Author: James Orbinski, MDPublisher: Random House (c) 2008
James begins the book from early childhood memories. One in particular was that of an old Jewish couple in Canada who sold shoes. James, curiously noticed the tattoos on their wrists and arms from being held in German concentration camps. This memory serves as the removal of an innocent Vail to revealing atrocities committed around the globe. An Imperfect Offering, approx 430 pages, provides detailed chronicles if James passion of medicine and humanitarianism. Oftentimes requiring him to be human. From his first visit to Rwanda, pre-genocide, the reader is introduced a vast land sprawling with people who are friendly and humorous. James tells of story having to ride his moped up a steep hill and the villagers yelling "Go white man go!" As the story progresses we read much about government corruption and extortion of Non government Organizations (NGO's) such as MSF, Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Boarders), with whom Dr. Orbinski served as physician. The book provides astonishing details of the care of Afghanistan citizens as being comical and familiar. The toll of tribal wars in Somalia and the power the United States has to end wars or to ignore them. Informed exposure of the Kosov crises being completely mismanaged from a humanitarian perceptive. All the while hundreds of people, like Dr. James Obrinski, risk their lives to save lives and the momentary joy that brings. But he is without need, and the book poetically connects the reader to Dr. James well of spiritual grounding.
But what is most riveting are the details James experienced in Rwanda when he returned during the genocide. An Imperfect Offering, provides painful details of the suffering of all the people how NGO's and strangers helped out to rescue lives. Also, startling details of the French governments involvement in supplying arms to Rwandan government that were used to slaughter millions. The aftermath of such atrocities and how he made it through being repeatedly shot at as well as keeping tempers down at a camp of frustrated people. Particularly being the lifesaving hope and inspiration to many who no longer had any.
An extraordinary man who extended his life to help others in the most extraordinary circumstances. Certainly a must read for those who enjoy giving back.
