Hands on Crisis

Peacekeeping - MINUSTAH

Chris Brogan recently wrote a blog post on “How to NOT Help Haiti” [1]. He talks about how after the Haiti earthquake, although many citizens of the world showed their concern using the various media channels available, most of them were only concerns. Chris says how not to help is by sending out tweets that only show sympathy but not solicit action.

In Indonesia, there have been several disasters that come into my mind when reading these words by Chris: the JW Marriot Bomb Part 2 (because you have to have a sequel) [2], the Padang earthquake [3], and of course the historical Asian Tsunami several years ago. Ever since the advent of social media tools and their heavy use in Indonesia, it’s come to my attention that most of the people do what Chris mocks about in the article: only send out tweets or status updates of sympathy but no action. And we believe that’s enough, we believe that our meaningless participation actually effects or helps to alleviate the suffering of the victims.

One of the things that infuriates me the most is Indonesia Unite [4]. I have to say this, and I’m sure many will feel offended – since Indonesia Unite is huge here with the young generation and famous local artists, major label and minor label, are involved (and are actually turning a profit from their attachment with the cause) and it’s good for business or at least to establish more fame – but I think it’s (mostly) a big ball of bull … baloney. To think the act of putting a “twibbon” – a small emblem of the Indonesian flag on your twitter picture profile – means anything is fooling ourselves: it has no real effect in helping to solve the problem.

No glory in being a hero

Do you ever think that Hercules wanted to be Hercules; or Sherlock wanted to be a genius detective; or Jesus wanted to be the Son of God? [5] None of the great people who were great wanted to be great in the first place: it’s much more comfortable to be a normal person leading a normal life. And yet, the biggest changes in society are made by these great people.

Every “hero” would understand: there is no glory in being a hero. Every person who does action to help would understand: there’s no fun or fame for showing you care and taking the concrete steps to help. Every person who has been in the front line of defense knows, instead of gaining something we actually sacrifice things in order to change and help society to be better.

Only a rookie is eager to go to war; the veterans now there is no end to the suffering. And yet our world is full of rookies who are eager to show they want to help. Our world is full of twibbons and movements, charity concerts and 100% proceeds, but the disasters and deaths keep happening.

Show Give your support

The problem is simple: we act tough, but we cower in the face of adversity. Or, when the time comes to act, our words amount to nothing. Or, we just don’t have integrity.

Which is the worst thing that can happen to a person, when she doesn’t know she’s a hypocrite. It’s better to either be a wrong person completely and admit it, or be a right person completely and walk the walk. Being the one who talks the walk but stays at home is the worst kind, yet the majority of people have this as their primary occupation.

We’ve had enough of politics; it’s time for real action. Change isn’t in the big things but the little things (and so is the Devil, as they say). Consistently chasing down every disaster is like shooting at leaves to bring down a tree; we need to get to the root of the problem and make the change there.

Next problem: what is the root, and do you *want* to go there?

Clue: it’s not convenient, and the truth is something most people would rather ignore.

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[1] How NOT to Help Haiti, Chris Brogan
[2] The JW Marriot Bomb on TVOne News
[3] The 2009 Sumatra Earthquakes on Wikipedia
[4] Indonesia Unite (or #indonesiaunite) became a Twitter trend after the 2009 JW Marriot bombing
[5] For dramatic emphasis, since most of these characters are fictional; though not Jesus (or as I prefer to call him: the Prophet Isa)
[6] Photograph by UNDP. For dramatic effect