| Children of War |
| 08.21.05 (5:15 pm) |
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Tonight I sit here wondering what I’m doing sitting here working on this computer, listening to my music with the TV on in the other room. How is it that I deserve to be full of dinner living in this wonderful house, happy comfortable and safe when so many in the world live a life of horror, want, and malnourishment?
You see I’ve just finished watching the NBC Dateline program on the children of Uganda called Children of War. I was in the Peace Corps just after college to “do something in my life to improve the lives of others in the world”. I taught Chemistry and Physics to students in secondary school high in the mountains of Kenya, so they could go on to University and later get good jobs and not live in poverty as their parents lived in, and in which they were raised. Did I accomplish what I set out to do, I have no idea? I did not keep in touch with any of my students after I left so I have no way to know.
But even the poverty and illiteracy that I saw in 1974 is nothing compared to the horrors children in Uganda, a country just to the north of Kenya. Children forced to be solders in the rebel army of Joseph Kony (like Pony only with a K). Forced to kill other children, and even their parents, these children have a life of such unspeakable horrors it seems almost criminal that I have the life I have.
I know I can not save the world or stop any of the appalling things people do to other people each and every day on this earth. But it does make me think of other ways of helping the less fortunate in this world. Janine and I have talked about perhaps joining the Peace Corps again after we retire or volunteer for the Red Cross or other organizations that need help. I donate to the Heifer Project because it is one way in which I know I can make a difference in someone’s life somewhere in the world. I encourage you to do the same, or perhaps donate to one of the agencies on the Dateline page.
If you do nothing else and did not see the program on this Sunday night at least go to the link I have above to the Dateline program and read about this horrible situation.
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posted by:
AmyLeeZealot
post date:
08.21.05 (2:46 pm)
that is really horrible, but I guess the reason you have all you do is because you got lucky *shrug*
posted by:
altricial
post date:
08.21.05 (3:35 pm)
Does the lettery winner have a moral responsibility to give financial support to those less fortunate? And if so, is it only his relatives? Friends? Countrymen? Or only those he deems to be deserving?
And this lottery winner, how does he help those less fortunate exactly?
Or does he just say "Woohoo, I won!" and celebrate accordingly?
You've got my real comment elsewhere.
The only thing I would add here is that the Heifer Project and others just like it are well-run and well-directed programs that target resources to just the right places, providing sustainable agriculture to people and locations and creating a pyramid of supply. If you allocate a portion of your Christmas dollars to the program, or support it monthly, you'll never regret it.
posted by:
altricial
post date:
08.21.05 (3:36 pm)
~lottery ;)
posted by:
trekguy
post date:
08.22.05 (5:15 am)
Reply to: altricial
Ah a well thought out reply, as always my good friend!
Re; Lottery winner, yes IMHO he/she should. I also feel it is encumbent on those whos income/good fortune is substantial (I'm talking about the millionairs, billionairs) should be generous with their fortunes.
Bill Gates, love him or hate him for his software is a wonderful supporter of giving huge sums of money to those who are most in need, as are others in similar positions. I feel it is manditory they do perform charitable donations to help those less fortunate.
I do contribute to both local charities as well as international with my wages how ever humble it is compaired to Mr. Gates.
posted by:
newbie
post date:
08.23.05 (10:51 am)
How is it that you are here when...
there just aren't many answers to those questions. There will always be famine and poverty, but if there weren't some man sitting in his living room with a desire to make the world better... there would be no hope at all. Hope for a better day is what keeps people going.
posted by:
newbie
post date:
08.24.05 (11:05 pm)
Trekguy.
I'd be interested to read your blog more, but it's very difficult to look at.
Two tips:
Plain background. It's very hard to read text on screen against the texture you have.
Don't use a different font size for hovers. Don't even use bold. It changes the line breaks and makes the text jump around when you mouse over links. I suggest either an underline or a different font colour.
Sorry to comment on style rather than substance, but I can't read the substance when the style is distracting.
