The defunding and dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) just over a year ago deeply disturbs me. I’m usually very private about such things, but since I don’t know what to do with this sadness and rage, this image is my lament. It is created with pure emotion, without proper proportions or certain design elements.
Various organizations have tracked anticipated deaths from the withdrawal of USAID. Impact Metrics reported 119,000 adult deaths and 247,000 child deaths thus far. Boston University has a smaller number. Anyway you cut it, it is deaths by policy. I’ve talked to too many people who personally know someone like a single mother in Sudan who is HIV positive and will be dying soon. I’ve collected stories like this in the over 15 years I’ve worked at a food pantry and, at times, they are devastating. Here is my prayer in response:
“Lord, may the stench of death travel thousands of miles to the homes of
those who hold the power that made such cuts. May the stench go into
their homes, through their vents, into their nostrils, and into their dreams.
May others’ nightmares become their nightmares. May they dread sleep.
May they ask, ‘What is the right thing to do?’ May they make common
cause with the suffering of others. Amen.”
Cody F. Miller