“There’s a dying world outside your stained-glass windows;depressed people, poor people, addicts and widows.” (Clayton Jennings,
1:33-1:38)
“Cool and comfortable behind their air filters, with their A/C
and recycling, they might not even care that the world was falling apart
outside their windows.” (43) In the book TheWater Knife I read about a guy named Angel driving through Phoenix and he
sees people trying to cover up because of the dust in the air. There was broken
glass, women on the corners and refugees squatting at traffic intersections,
begging for work and cash. He then arrived to Hotel 6 where the as soon as you
walk in everything that happened outside seems to no longer exist.
The past two summers I was able to help lead a team of 5th
graders on a mission trip. When I hear about mission trips and people telling testimonies
about kids who have to walk far water, or they have not eaten in an week, it’s
one thing to hear about it, but it’s another thing to see it. I went on the
mission trip it broke my heart see women
on the streets to provide for their families, and to hear that the only food some people had eaten, was the
food that we had given them during Vacation Bible School. While on the mission
trip it opened my eyes to see how blessed we are, we don’t have to worry about when
our next meal will be or how long we need to manage water to make it through
the week.
In America we have so many things that other countries do not have, but we
are like Angel driving through and just watching it, and as we get into the comfort
of our homes, we forget what is happening in the world around us. “Indonesian officials have said the search for victims of last month's earthquake and tsunami is to end on Thursday - despite the fact hundreds of people are still unaccounted for.”
A lot of Americans are aware of the problems facing citizens of third world countries, but most people aren't empathetic about it. We could all be focused on toilet paper on Trump's shoe while people are dying by the handful for reasons that could be easily fixed. It's really cool that you wrote your blog on this subject.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting how you've made a comparison between Angel, a fictional character, to the attitudes of a whole nation, and you're right. It is so easy for us as Americans to become apathetic towards the struggles and needs of others unless it directly impacts us or our country. Does that make us selfish? I think maybe it doe, but that doesn't make it impossible for us to change, right? Especially in the face of danger, such as, losing our water or other climate change disasters.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed how personal your post is (:
ReplyDeleteIt's one thing to read a fictional story, but a personal story is a lot more powerful. It's sad that Americans are well aware of the challenges many people face, but many don't care enough to do anything about it.
This is a very touching post. I agree with Collin, so many of us are aware of what is happening in other countries and no one seems to want to do anything about it. I'm sure they would be taking action if it was their own country though!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Allison about the value of your post being personal. I have traveled in many poor countries and so the startling contrast of rich and poor is not new to be, but still very disturbing.
ReplyDelete