Thinking about why the video resonates with me, I realized it speaks to one of my core convictions that has shaped my outlook on life.
We should not stereotype entire cultures, countries and continents.
People are people everywhere - good and bad. But we often make the mistake of defining individuals by their governments and/or religions.
When I was a teenager, President Ronald Regan described the Soviet Union as "the Evil Empire" during a speech to the National Association of Evangelicals. A few years later, at age 16, I was on my way to the USSR to discover for myself what it was like. I found exactly what I expected - the young Soviets I met wanted peace, freedom and the chance to follow their dreams. Just like me and my friends.
And despite the constant media coverage of Pakistan as a failed state run rampant with terrorists, ordinary Pakistanis simply want the chance to pursue a better life. Much like most Americans.
I'm struck by Helen Coster's observation in the Forbes video:
"The people that I met were so hungry for attention from the outside world that was positive..."
One of my main motivations as a documentary filmmaker is to make connections between people who are worlds apart and to illuminate individual stories that are in contrast to the negative narratives about their cultures that we hear more often. I only wish I had more opportunities to do just that!
BTW - If you aren't familiar with Acumen Fund, follow the links at the top to watch the video and visit their website! The fund invests "patient capital" in entrepreneurs in the developing world.
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