The Houseplant

Raise your hand if you have ever had one of those houseplants that just always pulled through regardless of your schedule; just hung on being a persistent little guy even though you forgot all about it. In fact that day you saw it again for the first time, you had sworn to yourself that you had thrown that thing out. Then out of a nagging obligation, and maybe a bit of Catholic-guilt, you dumped a bunch of water on it and a bit of plant you found back under your sink; so much that it leaked out the bottom and across the floor. This plant belongs to all of us; it just so happens that in my house in New Orleans this plant is named George.

On pretty much a daily basis I look at where I am and whom I am working with and wonder how it got this way and what it really will take to bring this place up to speed. Then I look around and notice all the white pickups with USAID sponsorship logos, the World Food Program contracts, and the hay-sized bales of used clothing, donated to local organizations by the generous and purging alike not realizing that their “I’m a blonde on the inside!” tank top may one day be for sale in a Mozambican market. I cannot say that I am always positive that what we are doing, what I am doing, is the right way to do it. Sometimes it’s hard to see the path that begins here and ends in knee-deep opportunities, infrastructure, and a middle class. Sometimes I feel like this is the forgotten houseplant.

What I do know is that habits are hard to break. Independence came to this region for the most part 35-40 years ago. Those born into self-rule now have kids, if not grandkids. These kids have been raised under the umbrella of international aide. They have known no other existence. For them aide will always be there; it is it’s purpose. I have met veteran farmers who have never purchased their own seed, nor have they ever saved seed; it has always been given to them by somebody. I am not saying that all aide should be retracted tomorrow. But why does the Iraq War get a pullout plan but here doesn’t?