In the September 19, 2005 issue of Time Magazine there was an article concerning the forced abortions and mass sterilizations caried out by the Chinese government (mostly local) on women who already had one child, the limit the law allows. Though the Chinese federal government says that it is not their policy, people who have witnessed and experienced the events are now suffering from health related issues. The scars of carrying a child for 8.5 months only to have nurses strap her to a table while doctors drive a needle into the child to kill it and then take the child's body are unbearable.
The reason they say it occurs, however, is that population increase is a key statistic that could cost a local official any type of promotion. If the province is experiencing population growth due to too many babies being born local officials will not advance their careers.
It is heartbreaking to come to grips with the fact people will sacrafice babies and even the lives of adults for their own ambitions of power. Is it not a violation of human rights to abort babies against the mother's will?
Monday, September 19, 2005
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Katrina
The violence of a storm has produced violence in its chaotic aftermath. It's understandable. But why does the media focus on the violent stories and the shortcomings of rescue workers who have never witnessed anything close to this magnitude? Why are we naturally pulled to the horrible violence of it all as we fail to tell the stories of heroes.
Are there less stories of heroes in this crisis? Does the bad outweigh the good--not in events that have taken place but in the behavior and reaction of people? I don't think so. I believe that there are far more stories of heroism in this crisis than what we have heard.
Its simply easier to find the villains or the victims. The squeaky wheel gets the oil and the louder people get the media. But I have to believe there are heroes who have risked their lives and would make us proud to call them our brothers and sisters.
These are the people who have responded to the violence of the storm with compassion and love and by doing so have calmed the storm for thousands taking the example of the God/Man that once did similar feats of wonder.
Are there less stories of heroes in this crisis? Does the bad outweigh the good--not in events that have taken place but in the behavior and reaction of people? I don't think so. I believe that there are far more stories of heroism in this crisis than what we have heard.
Its simply easier to find the villains or the victims. The squeaky wheel gets the oil and the louder people get the media. But I have to believe there are heroes who have risked their lives and would make us proud to call them our brothers and sisters.
These are the people who have responded to the violence of the storm with compassion and love and by doing so have calmed the storm for thousands taking the example of the God/Man that once did similar feats of wonder.
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