Moving through radio channels I came across a campaign from a "ministry organization" talking about replacing 100 days of horror in with 100 days of hope in Rwanda brought by the gospel of Jesus Christ. The narrator gave a brief history, leaving out what started the massacre in the first place, who may have been responsible for it, as well as nations who sat by and let it happen.
The narrator talked about how this ministry donated four houses to some of the survivors of the massacre. There were one-minute sound bites from the recipients that spoke about responding to their life after receiving the gift. Near the end of the program the narrator stated that the Devil would be sorry that he ever messed with Rwanda
What I came away thinking was not that these people need to be careful so they don’t cross over from ministry into marketing. The reality is that it had already happened. This was a very well produced infomercial. Faith has been packaged into a product that can be marketed and sold.
Let’s drop the pretense. I watch Extreme Home Makeover. I am moved by the show and the kindness shown to a worthy individual. But I am not deceived into believing that this is anything other than a great idea for a show. Products are well placed within the show and they go to Sears department store evey week to buy items for the store. But the show is also a product and if they lose sponsors, the show would dry up like a crop in a drought.
I won’t judge the outcome. I didn’t go over there. But this program I am listening to is an advertisement, not a “praise report”.
We caught up with the devil and asked him if he was sorry that he messed with Rwanda. He just responded "Next".
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2 comments:
Don't get me wrong...I think what they are doing is nice. I think it has a good message behind it. However, where were these people when the Rowandans were BEGGING for SOMEONE to help them!?! They went to EVERYONE and NO ONE would help them. These poor people suffered, and no one helped them. But now that the fighting has somewhat subsided (there are still outbreaks here and there) they go over and help. What about the women who have been abandoned by their husbands because they were raped? The husbands cannot be with a woman that is "unclean" so they must leave them...and the children they have. It's great that they gave a few homes to people. But let's get real here...it doesn't cost much to make a house in Rowanda...let's help them all. Let's build more than four houses. Let's show them how to rebuild their lives...cities...towns...farms and so on. Let's mission, absolutely...but let's show them the humanity they have been denied for so long as well.
Is it me or has everyone with a cause out there found a way to exploit people to get money? We saw it with the Don Imus controversy, we see it now with the Virginia Tech Massacre, we saw it with Columbine, 9/11, and Oklahoma City...I can't stand watching the news anymore. I have become that girl that watches only Jon Stewart and the channel 9 morning news because I'm tired of watching people being exploited. There is a way to report news, and help people without exploiting them! Hmph.
*steps off soapbox*
Sorry, Jim...this just really got me.
it doesn't sound great or look any better, Fingernails on a chalk board...that's all I have to say
and you know that I like your viewpoint!
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