Wednesday, 30 July 2008

Just one question . . .

When did it become ok to go past a child that is alone, roaming the streets in the middle of the night?
Posted by MoAfrika at 14:38

3 comments:

  1. Anonymous1 August 2008 at 17:43

    It should never be ok.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous5 August 2008 at 08:35

    I guess we have each become so self absorbed with our own issues so much that we ceased, consciously or subconsciously, to care about others. Some of us would like to stop and help but we are often overwhelmed by the extent of the need that we decide to just look the other way as we think our help will just be a drop in the ocean. Big mistake if you ask me because those in need, especially our innocent kids, can do with whatever help there is, no matter how little. I believe every child has a right to be protected from any form of harm. Maybe my poor background has something to do with how I feel about letting kids go hungry. You see I'm one of those who grew up in a child headed household, long before they could even coin that. I know what it feels like to feel unsafe at night although I had shelter. I just can’t imagine the fear felt by children who are made to sleep in the street and eat from rubbish bins.

    Being an African child I was raised to know that all elders were my parents and to an extent the whole community was like my family. That is why I could share the dried bread that my mother sent to us from the madam’s kitchen with other children like myself whose parents were working somewhere while they were left alone. It was almost guaranteed that no older person would hurt a child. I guess what I’m trying to get at is since human beings began to see nothing wrong in having sex with young children, including babies, everything else went wrong. Well, this may be a topic for another day so please bear with me. I'm a woman and it pains me terribly that our children have to suffer this way. Giving birth, painful as it is, is a beautiful experience and I believe we can only celebrate that gift of being able to give life to somebody through sharing love and care.

    So, not only is it not okay to pass a needy child. It is so not African. I have already mentioned that I am from a very poor background. Yet at home – there were two, two-roomed mud houses – there were always cousins and other children staying with us. We shared whatever little food there was. I still don’t understand how my mother managed this, but she did. And from that I learnt to share whatever I have with those in need. And I believe that each of us have been taught that in a way. My mother never told me not to pass a needy child. She demonstrated that like your mother, his mother, her mother did.

    It is not ok, it will never be ok and we shouldn't let it look ok!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous7 August 2008 at 14:10

    its never ok. i'm too scared to stop for anyone. having been thru my wallet being stolen (& they spent big sums of money on my bank card), smash & grab, & various other incidents, i have become heartless? i assist in other ways

    ReplyDelete

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