bathtubs?spectator?hurdle,lawyer skinny thinkably,…

adumbrate precipitately lulled Juddering impute …

BTW, anything or anyone that causes us to look in God’s direction is a treasure of infinite value.

I haven’t seen the choir perform, but I do believe in this ministry and link it on my site. The children of Africa are a group of human beings that are close to my heart. If I had my heart’s desire, I would paint for them, and all proceeds would go to them. So far I have not been able to realize that dream, but I am still working on it.

It’s OK to be controversial, people are made aware and can come to their own conclusions. That is the beauty of wealthy, spoiled America. We serve a purpose, and I do not regret it. Patrick, God has a purpose for you which is no less important than for those delightful children. Judging can go both ways. It is a mistake to set one person as more valuable than another. I hope you do not take this as patronizing. When one gets a glimpse of the magnitude of God and his affection for us, it changes our perspective. Everything happens for a reason.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPM1sO84ABo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj9Q1zqf7Jw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG8UZ7TXzlg

Patrick - Sorry for taking up your space this way.

I’m very glad that you and Andrew can confirm that Watoto is legitimate (both in terms of their work in Uganda and their musical ability). And you helped me understand why the group doesn’t perform more numbers without the backing track. I personally feel better about seeing and supporting Watoto after having this virtual conversation.

I hope others will read these comments and also have their questions and concerns answered. As you just said, there really are charities in Uganda (and in every place where there is suffering) that do terrible things. Having access to more information and asking questions is probably the best way for Westerners to figure out who to support. (Ideally we’d all go and see for ourselves, but if we did that would be a nightmare in itself, right.

By the way, I’ve just posted photos taken by kids whose lives revolve around the landfill outside of Managua, Nicaragua. Please take a look. If kids in Uganda are participating in projects like this then I’d love to post their work, too.

http://www.globalcompassion.com/2008/06/30/children-of-love/

Peace.

WOW! I had not been back to check on the banter for a while, so I have had quite an interesting time reading the comments since I last made mine and lost track of the conversation.

I think that you did well to temper the content of your blog - a little - in order to better cast light on your “politically incorrect” review of the watoto children’s choir.

I think that I do not just speak for myself, but PERHAPS also on behalf of some of the dismayed people that read your initial post, when I say that our dismay does not come out of your distaste for the christian message - rather the fact that you questioned (and still continue to question) 2 things central to the presentation:

1. Whether the presentation would be just as good without the backup tracks.

2. Whether watoto was really making the impact they claim they are actually making.

Everybody that has had contact with the choir and their preparation will say to the 1st question mentioned above that they are excellent performers even WITHOUT the tracks and so I am inclined to agree with you that the performance would be better if it was “live” rather than a hybrid of tracks and live vocals/instrumentation. However because I have a fair bit of experience working in live music situations, I can understand their rationale for using backup tracks especially considering the wide variety of venues that they have to perform at and the complexities with creating a great mix to match their “slick” performance night after night. I still stand by my initial response to your post when I say that I am convinced that the kids choir would blow you away even without the backup tracks… you should seriously consider going to their vocal warm ups when they are next in your town.

The second question that you insinuated more than outrightly stated (although it has been amplified by several other people that have left comments) is the more offensive one for the simple reason that unlike many quack not-for-profit organizations in Uganda, this one is ACTUALLY making a difference in the lives of the kids that it reaches. I actually do agree with you - being a cynic myself - that no organization should be immune to scrutiny even though it may claim to have its roots in evangelical Christianity. Again, because I grew up in Uganda and lived there till recently, I can testify to the fact that there are a great many organizations that go on big fund raising drives, but the money never reaches the people it was supposed to affect. Thankfully, Watoto is NOT one of them.

I find it interesting (and I do mean INTERESTING) that I my initial comment is quoted in the amendment to the original post where you speak about the people that “erroneously took offense to what you wrote”. While I may have been a little unforgiving in my response - and I will readily admit that - I will disagree on the issue of erroneously taking offense. I like to think of it as a person making an accusation about somebody you know very well, or casting doubt about the integrity about somebody that you know very well. It is especially offensive if the person that makes the accusations or casts doubt knows little-to-nothing of the person about whom they speak. It would not be “erroneous” to take offense now… would it? I know that I am splitting hairs, but I think you get the point.

You made mention of the African Children’s Choir. Based on your review, I think you would like their performances A LITTLE BIT more. Even though they use backup tracks for some of their performances, they have a lot more live stuff… and their references to Christianity are extremely muted. I think this would explain their wider exposure - Oprah, Ellen, etc…

The 2 organizations are actually completely separate although working on the same mandate… the African Children’s Choir does great work in Uganda too. One of the children - Richard Kaweesa, who also happens to be a good friend of mine - from their first group of kids has become a successful recording artist in East Africa.

One more thing on a lighter note. It’s Paulo (Luganda - a Ugandan language - for Paul), not Paolo