I feel like this is something I’m not going to be able to describe well enough in a comment on the Internet, but as someone who has been on one of these trips, I (mostly) disagree with you. I agree that most missionaries who go to Mexico aren’t necessarily trying to convert Catholics to Protestants or whatever,…

Former christians unite! Are you also a former conservative? Cause I’m more embarrassed about that one.

I think this particular trip was more about “helping” them even though I don’t even really remember what we did besides some house/yard maintenance type work and playing with little kids. I was Lutheran and as far as I know I think most of us believed catholics would go to heaven so converting them wasn’t exactly a…

I always questioned these things myself which is why I no longer identify as a christian lol. I went to a Lutheran high school and a lot of my closest friends did these and we all went to the same youth group so really they were the reason why I wanted to go, so I got to do something different/unique/fun with my best…

Yeah honestly not even sure what the point of this trip was since most of them spoke Spanish and not many of us did. Lol. All I remember is helping with some random like maintenance work and playing with little kids — the latter of which was actually really fun because I was a soccer player and they were all good and…

Totally. Probably 95% of the time the best, most helpful thing you can do is just donate money to people or efficient charities that know best how to spend it and where it’s needed. But people want to feel like they’re doing something and not just writing a check so they do these trips that probably cause more harm…

To be fair, my (and others’) parents paid for a lot of it, and we did fundraising like bake sales to pay too (yes it is not lost on me that the fundraising would have been way more useful if it had just gone STRAIGHT to needy people). Not sure how it works everywhere else.

Yeah I know that wasn’t really his point, it still rubbed me the wrong way though. Christians think that these missionaries are devoting their lives to helping other people when in reality it’s often more of a selfish act. I kind of went off on my own little rant. Plus imagining the hostility that peaceful Muslim…

As a recovering christian and someone who once went on a retrospectively ill-conceived “mission trip” to Mexico in high school, I’m so over this shit. Using language like “convert” is so gross to me. Like, what do these white christian Americans have to offer people in these other countries besides flaunting how much…

My favorite place for cat toys (especially since they don’t last very long) is the dollar store! The ones by me usually have the sticks with string toys on the end.

For sure. I actually voted early for this past election too. I have high hopes!

Oh god I live in Wisconsin too *cries*

I didn’t say they were the same, I said we’re more similar to them than we are to Venezuela. But thanks for the “lesson.”

You’re(*) mistaking a 53 second clip from a fictional movie as something that should inform a stranger of how to perceive reality. Better luck next time.

Nope, it was stated just fine. You’re being transparently dense, and I don’t think I’ll engage any further with someone with a username as classy and mature as yours.

They can enjoy it all they want. My point is that not everyone is fortunate enough to be born into or marry into a family that has money and success. We need to support people born into less fortunate circumstances.

Well yeah, I’ve noticed you, for one.

I’m just going to copy and paste my reply to someone else here:

The “entitled” populace of America does not consist of the poor and racial minorities that have been subjected to extreme injustices throughout America’s history. It consists of those that demand corporate welfare and those with extreme power, wealth, and influence who think they are completely above the law.

As it should not be.