I have watched the news reports of the famine and drought in Africa with horror, sadness and pure sobbing grief. 30,000 sons and daughters already buried and an estimated 600,000 total children may die before the end of the year if this crisis is not changed. Dying... of hunger. Dying... of diseases that are completely preventable or curable like whooping cough... I find it sadly ironic that we are battling obesity in the West and children are dying from hunger in Africa. How did our priorities on this planet get so incredibly out of whack??
The most heart wrenching story I saw on CNN was that of a mother in grief after burying her child. Her cries were universal and touching. That has taken place 30,000 times already in this crisis, 600,000 is totally unacceptable. Think about all of the kids in your town, city, state dying- that is the enormity of this situation.
Take a minute now to then factor in the number of adults who have and will also die and then add to the mix the atrocities being done to women in the midst of the tragedy - this is a time of unbelievable loss. The atrocities I refer to are the rape and gang rape of women refugees by soldiers or bandits. Imagine- you are starving, fleeing for your life across a desert with your children and it is not safe to gather water or find a place to use the bathroom or you could be abducted and brutally violated- some women reporting attacks by gangs of men that last hours.
Perhaps the death and sadness are just too overwhelming for people to watch or to care about. Imagine for a minute if this situation were happening in our country-it would be the top news story every night, people would be outraged. The childish antics of our elected officials would pale in comparison to these events in terms of news coverage. I am not naive. I understand that this is a poor and misundertsood part of the world. I understand that there are political issues, corruption and religious and racial differences in Kenya, Somalia and Ethopia. But children are STARVING. That one simple fact should cause any human being with a heart or conscience to stand up and demand action. And yes, they aren't in OUR country- so what? They are people- children, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and grandparents with a heart and soul just like ours. That mother's cry could be our own expect for geography. The human race is all connected- through energy, physics and spirit. What are the ramifications to those of us outside of this tragedy if we sit by and do nothing?
There is so much brilliance, talent and drive among human beings across the globe. We have collectively created an international space station, cured diseases and designed super computers and new technology. We can develop Viagra and the space shuttle...but can't figure out how to navigate political and logistical problems to get food and water to a starving baby? Someone help me understand this.
What can we do? It does seem overwhelming and easier to bury your head in the sand. But it isn't. Do what you can:
* get educated and learn what is going on
* share this horror story with others
* make your kids aware- perhaps their generation will do a better job one day
* make a donation (10 dollars can feed a child for 10 days) by checking out the reputable charities listed on CNN
* if you are spiritual- say a prayer
* call, email or write your legislators and make sure they are informed and active (about time they did something of value)
* remember how incredibly blessed and lucky you are
A mother is crying. Can you hear her? I can't get her voice out of my head.
Showing posts with label rape in war. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rape in war. Show all posts
Friday, August 12, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Feminist - why does the word get a bad rap?
It is International Women's Day, a time to recognize the accomplishments of women in history and highlight the issues that remain for females around the world. We tend to sometimes think only of our own experiences and assume that the cause for gender equality is no longer necessary. Remember, it was not that long ago when women could not buy a home or even get a credit card without a husband and his approval (yikes, makes my skin crawl just typing this.) The future for my daughters is much more open than in the past and they will have so many more choices about how to create their lives than their grandmothers and great-grandmothers were given. And my daughters and I have all of the women who went before us to thank for those choices. As a mother, I say thank you to every woman and man who fought for our right to vote, own property, attend college, the list goes on....
However, lets take a look at issues that still exist here and around the world that impact the status of women:
* Lack of gender balance among those in political power - even though women make up at least half of the population. Take a look at a photo of Congress and watch an interview or two during election season with someone who "just couldn't vote for a woman"... enough said.
* In spite of the phrase "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world, the role of a wife and mother is seen as a secondary, lesser purpose. Stay at home moms are still viewed as not having a "real job."
* Women (and children) make up a disproportionate number of those living in poverty around the world.
