September 30, 2016 - 17:36
Upon reading my paper, “Sometimes Slips Are Good”, Teju Cole, the author of “The White- Savior Industrial Complex” would disagree with my agreement that slips may benefit a part of society. In Cole’s article he argues that people, especially white privileged people, go out of their way to help others merely to satisfy their own needs of making themselves feel better. In other words, it is only based on selfish motives that people go out of their way to give others aid. In addition to that, many times people also do not try to fix the root problem of an issue, which therefore does not alleviate an issue in a substantial way. These ideas all stem as a response to the documentary Kony2012 in which Jason Russell raises awareness about a warlord who kidnaps children and turns them into sex slaves and soldiers who are forced to do brutal actions. The goal of raising awareness was to stop Kony and to save captured and future children. Although this idea sounds good at first, Russell did not think of other disadvantages that would result from this project, which is why he slips.
I define “slippage” as doing or saying something that one is consciously aware of but realizes that this action is inappropriate after offending someone. According to Cohen and Dalke, It is “an act of associative mis-speaking [that is] involuntary”(254- 255). The act of slipping is not consciously done but the ideas are conscious and are already formed. This includes “deliberate moves to create inclusive structures [which] provoke pronounced displays of further exclusion” (Cohen & Dalke 253). Although the actions are conscious the consequences may not be predicted. In this case, the slip would be Russell not realizing that while stopping Kony would benefit many children, this also “would mean increased militarization of the anti-democratic Yoweri Museveni government, which… has played a major role in the world’s deadliest ongoing conflict, the war in the Congo”(Cole 12). Furthermore, people who do choose to devote their time and efforts to help others usually do not try to fix the root cause of the problem like Russell was doing. Stopping Kony causes other issues, which Russell did not take into account, which is why his efforts of trying to stop Kony is a slip. It was well-intentioned but Russell just did not realize that his actions would have downsides. Russell did not give the “little due diligence” Cole states that we must learn to give “[i]f we interfere in the lives of others”(12). Therefore as Cole stated, “A singer [in this case is Russell] may be innocent; never the song [which is the actions of helping the captured children(8). Russell meant no harm in his actions but the consequences were not all beneficial. Ultimately, there never is a wholly beneficial action no matter how good intentioned the person who commits that action is.
Russell’s unintentional slip was caused by selfishness. He did not care enough to further research the problem. All he knew before starting his mission was that there were children suffering because a warlord was capturing them and forcing them to perform terrifying actions that children should not be allowed to do. Russell is an American, middle class man and therefore a privileged person who contributed to the White Savior Industrial Complex which Cole argues is the “fastest growth industry in the US”(3). Living a privileged life compels Russell to try to fix the situations of the children who were captured. Russell’s action of getting himself into the situation of these suffering children was ultimately “not about justice[but] about having a big emotional experience that validates privilege”(3). Therefore, it comes across as if Cole is doing it for his own benefit and satisfying his need of “making a difference”. Furthermore America has the mindset to view themselves as the most powerful nation. Therefore they view Americans or the American government as the hero who needs to save other countries from the “wrong” way of life and replicate American ideals. Americans believe “[they] have to save [other nations] because they can’t save themselves”(9). This egocentric attitude causes people like Russell to also embody the mindset that he is a hero saving these African children from being enslaved and being poorly treated. Russell “does not connect the dots or see the patterns of power behind the isolated “disasters.” All he sees is need, and he sees no need to reason out the need for the need.”(7).
In the future, Cole advises readers to pay attention to foreign policy instead of directly intervening with that country. Ultimately, Americans get involved in issues that only benefit them whether that’s to make themselves feel more superior or for economic advantages. For example when Nigeria was protesting the United States turned away and did not offer any support due to the fear that Nigeria would cut the oil supply to the United States. Americans’ and Russell’s slip is that they turn a blind eye from the real issues and only get involved for their own benefit. If people truly cared about an issue we would devote our lives to fighting for it. Many times people get involved in a project or recognize that event for a short period of time and then forget about it. Our efforts therefore are not portrayed as genuine. These slips are damaging. They do not teach nations to fight for their own goals and many times cause damage in other areas as in the example of the success of Kony2012 leading to increased militarization of the anti- democratic government which is not an ideal Americans especially should stand for. Ultimately, driven by selfishness, privileged people feel the need to get involved in issues that they have no business in getting involved in without researching what the real issue is to only cause further damage in other areas.