Mariannet Amper, 12 year old Filipino, hung herself because her family was too poor, too poor for her to attend school properly, too poor to travel to attend Mass, so poor that even other poor children won't play with her ... just too poor.
I want to think that the Philippine Daily Inquirer which reported this exaggerated some details.
But the stark truth is the poor are always with us.
It is one thing to be numbed by reports of poor children starving and malnourished.
It is quite another to read of one who takes her own life due to despair of a bleak future.
The report claimed the final straw was the 100 peso (S$3) needed for a school project which her parents couldn't readily afford.
Just S$3 ... if any guilt will stop me from indulging myself, this is it.
Maybe guilt is not the best way to start a resolution, but rationalising it is not an excuse to stop.
Right, no more Tiramisu for you.
ReplyDeleteOff-Topic:
ReplyDeleteGood Lord! Snowy, is that Elmo I see in your Avatar?
It's 2 Elmos ...
ReplyDeletearrrgh...
ReplyDelete"The poor you will always have with you."
ReplyDeleteI know Jesus meant this in a totally different context, but this is the first reply that sprang to mind. Doesn't help matters though, does it? Sigh.
The same words went through my mind ...
ReplyDeleteI think it is suppose to help one think ... and act ...
No criticism involved here, just honest appraisal, that the Bible isn't exactly helpful when it comes to the "acting" part. I guess that's what God gave us brains for!! Doesn't want to spoon feed us ideas, which is a good thing too.
ReplyDeleteWhy the Elmos in your display pic, sir?
ReplyDeleteAngry Boar rightly pointed out that my real life appearance is far from the shadow skulking assassin wielding swords ... so I just chose something that is more ... *me* now ...
ReplyDeleteLOL...Elmo is not what comes to mind when I think of you/your persona...
ReplyDeletehhhrrrrmmmmpppphhhhh, okay, sometimes I'm more of a Bert, or Ernie, or Cookie Monster, even Kermit, but never Grover, I hope ...
ReplyDelete*pengsan*
ReplyDeleteNo Big Bird??
Not even when he becomes... Super Grover?
ReplyDeleteEverything went downhill when elmo came on board. Days were when Mr Cooper was still around. Sigh.
My favourites: Bert and Ernie (everyone's favourite gay couple), Cookie Monster, Two-headed Monster, Kermit and his newsflash and all the wonderful songs and great segments. Thank God for Youtube.
There is of course the Muppet Show, ah memories...
Ha! It's Mr. Hooper!!!
ReplyDeleteElmo has always been on board, but he only became a headliner a decade ago.
Bert & Ernie aren't gay, they just live together like Morecambe and Wise ...
Well, Sesame Street has moved on since ... the younger generation don't know much about Guy Smiley, but through Elmo and the new characters like Zoe and Rositta, the young ones are still enjoying it.
For the rest of us, it's still just nostalgia ...
And no, never Grover ...
I just learned that the Cookie Monster no longer eats cookies but... brace yourself... vegetables instead.
ReplyDeletehuh???????????????
I need to go lie down for a bit...
As a silent protest against the vegefied Cookie Monster and a counterpoint against Snowy's Elmo, I have changed my Avatar.
ReplyDeleteI think Cookie Monster still eats cookie ... but as part of health educator to all the children watching Sesame Street, he has learned to moderate his intake and follows a more balanced diet.
ReplyDeleteYes, sad when read the news. ET bought the Newpaper and we were in KL when reading the papers. Saved the papers for the boys to read. Got them to read immediately when we were home. They must be aware that there are children who love school and yet too poor to attend school, but it is also important to understand that life is precious.
ReplyDeleteOh I love Bert and Ernie too... I used to look forward to watch them in B&W TV… My boys used to watch Sesame Street too since toddlers. Then there's the Dracula Count.. *sneeze* ONE sneeze! *sneeze* TWO sneezes!! *sneeze* THREE sneezes!!! HAHAHAHA!!!! …
And I suppose that’s how they got the interest in Mathematics.
Moon, the name of the character is Count von Count, not Count Dracula ...
ReplyDeleteWhen the kids are older, I will go through these blog entries with them.
ReplyDeletehaha! thanks ya.. lost touch already.. nowadays my kids only watch sponge Bob, high school musical, and anything from Star Cable's disney channel..
ReplyDelete