THE LUXURY OF LIVING IN DENIAL

Few things have ever distressed me more than the above photo.

I first saw it when it was published in 1993. It was taken in Sudan by a South African photographer named Kevin Carter, who won a Pulitzer Prize for the shot. Carter committed suicide in July 1994.

He left this note:
"I am depressed ... without phone ... money for rent ... money for child support ... money for debts ... money!!! ... I am haunted by the vivid memories of killings and corpses and anger and pain ... of starving or wounded children, of trigger-happy madmen, often police, of killer executioners...I have gone to join Ken [recently deceased colleague Ken Oosterbroek] if I am that lucky."


A LUXURY WE CAN'T AFFORD

As horrific as Carter's photograph is, it is a bludgeoning reminder that, while many of us live and eat well, millions on this planet don't. We are so well off, in fact, that we have the luxury of living in denial and not facing these things -- if we choose to exercise it.

But the world can't afford to have those in a position to do the most, doing nothing.

And please, this is not about obsessing over depressing issues. All that is needed is to avoid the other extreme of completely shutting them out.

If it was your child in the photo, would you want the world to care? To help? Would you be okay with people in more affluent countries exercising their luxury of living in denial?

If Carter's photo made you uncomfortable, that's the least of the problems at hand.


"BUT WHAT CAN I DO?"

Activism doesn't have to be your life's work. But you should be aware of what's going on in the world; you should internalize it to some extent; and you should do something to help make the world a better place. Sound fair? Nothing extreme about that.

And it is the height of pessimism and selfishness to say that it's all too much to bear. That the problems are too big. That you feel overwhelmed. Have some guts! Have the fortitude to show compassion! To take some action!

And have the good sense to look at such things from an optimistic perspective: You are in a position to turn negatives into positives -- and feel better about yourself in the process!

So:

* Let our politicians know that poverty in a world with plenty of food and wealth for all is unacceptable.
* Contact aid agencies.
* Sponsor a Third World child. (Go to the World Vision site, for one.)
* Search the Internet for information and educate yourself. (That will take the fear away.)
* Reach out to others. Join discussions.
* Refuse to be weak.


CONCLUSION

Don't turn away from tragedy simply because it is ugly or disturbing. You have a responsibility to never do that. There are "vultures" everywhere and we need to frighten them off, one by one.

You can do it. YOU can do it. You MUST do it.

Take care and show care,
Adrian Zupp

IF YOU FOUND THIS BLOG POST INTERESTING you might like to take a look at CHILD HUNGER -- THE SCOURGE OF THE PLANET.