TRIAGE: Dr. James Orbinski’s Humanitarian Dilemma is a very interesting and illuminating movie.   As a Rwanda Tutsi I have a hard time watching images of my people massacred helplessly.  I am a student of what happened there.  This film furthered my education. 

Every time I am faced with the plight of Africa, I am sadden and deeply troubled.  I found Dr. James Orbinski’s compassion honorable yet his work somewhat futile.  His profession address the symptoms of a greater and deeper problem of humanity that cannot be dealt with through physical medicine and humanitarian efforts.

What I found fascinating was his internal transformation.  Dr. Orbinski, went from adventurer  with idealistic ambitions of helping Africa through  humanitarianism to that of helpless westerner at a loss for words.  He learned the capacity man has to destroy.  When facing the sinfulness of sin one is at a loss for words.  

Had Dr. James Orbinski approached this problem form a Biblical world view, he would have been educated about the condition of man (total depravity).  Dr. Orbinski is convinced that the solution to these humanitarian problems is to bring greater awareness and involvement.  

What I appreciates most from this film, which you see reflected in many stories of great humanitarians,  is that their intervention and involvement resulted in many lives saved.  They may not solve the problem, but their efforts  made a difference for  thousands of people.  The movie celebrates the humanitarian efforts of Doctors who choose not to take sides when human life is at stake.  I greatly doubt whether it will ever eradicate the real problems of Africa.