To be a Child in this Other-than-third-world Country
by Some random thoughts on a Black Saturday.
A crying child — crying from hunger pains. Another child — gaunt, cachectic, looking to all the world like a holocaust victim in a WWII concentration camp, but what’s worse is that this child ISN’T crying. Her young eyes are devoid of any emotional torment, because even as young as she is, she has, on some unconscious level, accepted her fate. Perhaps she is actually welcoming death — seeing it as an end to the pain and misery of her squalid existence in this other-than-third-world country.
Sadder yet is the fact that she isn’t alone. Oh yes, she’s alone insofar as not having parents or any responsible adult to care for her, but there are others here similar to her. Others too weak to move their hands to their mouths, even if there was any food to be had — which there isn’t. Too weak even to put sound to the air coursing weakly through cracked and bleeding lips — not enough energy to call for help, even if any were available — again, which there isn’t.
These children are visually difficult to discern from the garbage in whose environs they stay, and sometimes clothe themselves with as well in feeble attempts at warding off the deadly cold that nightly claims ever more of their numbers.
As she lay dying, this little girl’s last mental image was of a poster she once saw of a luxury yacht, and she thought…
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Rhodora Bande also writes at Online Writing Ideas
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Post Commentgalore
On April 23, 2011 at 10:57 am
poor kids
lian rosa
On April 23, 2011 at 11:04 am
This is so sad. Poverty surely affects children the worst.
CHIPMUNK
On April 23, 2011 at 11:18 am
poverty stricken countries have the worst and it sad to that the children are so helpless
researchanalyst
On April 23, 2011 at 1:48 pm
thanks for relaying these experiences for others to become aware of.
papaleng
On April 23, 2011 at 9:56 pm
halos tumulo luha ko rito while reading, everyday tanawin na lang yandito sa lkapit bahay kong slum area. so pitiful sight.
LCM Linda
On April 23, 2011 at 11:07 pm
Many people in this world is still suffering from hunger and poverty. Hope people from other parts of the world can give a helping hand.
No Share
On April 23, 2011 at 11:23 pm
This is a normal view in the third world country, at times you get aneasthesized. We bleed at the sight.=(
Sharif Ishnin
On April 24, 2011 at 1:22 am
The elderly are suffering poverty in my country Rhodora. This kind of sad realities makes me tear up sometimes.
Anuradha Ramkumar
On April 24, 2011 at 1:56 am
These are a common sight in developing countries…poor kids.
Peace Poet
On April 24, 2011 at 3:36 am
A very powerful article about the miserable plight of the children afflicted with poverty, and leading a very miserable life.
lapasan
On April 24, 2011 at 9:19 pm
Incidence of poverty and hunger which affect many children is common in many third world countries.
el zorro
On April 24, 2011 at 11:08 pm
heartbreaking but true…
Likha
On May 1, 2011 at 7:58 pm
Children serve as barometers to a country’s economic lot. They are the ultimate victims to societal evils caused by adults. You presented a sad but very real image of the sorry state of our children. Bravo!