Re: [school-discuss] One Laptop Per Child?

[Charles Cosse <ccosse@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

hi -- the way i regard the olpc project is that if folks at MIT want to 
make a contribution then more power to them, regardless of anything 
else, really.  The alternative is simply nothing, is it not?  The olpc 
project is most likely the best way they can contribute -- it's their 
specialty.  So it's olpc or nothing, perhaps, from them.  Therefore, 
it's simply a good thing.  No matter what happens it sounds like lots of 
people will learn from the whole experience, and they've created the 
first product of its' kind.  There will always be poverty and despair in 
various places, so no use waiting until all of those problems are cured 
before pursuing something like olpc.  If it's a gift, they'll like it, 
regardless.  It's a binary proposition: something, or nothing? 

Charles Cosse


mcooper wrote:

> On Jan 16, 2007, at 2:14 AM, lee rodgers wrote:
>
> > Gee, a little bit elitist, doncha think? It's good enuf for the  poor 
> > in the USA, but we know what's good for the rest of the world?  Let's 
> > be quite clear here: Not every locale south of the equator is  as bad 
> > off as you portray (never
>
>
> You're right. I was thinking of the worst cases and ignoring the  
> stable countries. What I meant by "it's a tough call" was that,  
> though I really believe in OLPC and think it is a wonderful idea, I  
> found it hard to refute the critics that say food and security should  
> come first. But I realize after reading your post that OLPC is suited  
> for developing countries that already have some degree of peace and  
> stability, while the critics are thinking of countries in war and  
> famine.