The movie below has received, as of this writing, 4,469,834 views. I found the director's synopsis clearly reflective of our culture:
Synopsis: This film is about the hunger and poverty brought about by Globalization. There are 10,000 people dying everyday due to hunger and malnutrition. This short film shows a forgotten portion of the society. The people who live on the refuse of men to survive. What is inspiring is the hope and spirituality that never left this people.
Here are the thoughts that were running through my head, as I watched this 6 minute video:
- the film starts out by showing KFC, and McDonalds.
- then we watch two young girls enjoying a meal at a restaurant.
- the film ends with the poor celebrating, as they eat food from the trash cans of this restaurant.
- the director would have us believe that hunger and poverty are brought about by "globalization". Really, KFC creates hunger in the world?
- If there is any integrity in this movie, then we must not miss that the people are very grateful to KFC. They are having a meal tonight, because of KFC. KFC didn't cause their poverty.
Here are a few tough things to consider about this movie:
- it seems to me that the poor, for a variety of reasons, will always be with us. It seems that Christ would have us feed the poor.
- why people are poor, is a complicated question. However, in my view, globalization is a ridiculous, and trendy scapegoat. Here is a dash of truth. If you look at poor nations, and rich nations, the primary differentiation between the two has to do with free markets. Almost without fail, the poor nations of the world suffer under a communist regime, a socialist regime, a dictators regime, or a society that does not allow for individual property ownership, or puts up uncrossable barriers in the path of individuals owning property, or businesses. One of the great reasons for the western civilization's success was that individuals have an opportunity to dream to own home, or start a business. And, more importantly, there are laws, and the general morals of nations, supporting those ideals.
- we should diligently strive to teach the poor nations the path to a free market society. However, as long as dictators, and such, retain their strangle-hold, this is unlikely.
So, let's lay the blame where the blame is due. The people eating scraps in this movie, are certainly not suffering because of globalization. If anything, globalization is feeding them!
If you really want to do something, send money to organizations like Feed the Hungry.
