Kraussel 1

Brody Kraussel
EXPL 292 01E SP16
Patrick Green
February 11 2016
Reflection B: Complexity of Service
Service in many ways is a very complex idea that can only be seen from two ways, the
person be served, and the person serving. I have never thought that helping and serving someone
else can actually make them feel oppressed. Mr. Ivan Illich, author of To Hell with Good
Intentions, gives the perspective that people from the United States go to Mexico to serve, but
really he feels like the American people are imposing themselves on the Mexicans when there
are millions of people already in the U.S. that need help. On the Contrast, Mr. Keith Morton,
author of Starfish Hurling and Community Service, touches on how all types of community
service, no matter where a person is or how little the act, is always beneficial to people in need. I
am going to reflect on each reading, address what each reading suggests about service, and how
service is a complex idea involving power, privilege, and relationships.
After reading To Hell with Good Intentions, I feel like there was a lot of anger and attack
against the U.S. citizens going to Mexico to help and volunteer. Instead of getting offended right
away by what Mr. Illich was saying, I actually partially agree with him. For example, culture
shock is when a person feels disorientated due to unfamiliar experiences in life. The U.S.
volunteers may head to Mexico and while there tell them about their life experiences and
struggles which most likely will not even compare to the struggles the less fortunate people in
Mexico face, and this can oppress those people. Mr. Illich says that the U.S. spends $10,000 on
marines to help in aiding not having culture shock when they go to a different country. People in

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Mexico do not have that luxury, and by them hearing about the average American life and how
nice it actually is, it can cause them to experience culture shock. On the other hand I also believe
that Mr. Illich is being too hard on the American people. I do not fully understand how people
helping others who are struggling can be a bad thing. I understand that the American people feel
like it is in their duty to help other countries, and when we do, I do not think that it should be
criticized, I think it should still be welcomed.
After reading Starfish Hurling and Community Service, I felt inspired and educated. I feel
like this article spoke more on ways to help and volunteer, instead of showing up in a different
country and just willy-nilly doing what your told from an instructor. Mr. Morton says in his last
sentence, Stop hurling starfish, and this speaks to me, because I think people volunteer and are
not completely knowledgable to what they are doing. Morton is preaching that volunteering is a
process consisting of steps such as talking, building relationships, knowing yourself, learning
about your environment, and many more.
In To Hell with Good Intentions, the article suggests a very negative and unhelpful
attitude towards Americans going to Mexico to volunteer. It had a We dont need help, and don't
want your help type of attitude. I think that this article is suggesting that even if the Mexican
people recognized that they needed help, they would not want the help of the U.S.. Mr. Illich
suggests this perception of Americans as coming into Mexico to volunteer, but really they make
it worse and cause more problems. He also says that it would be better off if the Americans
focused on helping their own peoples in need, instead of venturing out to Mexico where they
were not asked to come and are not wanted to come help. For example, Illich says, If you have
any sense of responsibility at all, stay with your riots here at home. This means that Americans

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should just stay and deal with their own problems in their own country, and leave Mexico to deal
with its issues. The overall theme or suggestion for this article is that Illich believes that
Americans have their own issues to deal with on the home front, and should stay of Mexicos.
In Starfish Hurling and Community Service, the article suggests ways to problem solve,
and enhance community service. It suggests how knowledge can aid in volunteering in polite,
ethical, and moral ways for the person providing the service, and the person or people receiving
it. The article suggests that jumping into a place where volunteering is needed is just the first step
in helping someone. Although, it also suggests that running straight into volunteering is also not
a great idea. For example, Morton explains that, The tale of the starfish pretends to teach us
something about community service, even as it misdirects our sympathies, our intellects
and our sense of purpose. This means that volunteering is more than just feeling bad for people,
and learning about their issues, and what our own personal purpose to help is. To volunteer,
Morton suggests, a person must be able to talk, listen, build relationships, know their self, their
environment; work with others where they and the situation itself can teach you how to
act with more and more knowledge and effectiveness. This means that people should not be lazy
and only scratch the surface of what it is to volunteer. People should really dive in and learn and
grow as they volunteer.
Now using both articles together, service is shown to involve power, privilege, and
relationships. In To Hell With Good Intentions, service exemplifies power, privilege, and
relationships when Illich says, I am here to suggest that you voluntarily renounce the power that
being an American gives you. I am here to entreat you to freely, consciously, and humbly give up

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the legal right you have to impose your benevolence on Mexico. Americans feel like they have
and need to use their ability or their power to help others, even if they were not asked for help.
Mr. Illich believes that Americans feel that they have the right, or privilege to invade other
countries to help them, but in reality, the American people are not wanted there. Finally, it seems
as if the relationships between the American people and people of Mexico are not fortified
enough for Americans to go into the Mexican peoples homes, and take over everything trying to
help the. There must be a relationship, and trust in place for people to coexist and work together
to overcome an obstacle. In Starfish Hurling and Community Service, service involves power,
privilege, and relationships as well. Instead of using one specific quote from the article, the entire
article is revolving around those three aspects of service. For example, at the end of the story
about the starfish a man says, you can't possibly throw all the starfish back. Your effort makes
no difference." and a boy replies, It makes a difference to this one. The boy is trying to show
the man that he has the power to make a difference, even if it is a small help, it still makes a
positive difference. Also, the boy is showing that he has the right or it is his privilege to help.
Finally there are two types of relationships in this scenario. The relationship of the man and the
boy, and the relationship of the boy and the starfish. The old man somewhat belittles what the
boy is doing to try and help, even though what the boy is doing is a public good. I think that this
type of relationship in volunteering when someone puts someone down for helping is wrong,
because that makes that person not want to volunteer as much. For the relationship of the boy
and the starfish, this is a very kind hearted person helping out a cause where the starfish are
helpless. The boy helps out of the kindness of his heart, and not for own personal gain. That is
how in both articles power, privilege, and relationships are shown in service.

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In conclusion, in the articles, To Hell With Good Intentions, and, Starfish Hurling and
Community Service, there are many examples of the complexity of service. I addressed that Mr.
Illich suggests an analytical and aggressive type of view against the service of Americans, and
Mr. Morton suggests a more expansive and in depth process of being a good volunteer. I noted
that both articles touch on power, privilege, and relationships that help shape what it is to
volunteer. Finally I reflected on the main aspects of each article and both perceptions of
volunteering. When volunteering, always remember to think of the positive, and also the
negative effect you can have on a person or a communities lives.