James Rolfe DDS Accepts 2010 National Award for Citizen Diplomacy

For the past eight years, Santa Barbara, California dentist Dr. James G. Rolfe has improved the lives of the Afghan people through his organization, the Afghanistan Dental Relief Project. Dental care conditions in Afghanistan are severely compromised. There are currently only 134 dentists to serve a population of 27 million, which amounts to only a single dentist per 200,000 patients. Sterilization practices are lax and treatment methods are often crude - untreated dental conditions resulting in death are not unheard of.
For more information, please visit http://www.uscenterforcitizendiplomacy.org/

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Education

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• James
• Rolfe
• citizen
• diplomacy
• diplomat
• summit
• afghanistan

[whoabrother]

I had the opportunity to speak to a long time assoc. of James' throughout his crusade. He said that's not the first time he has heard that James has been condescending to people. He says he has known James for a long time and excused his behavior by saying that the last nine years or so James has been developing a "pompous-ness about him" because of all the work he has done. He said,"I am sure he doesn't treat the people in Afghanistan that way because he views them as more needy than himself."

[whoabrother]

@whoabrother I don't understand why he told me that he strictly does not help any Americans. Now here are two people who have been helped by him. Did you go to Afghanistan to get his help? I was told I would have to go to Afghanistan and get residency there to receive any help from him..... A bit confusing.

[whoabrother]

@whoabrother Now my good friend Kate Smith has recommended him to me again, saying he was able to help her too. Interesting.... I wonder what the criteria for getting his help is....

[whoabrother]

@HarpLady Good to know he's helped you as a dentist. He completely rejected my plea for help telling me he doesn't help American's at all. I agree he is doing great things in Afghanistan. He treated me like I was a child who knows nothing of the world and was extremely condescending towards me. Interesting how two people can have such very different experiences with the same man. I never underestimate other's insight into the world. I guess other's need to learn the same?....

[HarpLady]

I'm fortunate to live in Santa Barbara and that Dr. Rolfe is my dentist. He saw a need in Afghanistan and has literally moved mountains at his own expense to end the suffering of many people there. By providing basic health care (in a country where even access to clean drinking water is a rarity) and by educating and empowering the Afghan people toward self-sufficiency, he is a great example of a kind and generous human being who is making the world a better place.

[for566566]

@whoabrother ....my friend..I have been in your country and also in Afghanistan.... Believe me, even I know that American people as many others have their own problems but whats happening in Afghanistan, and the standard of living is much far below what we could even imagine ....

[96minos]

this aint avgn

[whoabrother]

What about all the people abandoned here in our own country...Your own country Dr. Rolfe? We have the technology here...why not help here? I guess your vision is limited. I know when I look around at the troubles here in Santa Barbara County I get overwhelmed too..l but why do sooo many look to fix things outside of what is right in front of them????!!!!! This country is a mess in itself. I admire all of the hard work that people are doing....but what about what is right on their own viiew

[mazar061]

This is very moving. Thank you for all that you have done so far.