Sunday, February 11, 2007
seriousness
I've been feeling like my posts have been of really trivial things lately. Sometimes seriousness bores people (everyone loves light, happy blogs!), but every now and then, I think it's necessary to address certain issues. This morning (and I don't know why these thoughts came into my mind), I was thinking about: 
- all those shanty towns I've seen in my travels abroad. I think about seeing little kids playing in dirty water puddles, as their mothers wash their family's clothing in the same water. To me, it seemed so sad, as we whizzed by in our air-conditioned vehicle with our driver while the kids played happily in the dirty water. It just made me so sad and depressed.
- all the kids that beg (but some work) for money, when as a kid I never even thought about money. We played outside with our friends until nightfall. Working was for adults.
- the baskets with clothes, books, toys, toothbrushes and goodies to be sent to kids in Third World Countries. I was excited about giving the gift of happiness to kids who were less fortunate, when someone told me that she disagreed with the whole idea, since if one kid gets something and other kids in their family didn't, it would cause problems for the kids. My burning question would be, "Do we give these things to the kids to make them happy and to know that people care about them? Or do we not give anything because we may be disrupting their life as they know it? Is what I think is helping actually interfering?"
I don't know why I'm feeling so ho-hum blah and glum today. I just feel awful knowing that there are people out there who don't have as much as others do...and those who do have more, often take for granted each day that they are so fortunate. Kinda makes me want to give everything I own away and volunteer for Oxfam or something. If only I were that selfless :(
- all those shanty towns I've seen in my travels abroad. I think about seeing little kids playing in dirty water puddles, as their mothers wash their family's clothing in the same water. To me, it seemed so sad, as we whizzed by in our air-conditioned vehicle with our driver while the kids played happily in the dirty water. It just made me so sad and depressed.
- all the kids that beg (but some work) for money, when as a kid I never even thought about money. We played outside with our friends until nightfall. Working was for adults.
- the baskets with clothes, books, toys, toothbrushes and goodies to be sent to kids in Third World Countries. I was excited about giving the gift of happiness to kids who were less fortunate, when someone told me that she disagreed with the whole idea, since if one kid gets something and other kids in their family didn't, it would cause problems for the kids. My burning question would be, "Do we give these things to the kids to make them happy and to know that people care about them? Or do we not give anything because we may be disrupting their life as they know it? Is what I think is helping actually interfering?"
I don't know why I'm feeling so ho-hum blah and glum today. I just feel awful knowing that there are people out there who don't have as much as others do...and those who do have more, often take for granted each day that they are so fortunate. Kinda makes me want to give everything I own away and volunteer for Oxfam or something. If only I were that selfless :(
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City girl moves to the country, falls in love, and marries a farmer. She tries to incorporate her city ways with her new country lifestyle and blogs to keep in touch with friends, family & students who live far, far away :) Can this city girl go country? Watch as she learns all sorts of exciting things about life on the farm and in a small rural community. *UPDATE* We are now parents! Our baby girl was born on Nov. 11, 2008 (at 28 weeks gestation- 12 weeks premature, but she's quite the trooper)!!!
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10 comments:
Chris, you are too sweet. You can't kick yourself for others being less fortunate. I know you always feel like you need to save the world, but you can't. You're not Mother Theresa and you can't help everyone. Doing little things for charities helps a lot. Don't beat yourself up over things :0)
Did you take that photo? Where was it?
Hi T! Nope. I nabbed the pic off of wikipedia. Me bad.
Yeah, I really don't know why all these thoughts have popped into my head today. I guess I sometimes realize that we in North America are so very lucky and many of us don't even stop to think about how lucky we are. LOL...thanks for letting me vent :)
Would I be a complete wanker if I said I don't give to charities? And I don't like it when people maul me when I'm traveling and try to get me to give them money. That really irritates me. I have my own problems to take care of.
I'm just playing with you. I am not a complete tosser. Really.
True dat! I like light, happy blogs, not serious ones! Just kidding. This is a very thoughtful post, Chris. I remember when we were on our honeymoon and kids were harrassing us for spare change. It was annoying, but the reality of it is really sad.
The reason why some of these kids can get really annoying when it comes to begging is because they are forced to do it. Especially when they are coddled by syndicates, and as such are required to meet monetary "quotas" from alms.
It's so sad, but it's a brutal fact. :(
Thanks for shedding some more insight on that one, Sharkey. It's so sad for children to be forced to do that...and to have to meet quotas too? :( I know it's a reality in some parts of the world, but it still doesn't make me feel better. That's exploitation. I've been struggling with the idea of "Is it just my Western thinking that this is unfair for the children? Should I not have such a meddlesome attitude? Is this part of their reality something they are content with and I'm just the one who doesn't think it's fair?". I told myself that when traveling abroad, always leave my cultural baggage at the airport. I'm pretty good at appreciating different cultures and lifestyles, but I always have a hard time when it comes to the exploitation of children and ill-treatment of women.
Well, that's enough of seriousness on my part :) Next time it'll be a light and happy post. Promise.
hi chrissy, to be aware of what you have and not take it for granted is a gift. to want to share it is even a bigger gift. don't worry about your blues, they will pass.
thanks for dropping by. i am always delighted at your posts and comments. don't forget your filipino heritage--the one that will slaughter their pet chicken to feed the visitors.
cheers!
Hi Minotte! Yes, though I always knew growing up, how wonderful the filipino culture is, and how filipinos tend to be very generous and hospitable. The less they have, the more they give (in general). When I was at my grandparents' villa in San Jose, my grandmother always had her cooks preparing food for everyone who popped by her house. My mom told me that when she was little, the maids would go out back and slaughter a chicken to feed the guests.
Christine, I think it's grand of you to have such a broader view of the world. Not everybody thinks of others like that.
There are things you can do short of giving away everything. Start small, you might like it and want to do more. :)
I'm pretty sure I'm going to go to Guatemala this summer with a church project to dig cisterns and build chicken coops and stuff. I've never done anything like that before, but I'm really looking forward to it. Retirement has its benefits. :)