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Reflection to YouTube Video: The conditions in which these displaced civilians are living in are just horrendous. Women are giving birth in the most unsanitary of conditions, as there is no working toilet. Watching this video made me realize how much clean and sanitary living conditions are taken for granted. The mothers who had to trek miles on downtrodden roads and dangerous forests with 3 or more kids and probably no shoes are the outcomes of the ongoing struggle with rebel groups. Millions displaced and thousands killed- that is what defines the Congolese genocide.
I completely agree with you. When I go to houses that aren’t my own, I don’t like walking around barefoot just because I’m not used to their house. I don’t like taking showers at other people’s houses because I feel like their bathrooms aren’t clean to my liking. After reading your comment, it made me think that I should be glad there’s clean water coming from the shower and no bacteria from which I can become sick. While these women have no shoes and have to give birth in such dirty conditions, I’m worried about walking around a friend’s house without shoes. In the grand scheme of things, I should be grateful.
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful passage Ali, and i agree with Kayla that this writing makes us truly(not just denying wanting) grateful for the luxuries we so often take for granted. To see the bloated stomachs of children, stretched over malnourished stomachs, educes not only sadness, but anger at myself for not donating to a cause, etc. Also, to see the people in that village live like animals pains me, as I see the painful repetition of humans being forced to live some way because really, that's all they have to live. It makes me think, what is the wind to their sails, what great truth or nobility has been taken from them that they crave so badly, and then, I read of the genocide that stole away their good will towards man. These people must be incredibly angry, and incredibly broken.
ReplyDeleteKenny Siry
ReplyDeleteIt's horrible what has to happen here. Walking for miles, maybe even more, just to get water that most likely isn't clean. You could die from disease at any moment. The threat of Malaria is always looming and infections can kill at any moment. The smallest cut is your worst enemy. Many women die during childbirth, and many children die without any understanding of what has happened. You're right- we take too many things for granted.