* Instead of teaching our daughters to honor and OWN their sexuality and that it is a gift belonging to them we are teaching them that it should be fostered, packaged for others and given away. We are sexualizing girls at even younger ages instead of teaching them that their brains, talents and personality should be their focus.
* Cultures and religious traditions that consider women second class citizens and not as worthy as their male counterparts. It is easy to jump out side the USA for these examples, but lets look close to home also.
* The international sex trafficking trade- very young girls (and boys) kidnapped or sold into the sex trade. Innocence and a life destroyed. I guess we have gotten immume to horror because I still can't figure out why decent people around the world, governments around the globe, the UN, and every parent out there hasn't risen up and demanded an end to this crime.
* Rape as an act of war. Go ahead and google mass rape in the Congo and see what innocent women and children are experiencing right now as you are reading this blog.
Imagine your daughter, sister, mother in these very real circumstances that exist around the world:
* Girls are not allowed to attend school (read Three Cups of Tea or Reading Lolita in Tehran for real life searing examples.)
* Women cannot cannot divorce (but their husbands can drop them in a heartbeat.)
* Women can't drive a car
* Women can't own property
* Women are viewed as property to be bartered.
* Women can't seek preventive medical care because a man may see their body.
* A girl baby is born but her birth and life are not celebrated because she is not a boy. She may be abandoned.
* A girl has no right to say no so she is married against her will at a young age to an older man.
How does the word feminist fit into this blogpost? Somewhere along the way, the word feminist became a bad word. Women and men are afraid to call themselves one. A feminist is simply a person, man or woman, who cares about any of the issues highlighted above. A feminist is not a man-hating, bra burning scary woman, but a person who feels that women and men are equal and should have the same basic opportunity to shape their lives. Feminism is not about taking from men but about partnering with men for equality for all. What is so scary about that?
However, lets take a look at issues that still exist here and around the world that impact the status of women:
* Lack of gender balance among those in political power - even though women make up at least half of the population. Take a look at a photo of Congress and watch an interview or two during election season with someone who "just couldn't vote for a woman"... enough said.
* In spite of the phrase "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world, the role of a wife and mother is seen as a secondary, lesser purpose. Stay at home moms are still viewed as not having a "real job."
* Women (and children) make up a disproportionate number of those living in poverty around the world.
* Instead of teaching our daughters to honor and OWN their sexuality and that it is a gift belonging to them we are teaching them that it should be fostered, packaged for others and given away. We are sexualizing girls at even younger ages instead of teaching them that their brains, talents and personality should be their focus.
* Cultures and religious traditions that consider women second class citizens and not as worthy as their male counterparts. It is easy to jump out side the USA for these examples, but lets look close to home also.
* The international sex trafficking trade- very young girls (and boys) kidnapped or sold into the sex trade. Innocence and a life destroyed. I guess we have gotten immume to horror because I still can't figure out why decent people around the world, governments around the globe, the UN, and every parent out there hasn't risen up and demanded an end to this crime.
* Rape as an act of war. Go ahead and google mass rape in the Congo and see what innocent women and children are experiencing right now as you are reading this blog.
Imagine your daughter, sister, mother in these very real circumstances that exist around the world:
* Girls are not allowed to attend school (read Three Cups of Tea or Reading Lolita in Tehran for real life searing examples.)
* Women cannot cannot divorce (but their husbands can drop them in a heartbeat.)
* Women can't drive a car
* Women can't own property
* Women are viewed as property to be bartered.
* Women can't seek preventive medical care because a man may see their body.
* A girl baby is born but her birth and life are not celebrated because she is not a boy. She may be abandoned.
* A girl has no right to say no so she is married against her will at a young age to an older man.
How does the word feminist fit into this blogpost? Somewhere along the way, the word feminist became a bad word. Women and men are afraid to call themselves one. A feminist is simply a person, man or woman, who cares about any of the issues highlighted above. A feminist is not a man-hating, bra burning scary woman, but a person who feels that women and men are equal and should have the same basic opportunity to shape their lives. Feminism is not about taking from men but about partnering with men for equality for all. What is so scary about that?
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