An Imperfect Offering: Humanitarian Action for the Twenty-First Century

About this book

From one of the worlds greatest humanitarian activists comes a searing personal memoir that is also an urgent call to confront suffering in all its many forms. Having seen things we hope never to see confronted suffering and dispassion and evil we hope never to encounter and faced deep personal torment James Orbinski still believes in "the good we can be if we so choose." His chosen medium for revealing this is stories from his own experiencea doctors indelible testimony from the front lines in Peru Somalia Afghanistan Rwanda Zaireembodied in which are warnings hope and lessons in how we can inject humanitarian activity into our lives. Being political he has discovered is not only reserved for politicians; admitting imperfection is essential to compassion. With an eye for detail like that of the finest journalist and the empathy of the most committed doctor Orbinskis powerful voice is matched by the urgency of his message. At a time of great political and moral uncertainty An Imperfect Offering is invaluable reading for anyone who wants to make a difference. Excerpt: "This book is a series of stories in which I ask again and again how to be in relation to the suffering of others. It is a personal narrative about the political journey I have taken over the last twenty years as a humanitarian doctor as a citizen and as a man. It is about the mutuality that can exist between us if we so choose. I have come to see humanitarianism not as separate from politics but in relation to it and as a challenge to political choices that too often kill or allow others to be killed. At its best politics is an imperfect human project. It is at its worst when we delude ourselves into thinking it can be perfect. Speaking is the first political act. It is the first act of liberty and it always implicitly involves another. In speaking one inherently recognizes that "I am and I am not alone." In this space lies our humanity." (a composite from chapter 1)