We want to care. We should care. So why do we Ignore the children?
We Ignore When We Are Only Thinking Of Ourselves
Confession: Sometimes I fight with my husband in front of my kids. I don’t want to. It doesn’t make the peaceful home I long to create. So why do I do it?
Because I forget.
I forget they are standing there, while instead feeling all of the feelings as they block clarity and wisdom. I am only thinking of my needs and my rights. Or I am hurt and am defending myself.
What I am not thinking about is my children. My children whom I really hope to create a peaceful home for. We are working on this, but it helps me understand why it is that children always suffer so much during crisis.
Why Do Children Suffer?
Children suffer under the fall-out of power struggles, adults proving they are right, or even ideologies that might change their world for good, but aren’t ready for action. Children suffer because of oppression and evil regimes that don’t value them. They suffer when they are considered collateral damage rather than souls or heads stroke while falling asleep.
When the cost of war is counted beforehand, those in power aren’t usually thinking, “Hum, what about the cost on the children? I love children! Let’s do this differently for the sake of the innocent.”
And even if one side is doing this, often the other side will not.
Stand Up For Suffering Children
This is why I find it important to stand up on behalf of children who are affected by war. With so few considering the interests of these millions on the sidelines, they are in drastic need of intervention.
Case Example:
The Ignored Suffering Children In Syria
Currently, the war surrounding Syria still rages on. The need is astounding. The violence has broken countries, hurting hearts and taking lives.
But they seem like just numbers. Millions of refugees? Millions of children?
Numbers.
Not real people. Not real children.
I look at the boys on these pictures, per usual translating their bright faces to represent the sheer numbers I can’t begin to comprehend. And I still feel indifferent and numb.
How can I feel so callused?
Why Do We Ignore Suffering Children?
I have a rather stuffy, full of scholarly vocabulary, book I’ve only skimmed through. Living High & Letting Die: Our illusion of Innocence, written by an New York University professor, Peter Unger, is a study about the disconnect of how we can know so much about global suffering while remaining indifferent.
And you know what? Although it covers theories of how we can overcome our indifference, Unger tells us he really has no solutions to offer.
It ends with the same idea I am passing on to you: despite our feelings, we can still act. Even more specifically, we can still give. Even if it is only $35 to care for a family of refugees who can’t work while running for their lives.
It is a start.
I can’t make myself care as much as I really should, as if this girl was in my family, a daughter of a friend. But if I am thinking logically, I can choose to have less of what I like–drinks, the best internet subscription, extracurricular activities . . . to love those like them.
I know if I was in their shoes, I would be praying that someone would do the same for my family.
Let’s do for these little ones as we’d like done for our own children.
Although there are many great organizations helping suffering children, consider donating through World Help’s refugee fund, where $35 cares for the holistic needs of refugees.
DONATE HERE:
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I highly recommend checking out this article to help us not ignore suffering children, “Dear Syria, I Haven’t Forgotten You Yet“ written by another advocate for children via World Help.
Living As A Refugee | Viyan’s Story from World Help on Vimeo.
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Images on this post are courtesy of World Help. This post is not sponsored or compensated.
