--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once I got to know what's been happening…" description: "\"Once I got to know what's been happening historically, it's pretty impossible to un-know it. Like right now, there's the outbreak of cholera in Haiti, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/win-butler-10584_aids_once-i-got-to-know-what-s-been-happening_645469.jpg" --- # Once I got to know what's been happening historically… ![“Once I got to know what's been happening historically, it's pretty impossible to un-know it. Like right now, there's the outbreak of cholera in Haiti, and people see that as a news headline, but I know there's half a billion dollars of aid that one senator is putting a hold on, that the Red Cross…” quote by Win Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/win-butler-10584_aids_once-i-got-to-know-what-s-been-happening_645469.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/win-butler-10584_aids_once-i-got-to-know-what-s-been-happening_645469.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0e/win-butler-10584_aids_once-i-got-to-know-what-s-been-happening_645469.jpg) > “Once I got to know what's been happening historically, it's pretty impossible to un-know it. Like right now, there's the outbreak of cholera in Haiti, and people see that as a news headline, but I know there's half a billion dollars of aid that one senator is putting a hold on, that the Red Cross has raised half a billion dollars but has only spent $200 million.” [Win Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/win-butler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical facts shape perception; knowledge of past events makes ignorance impossible, especially regarding crises and aid distribution. **In simple terms:** Knowing history prevents denial of current issues. Key Takeaway Stay informed, question narratives. Themes history politics media humanitarian aid Mood critical concerned Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - public health crises - policy analysis - journalism - activism Key Concepts systemic bias information asymmetry accountability Questions to Reflect On - How does historical context change your view of current events? - What responsibilities arise from knowing hidden aid allocations? A Different Perspective Complex systems can obscure individual impact despite awareness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Red cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red-cross/) ## Related quotes > [We're learning how infections are travelling around the world and, sadly, how cholera in Haiti was brought in by U.N. peacekeeping forces from south…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-walport/we-re-learning-how-infections-are-travelling-around-the-world-and/) [Mark Walport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-walport/) > [If any country was a mine-shaft canary for the reintroduction of cholera, it was Haiti - and we knew it. And in retrospect, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-farmer/if-any-country-was-a-mine-shaft-canary-for-the-reintroduction-of/) [Paul Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-farmer/) > [“No one had forgotten how in 1885 fouled water had ignited an outbreak of cholera and typhoid that killed ten percent of the city’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-larson/no-one-had-forgotten-how-in-1885-fouled-water-had-ignited-an-outbreak/) [Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-larson/) > [“They had known each other for many years. Young Jacob had found his way onto a ship borne for the tropics, indentured to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stuart/they-had-known-each-other-for-many-years-young-jacob-had-found-his/) [Anne Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stuart/) > [I condemn the entry of a Russian so-called humanitarian convoy into Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian authorities and without any involvement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-fogh-rasmussen/i-condemn-the-entry-of-a-russian-so-called-humanitarian-convoy-into/) [Anders Fogh Rasmussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-fogh-rasmussen/) > [“Did the International Committee of the Red Cross know anything about this? Did the United States? The UN? Yes, yes, and yes. And what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaji-ishikawa/did-the-international-committee-of-the-red-cross-know-anything-about/) [Masaji Ishikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaji-ishikawa/) > [The International Committee of the Red Cross visits roughly half a million detainees in nearly 100 countries each year. It's our job to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maurer/the-international-committee-of-the-red-cross-visits-roughly-half-a/) [Peter Maurer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maurer/) > [I like the influence and responsibility the Red Cross has become known for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zulay-henao/i-like-the-influence-and-responsibility-the-red-cross-has-become/) [Zulay Henao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zulay-henao/) > [After 9/11, the American Red Cross received more than half a billion dollars in donations to help the victims of the terrorist attacks. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/after-9-11-the-american-red-cross-received-more-than-half-a-billion/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [The Red Cross in its nature, it aims and purposes, and consequently, its methods, is unlike any other organization in the country.It is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/the-red-cross-in-its-nature-it-aims-and-purposes-and-consequently-its/) [Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/) > [“At least 30,000, possibly more, German POWs may have died in French captivity, of starvation and malnutrition, of disease and neglect and mistreatment. Around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-taylor/at-least-30-000-possibly-more-german-pows-may-have-died-in-french/) [Frederick Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-taylor/) > [“In a flash I had a change of heart. Even one precious life was worth saving. Japan was defeated; but the wounded were still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-nagai/in-a-flash-i-had-a-change-of-heart-even-one-precious-life-was-worth/) [Takashi Nagai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-nagai/) > [After a disaster strikes, it can be very devastating and very challenging. You're going to need a lot of strength and energy, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/after-a-disaster-strikes-it-can-be-very-devastating-and-very/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [Whether it is a call to action for blood drives, disaster relief, or just community outreach, the American Red Cross does an extraordinary job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/whether-it-is-a-call-to-action-for-blood-drives-disaster-relief-or/) [Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/) > [I founded the American Red Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-barton/i-founded-the-american-red-cross/) [Clara Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-barton/) ## More by Win Butler > [I think there's some pretty amazing language in the Bible. The thing that's always been interesting to me about religion is that compared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/win-butler/i-think-there-s-some-pretty-amazing-language-in-the-bible-the-thing/) [Win Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/win-butler/) > [Usually, I think you have most of your musical influences locked down by the time you're 16.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/win-butler/usually-i-think-you-have-most-of-your-musical-influences-locked-down/) [Win Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/win-butler/) > [I find myself a lot more open to bands if I just hear their song. It gives you an opportunity to engage with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/win-butler/i-find-myself-a-lot-more-open-to-bands-if-i-just-hear-their-song-it/) [Win Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/win-butler/) > [Whenever you do anything or say anything, you're opening yourself up to criticism. But that's okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/win-butler/whenever-you-do-anything-or-say-anything-you-re-opening-yourself-up/) [Win Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/win-butler/) > [ What I miss \[about church\] is being forced to be in community with people that aren't the same as me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/win-butler/what-i-miss-about-church-is-being-forced-to-be-in-community-with/) [Win Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/win-butler/) > [I think of hip hop as a mass media, radio, MTV thing. 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Songs kind of half make themselves, and then you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/win-butler/songwriting-is-reliant-on-inspiration-which-ideally-you-don-t-have/) [Win Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/win-butler/) > [Major labels just lost their way. It's like the housing bubble. They lost a sense of the fundamentals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/win-butler/major-labels-just-lost-their-way-it-s-like-the-housing-bubble-they/) [Win Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/win-butler/) > [I'm not someone who can dance to a song I don't like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/win-butler/i-m-not-someone-who-can-dance-to-a-song-i-don-t-like/) [Win Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/win-butler/) > [I had a somewhat religious upbringing. Not strict, but it was there, and I'm kind of thankful for that. 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Custom imparts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/slavery-if-it-can-be-legalized-at-all-can-be-legalized-only-by/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [Since I came to the White House, I got two hearing aids, a colon operation, skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I was shot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/since-i-came-to-the-white-house-i-got-two-hearing-aids-a-colon/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The European talks of progress because by the aid of a few scientific discoveries he has established a society which has mistaken comfort for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-european-talks-of-progress-because-by-the-aid-of-a-few-scientific/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Women's Aid is a fantastic charity which has my full support. 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