I completely agree with the OP
There's nothing wrong with discussing Africa or "third world problems" in general, wanting change for Africa even if you are not African is definitely a good thing.
However, these arguments are often used to present a "holier-than-thou" image of moral superiority. This person does not really care about Africa, they just bring it up to try validating their views with a "look at how caring I am" theme, and they can keep it. If you really care about third world problems, sign up for Oxfam or go one step further and get yourself out there to do some charity work. I was privileged to work as part of a team on a small project in Laos in 2012, it's far more rewarding than simply saying "I care about poverty in Asia", without evidence.
These arguments are also used to derail important conversations that need to be had about oppression in the West. Yes, I think we can agree women are treated harsher in Islamic countries than they are in America, and there are conversations that need to be had about Islam's treatment of women. However, that doesn't mean it's right or relatively petty when an American woman is catcalled or raped. It's still wrong.
There's nothing wrong with discussing Africa or "third world problems" in general, wanting change for Africa even if you are not African is definitely a good thing.
However, these arguments are often used to present a "holier-than-thou" image of moral superiority. This person does not really care about Africa, they just bring it up to try validating their views with a "look at how caring I am" theme, and they can keep it. If you really care about third world problems, sign up for Oxfam or go one step further and get yourself out there to do some charity work. I was privileged to work as part of a team on a small project in Laos in 2012, it's far more rewarding than simply saying "I care about poverty in Asia", without evidence.
These arguments are also used to derail important conversations that need to be had about oppression in the West. Yes, I think we can agree women are treated harsher in Islamic countries than they are in America, and there are conversations that need to be had about Islam's treatment of women. However, that doesn't mean it's right or relatively petty when an American woman is catcalled or raped. It's still wrong.
"Adulthood is like looking both ways before you cross the road, and then getting hit by an airplane" - sarcasm_only
"Ironically like the nativist far-Right, which despises multiculturalism, but benefits from its ideas of difference to scapegoat the other and to promote its own white identity politics; these postmodernists, leftists, feminists and liberals also use multiculturalism, to side with the oppressor, by demanding respect and tolerance for oppression characterised as 'difference', no matter how intolerable." - Maryam Namazie
"Ironically like the nativist far-Right, which despises multiculturalism, but benefits from its ideas of difference to scapegoat the other and to promote its own white identity politics; these postmodernists, leftists, feminists and liberals also use multiculturalism, to side with the oppressor, by demanding respect and tolerance for oppression characterised as 'difference', no matter how intolerable." - Maryam Namazie
