Help!
Funny! What with the human beings nowadays? Does it always have to take a God-send major disasters to rip down the barrier between race, religions,rich and poor? But in disasters, help were always being sabotage by some group of people. Why?
In Asia’s Dec2004 Tsunami, not all the money,foods and supplies donated reached the devastated people affected by the catatsrophic phenomenon. I believe much of the donations were taken by people on top…ie the government,people who do not deserve it. I watched with angered of news in television of a man in India washing his house with clean water while many others were crying for clean water to drink. I am sorry to say but this is what is happening. Even Kofi Annan,Secretary General of United Nations criticised some major power countries of not contributing enough. He has to stressed too that many countries donated short of what is being pledge.
In Guatemala landslide recently, villagers have to seached for survivors with their bare hands simply because they are the abandoned group of people,low class I’ll say.
Then there is the earthquake in Pakistan two weeks ago that kills more than 30,000 across three countries. If the earthquake has not done enough damaged, the coming cold winter is going to take more lives of those without food,clothes and shelters. Rural areas separted by mountains made it hard for helicopters to reached and we have to read distressed stories of people crying for help. One being a father walking twelve hours in cold and hunger with only the clothes on his body to reached the city for help to be send to his three daughters who were still in the village only to learn that no one listens. We also heard of women in Pakistan who would not allow men doctors to treat them because of their religion and the government that accept India’s help for helicopter but not the pilots because India and Pakistan is still in war over Kashmir. Is the war more important than sending help to your people? Also, Al-Qaeda second in command urge all Muslims and Islamic charity organisations to lend a help but what is he doing about it? Hello….Al-Qaeda,please stop all the terrorists work.
TheStar newspaper reporter SHAHANAAZ HABIB quoted," The unfortunate truth is that politics can get in the way of humanity and saving lives.
In Aceh, two weeks after the tsunami, I left with a chill in my heart.
In Pakistan, my heart bled."
When are we going to see humans through the hearts regardless of race and religions? It’s all in the mind. Take away the race, religions and materialism and we’ll see the purest heart and souls of all.
October 23rd, 2005 at 9:32 pm
It’s complicated really - these human mentalities. Let me share an example: At the immigration office, while I was waiting my turn to process my passport application, next to me sat a group of 2 middle-aged ladies and a teenage girl. They were discussing travels and such. First, they talked about how bad Air Asia services are (though they didn’t relate it to the obvious price difference in Air Asia tickets and tickets of airlines that offer good in-flight services). Then, the middle-aged ladies talked about not wanting to Bali due to the recent bombings, and - here comes the shock - the teen girl had to cheek to say that the bombings weren’t that bad - only tens of people died… it was ok what. I stared at her a few times for the few times she repeated this cold and inhuman observation. If I hadn’t controlled myself, I would have said this to her - even if only 1 person died, but that person is you, would you still say it’s ok? It made me sick to think that such a young girl can have such discompassionate views on tragedies.
We can only do our best not to judge seriousness of tragedies by statistics of lost lives, and to teach our children to value life - not only their own, but others’ as well.
October 24th, 2005 at 1:45 am
It always happen that when we’re not the victim, we seem to be ignorant of others feelings. Also with so many tragedies happening, we’re simply numbed with the figure but I hope she meant good but didn’t know how to put her words….as in 10 ppl is not as bad as the 1st Bali bombing what…still it’s a shocking news to us!