Tsunami, Congo, and Oprah
On Oprah’s show today, she talked to Ricky Martin about his recent trip to the tsunami devastated nation of Thailand. It’s easy to forget about the devastation that occurred less than a year ago, and the media doesn’t do a whole lot to keep us from forgetting. Why do we want to forget?
The other story on Oprah today was about the conflict in the Congo. I’ve been aware of the conflict for some time, but to hear that 4 million people have been killed in the last few years still blows my mind. You can learn more about the conflict in the Congo by reading this article from the BBC.
I wonder how this type of story affects viewers. How many made a donation? How many were bothered enough by what they saw to write in a journal or blog? How many will give up what they have, like Ricky Martin, and make the sacrifice to actually go and volunteer? Did people hear what the tsunami victims said? They were asking for volunteers to build homes and teach children, not just money.
I don’t know about any one else, but I want to help in a real way. In the ways that a lot of people, for one reason or another, choose not to help. The question is, how? But I will find an answer.
