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Sympthsical

(11,257 posts)
9. I have an evangelical cousin who went on mission to Africa
Mon Jun 15, 2026, 08:47 AM
Monday

Really nice guy actually. Super Christ-y, but not in that hates minorities sort of way (look, I know it's a low bar).

Anyway, he went to Africa to help build homes and work on water distribution. Tapped out after a few months, because while there were a lot of people who were there to genuinely help, he didn't like how exploiters were allowed to creep in. People who behaved like assholes because they had power over the underprivileged around them. Savior complex, and since I'm a good person, I can do whatever I want. Always justifying shitty behavior.

My cousin's been through some shit. Stepfather murdered his mother shortly after his father died young, lost his only sibling to a heroin overdose, etc. etc. He does not countenance treating people poorly.

He couldn't stand to be around the people he was with anymore. He said they wanted to look like good people without actually being good people.

It's a shame, because there are a lot of people who really do want to help and do amazing work. But many of these organizations just don't police themselves enough to prevent predatory types from latching on while hiding under their moral authority. And then the institutional rot sets in and the cover ups begin. We see it again and again.

Recommendations

3 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Doctors Without Borders engaging in human trafficking Sympthsical Monday #1
I am not surprised. yardwork Monday #4
I have an evangelical cousin who went on mission to Africa Sympthsical Monday #9
Your cousin has had more than his fair share of heartbreak! yardwork Monday #10
That is incredible food for thought Sympthsical Monday #19
Thanks. Read about the years RFK, Jr. spent spreading vaccine fear in SSA. yardwork 20 hrs ago #21
Somehow I doubt that they first heard of this through the AP article RockCreek Monday #2
Who is the "they" in your title? (nt) muriel_volestrangler Monday #3
Doctors without Borders personnel operating in Chad RockCreek Monday #5
DWB Sympthsical Monday #6
Ah, OK - I'd missed that AP first reported on this in Nov 2024 (nt) muriel_volestrangler Monday #8
Well, yeah. The world's do-gooders are focused on Israel. yardwork Monday #11
If what's going on in Africa were going on in Europe ... Munu Monday #15
It would be called a genocide. yardwork Monday #16
The conflict deaths in Ukraine/Russia in 2025 were reckoned to be slightly more than in Sudan muriel_volestrangler Monday #17
... Solly Mack Monday #7
At least they're making efforts to self police harumph Monday #12
At the VERY least TheProle Monday #13
DWB has done very good work in the past. harumph Monday #14
Hopefully. I'd never heard bad things about them electric_blue68 Monday #18
I have family members in the medical community and yes, harumph 21 hrs ago #20
TY for the info from your people. electric_blue68 19 hrs ago #22
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