Through the looking glass - another side to the story...

[Ricardo Walters]

I have a personal 'soapbox' about the way Africa is popularly represented in domestic and international media, especially through imagery and stories linked to the experience of HIV/AIDS. Isn't it time the world heard the 'other story', saw the 'other picture' that acknowledges the ravages and tragedy of AIDS without reducing people to pathetic victims without hope or agency in their own lives?

Isn't it time to tell the story that individuals, families and neighbourhoods are - and have been - capable of so much more? They're not hanging around, depressed, waiting to expire. They're responding! They're making decisions for health and wholeness!

There can be no denying there is deep struggle in the world, and almost cruel perseverance against pain. There is a darkness of soul, the shadow of loss that makes both hand and spirit poor. And yet, incredibly, joy still comes with the morning to drive away clouds of doubt. Those who mourn also still dance.

Have we grown so cynical and jaded that we're more compelled by the story of human deficiency and weakness than we are by the tale of human strength and capacity and ingenuity - of people motivated by concern, and sustained by a deep resource beyond themselves?

Thanks to Heather Saunders - a good friend in Australia - for a brilliant quote from Ivan Illich :

Neither revolution nor reformation can ultimately change a society, rather you
must tell a new powerful tale, one so persuasive that it sweeps away the old
myths and becomes the preferred story, one so inclusive that it gathers all the
bits of our past and our present into a coherent whole, one that even shines
some light into the future so that we can take the next step forward.

There's lots of room on this ol' soapbox. Care to stand with me?

[bernice Maria Obasi]

What a photo! What a story! What a powerful invitation! I accept. I like where you stand, Ricardo. Remember me - the person who wanted to know more about your work and when you were coming to the Caribbean? I've had a 'yes' on both scores.It's a wonderful feeling to be embedded in the work of HIV, a promise kept to myself that by AIDS Conference, Mexico this must happen. How is Alison? I love your reference to grace. I see it as the touch of a loving God who knows how to reach us when we're running on empty. Stay blessed!

Bernice.

[Abdoulie Cham]

Every day is comes with its lesson. I think I had enough for the day. Your points are big lessons for us to learn from. Thank you for this informative,educative and informative story.

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Dear Ricardo,

Beautiful story.

Rituu

[Ricardo Walters]

Friends,

Several people have asked about the background to this picture. It's one of my favourite, I think - a time when the lens opens up a window on the world.

Perhaps six years ago now, I was very new to the facilitation team approach and the application of a human capacity development framework to healthcare. I joined Ian and Alison Campbell on a visit to a Salvation Army hospital specialising in TB-care in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. KZN is one of the provinces worst hit by HIV; consequently, at least 50% of the TB-cases were likely also HIV+. I remember feeling quite unsettled, uncomfortable and invasive as we moved through the facility on ward rounds, concerned we were intruding on the private suffering of patients who would prefer to be left alone. How wrong I was - a lesson in SALT: people crave connection, and support; they long for affirmation and relationship, even in suffering - especially in suffering.

As we moved out of the building, it was a delight to see that several of the patients - all clad in their hospital gowns - had come outside to enjoy the mid-morning sunshine. They talked and laughed amongst each themselves, and sang and danced. And while they danced, my eyes fell on the small girl in the photo. Not yet well enough to come outside herself, but looking outwards. Not focussed on her frailty. Looking outwards. What could have been the face of sickness transformed into a face of expectancy and hope and anticipation, stretching towards the day she too could break into the light and join in celebration.

[rebeka sultana]

Ricardo,
Thank you for telling the other side and showing the lights. Let tell this truth to all, share with all and change the world.

[MariJo]

Thank you, Ricardo. Very profound reflection! The relationship between the North and the South is comparable to that of the gender dynamics in the sense that it is a relationship that places one over the other as it is the case for the feminine and masculine values, asigning both members a role that leaves both of them in a situation of vulnerability: The South as a helpless victim and the North as the "know-it-all" resourcer provider that is not entitled to look for advise or to learn from others' experiences.
It is time to change our minds and try a different attitude both individually and collectively and it is this kind of reflections what can help us all.
Thanks again


It is time for us to

[Magdalene Kelel]

This is powerful and motivating
It is what we need to hear and share with others. To decolonize our minds from the dependence to outside and look within us and the positive and great things happening around us.

Thank you Ricardo, you never cease to amaze

Am standing with you

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Dear Ricardo,

Powerful emotion, depicted brilliantly. Similar emotions run through me. It enrages me to see how India is portrayed in Western media especially Hollywood movies- from the land of the mystics and snake charmers to
a picture of pity with slum-dwellers looking for food among the garbage and barely clad people shivering in cold

I am enjoying your engrossing write-ups. As Lau said the picture is intriguing

[Laurence Gilliot]

Beautiful... We can feel the passion so stongly through your words. I stand with you.

In the movie "What about me" (awesome movie btw) Noam Chomsky said: "I get letters from people in the West who say: Noam, what can we do? But strangely, people in developping countries write to me to say what they are already doing." He then explains how much in the West, society makes us believe that there is nothing we can do, while in fact we can do almost anything...

Can you tell us more about this inspiring picture?

Laurence