What is our generation's view of poverty?

[Elias Fund]

Bono, Bradjolina, and dozens of other celebrities have turned worldwide poverty into pop culture's playhouse. Decked out in diamond-studded Rolexes and pricey Pradas, these superstars portray issues of infant mortality, HIV/AIDS and all other facets of adverse poverty as if Shakespeare himself penned their monologues. But is this all vanity, or productive publicity for issues of utmost importance? Is the current youth culture being adequately empowered to properly address the issues of poverty? Post your thoughts, your personal take on pop culture and poverty.

[Jacob McMahan]

I think it is at least getting the word out there about poverty. However, I don't know for sure their (Celebrities) intentions or motivations. Nonetheless, it does some how bring up the issue. If one person is truly changed because of the publicity; then I think it is a good thing. Of coarse you are going to have the people who jump on the bandwagon and look at it as the new cool hip thing and not truly care, however, what if through it being cool and hip something in their core being turns them which causes them to make a change in the way they live. It may start out selfish but could potentially turn into something beautiful.

[Scott Byington]

I tend to believe any publicity is good publicity. The Bonos of our culture have brought world poverty to the forefront of public discussion. 'Malnutrition', 'HIV/AIDS', 'Darfur', most anyone will have some sort of recollection of these labels. Knowledge is the foundation for action.

Yet, I fear we are too comfortable and self-focused to fully grasp to gravity of the situation. We don't understand the level of our affluence. So when Bono tells us about Africa's poverty we might feel sad, donate a couple bucks, maybe even volunteer at a fundraiser, but at the end of the day we are utterly removed from the suffering of those world's poor.

Something is missing from our approach to poverty. I believe it's relationships. We have no relational context for our understanding of poverty. Thus, with no personal connection to impoverished communities we never fully empathize or fully act to end the suffering.

Therefore, I think the role of the Bonos (and even the Elias Fund) is to provided that bridge between Africa and the US. How do we bring Zimbabwe to our culture in a way that is real and tangible? I guess this could be the next forum question!