Poem: The Development Set, 1976, Ross Coggins.
Summary: none necessary. it was on the money then. still there now. Thoughts below.
The Development Set
‘Excuse me, friends, I must catch my jet
I’m off to join the Development Set;
My bags are packed, and I’ve had all my shots
I have traveller’s checks and pills for the trots!
The Development Set is bright and noble
Our thoughts are deep and our vision global;
Although we move with the better classes
Our thoughts are always with the masses.
In Sheraton Hotels in scattered nations
We damn multi-national corporations;
injustice seems easy to protest
In such seething hotbeds of social rest.
We discuss malnutrition over steaks
And plan hunger talks during coffee breaks.
Whether Asian floods or African drought,
We face each issue with open mouth.
We bring in consultants whose circumlocution
Raises difficulties for every solution –
Thus guaranteeing continued good eating
By showing the need for another meeting.
The language of the Development Set
Stretches the English alphabet;
We use swell words like “epigenetic”
“Micro”, “macro”, and “logarithmetic”
It pleasures us to be esoteric –
It’s so intellectually atmospheric!
And although establishments may be unmoved,
Our vocabularies are much improved.
When the talk gets deep and you’re feeling numb,
You can keep your shame to a minimum:
To show that you, too, are intelligent
Smugly ask, “Is it really development?”
Or say, “That’s fine in practice, but don’t you see:
It doesn’t work out in theory!”
A few may find this incomprehensible,
But most will admire you as deep and sensible.
Development set homes are extremely chic,
Full of carvings, curios, and draped with batik.
Eye-level photographs subtly assure
That your host is at home with the great and the poor.
Enough of these verses – on with the mission!
Our task is as broad as the human condition!
Just pray god the biblical promise is true:
The poor ye shall always have with you.’
Thoughts
I had a professor read this poem in class. I took two of his classes. He read it in both. I have yet to come across a more accurate articulation of what international relations, public health and all those fields that dabble in development struggle with. I have a lot of trouble with the romanticization of “the field.” I find it a bit self righteous and potentially harmful to your cause. “A bit” and “potentially” are used here because I’m Canadian and feel bad claiming full on self righteousness and deleterious effects of delusions of martyrdom veiled under ethnographic inquiry. Can’t handle. The irony? I’m writing this from a “field placement”… Always need a dash of hypocrisy in the pursuit of truth… ok, maybe not. Even when jumping through hoops I feel like a fish out of water…
In case you’re wondering, yes, I’m proud of myself for finding this picture.
Orange Highlighters 