Innocence

Jill and I (hmm…) were talking about the lack of volunteers to go to war refugees in a great time of need. People will flock to aid a hurricane or a tsunami. With the abundant and saddening amount of displaced people around the world I wonder if people realize the greatest number of displaced people is a result of war; in places like Sudan, the DRC, Sri Lanka, and Somalia, just to name a few, the need is great. I know there are many reasons not to go and help these people. But there are many reasons not to do a lot of things. I’ve found one very good reason to help. Children. Children are affected by this war it seems even more than the adult. With the horrors of becoming a child soldier, facing rape, and having any opportunity for education taken away from you in a moment, a child’s future in these war torn areas seems hopeless. I don’t have the answers. I know some people who would pick up and go to these places in a heartbeat. For others, it seems unfathomable. I think the biggest thing we need to do is talk about it. Talk about these children, because nobody can say it’s their fault, that they don’t deserve help. Then conversations around how you’re willing to help, how you’re able to help can happen. Maybe if we talk about it enough the right person will hear; the person who can do something. I’m all about action and deeds, but those actions need to start by getting a little fired up. Spreading awareness is as good an action as anything. So here’s a letter, written by parents in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on behalf of the children of their country. This is just one country, but unfortunately their story is common.

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/04/22/letter-parents-eastern-democratic-republic-congo-un-security-council