Without a doubt, political profits from poverty are deplorable, exploiting the very people who need help the most. As three white congressmen stumbled along the muddy, winding paths of Kibera, East Africa’s largest slum, on walking tours guided by residents in flip flops, the absurdity of their presence was as egregious as the contrast in skin color. Without a doubt, their change in schedule, their inclusion of a trip to the slum, like their closing remark of, “Thank you for the work you are doing here, ” was a calculated maneuver. That said, their visit was invaluable; for people to change poverty, they don’t need to just watch videos or read brochures, they need to smell what it means not to have a toilet.

As part of a “democracy building initiative,” seven U.S. representatives visited Kenya, Liberia, and Lebanon during July, meeting with ministers of government in an attempt to better understand the headline issues: poverty, AIDS, corruption, etc. Five minutes in Kibera and it was obvious that neither the headlines nor the text of their briefs understood the reality on the ground. Dire poverty, yes. Despair, no. Warm welcomes were extended to the visitors who wore their trepidation in the furrow of their brow. Despite the accompanying security detail, the congressmen were clearly out of their comfort zones, pushed to the brink of political neutrality by the stench of human feces constant in the hot air. That said, you can’t let a good PR moment pass; a photo opportunity with children from the slums is surely something worth painting on a smile for. So, flashes flashed.

The flashes continued to flash, no less nervous, but clearly aware of the media mileage bound up in such an excursion, the congressmen posed and postured. With each click, it was as if you could see the prints being uploaded onto their websites.

Surely their visit was dominated by handlers and armored cars, power suits and post-colonial English, but their time in Kibera is in and of itself a necessary step in combating Western ignorance when thinking of solutions for global poverty. People need to see it. Without tasting the actuality of the figures, the idea that 40,000 people die each and every day from preventable diseases is unfathomable. However, maneuvering around a carpenter diligently staining coffin after coffin nails it home.

One young boy asked one of the aides not to take his photo. Brushed off because she didn’t understand and young African boys don’t count anyway, the aide took the photo. Political profit from poverty. A horrendous idea. Another congressman treaded carefully. When he got back to the office, he said: “This is simply unconscionable. ” Thus, it is clear that travel alone is not a strong enough impetus to change. It can drive people to change, but it is not sufficient. Seeing the reality on the ground allows people to better understand the nightly news, but disconnected slum tourism and photo opportunities often lead to stories that quell the conscious, not to follow-up.

Congressman Clueless proved that you just don’t get it until you travel, but you really don’t get it unless you want to.

Aaron Charlop - Powers