Comments on: More about short-term missions

By: LakeNeuron

LakeNeuron — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 23:56:05 +0000

I fail to see anything in Debra's remarks that could possibly be interpreted, or even mis-interpreted, as “only white people know how to make soap.”

By: Georganna Hancock

Georganna Hancock — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 23:48:10 +0000

Umm, forgive my density, but is she saying that only white people know how to make soap? Human beings developed in Africa! I honestly can't think that soap-making didn't develop until we spread to the northland and turned white! What were the natives using when the colonials invaded their country? Or is it only whites who have this cleanliness fetish? Actually, more like only Americans. Usually it's the poor people who haven't lost such knowledge (them and back-to-the-landers like me). I don't want to get hung up on the specific skill set, thought. I thought the point was to give the poor a trade, which involves far more than production. I maintain that Africans know better how to market and distribute products in Africa. Of course, I can always be wrong, too!

By: John

John — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 22:56:05 +0000

I fail to see anything in Debra’s remarks that could possibly be interpreted, or even mis-interpreted, as “only white people know how to make soap.”

By: Georganna Hancock

Georganna Hancock — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 22:48:10 +0000

Umm, forgive my density, but is she saying that only white people know how to make soap? Human beings developed in Africa! I honestly can’t think that soap-making didn’t develop until we spread to the northland and turned white! What were the natives using when the colonials invaded their country? Or is it only whites who have this cleanliness fetish? Actually, more like only Americans. Usually it’s the poor people who haven’t lost such knowledge (them and back-to-the-landers like me). I don’t want to get hung up on the specific skill set, thought. I thought the point was to give the poor a trade, which involves far more than production. I maintain that Africans know better how to market and distribute products in Africa. Of course, I can always be wrong, too!