being presented with such an ultimatum causes some to resent the people who put them there. Being a refugee also gave him the passion to speak out against authority because his family fled due to Herod, a strong leader. Being forced out of his home, he and his family probably questioned the reason why, leading them to question and resent the government. Growing up in a household that challenged the government may have harbored strength inside of Jesus to not hesitate to examine people in charge’s authority and actions.

Portfolio 1: Who's Your Momma?

The impression of Mary that I've gotten is that she is the epitome of a devout, righteous person. Mary’s claim to fame is that she’s Jesus’ mother, so that makes me think she is very maternal and vulnerable yet strong-willed. I say these things because the mothers I have known including my own have had a exposed, persona yet when faced with hardships they acquire more strength and courage than I could imagine. She was born without original sin and that leads me to assume that she’s never sinned in her life. Therefore I feel as though I will never fully know who Mary is, because I cannot relate to her.

These passages tell us that Mary is a woman of immense faith, almost a blind faith. Her proclamation shows both a woman of unquestioned faith thats seems niave yet coveted by all spiritual people,  , and strength. It takes a 
strong person to proclaim belief in something uncertain so wholeheartedly. Mary belongs to the lower class and was treated like any woman, with no rights and as property. Her community would have shunned her with news of her pregnancy out of wedlock. Yet she accepted the Holy Spirit and all the consequences because of her faith and strength.

God chose a woman like Mary because of the two qualities I described above. He would have wanted a blind follower, someone who believes so deeply that they have no reservations, and he wanted a person of strong character to handle the social pressures of a virgin pregnancy and a radical son, like Jesus.