This mother looks joyful despite the poverty she lives in. This magazine says 15 steps to a happier life - do you think humility or self-denial or giving to the poor are in that list?
SELF - yes yes we must always be thinking of our SELF... never mind others it's YOU that matters most...
Buy Buy Buy Shop Shop Shop never can pas up a sale you know - that's a sacrilige
Family life in a spoiled America - no dad's but lots of "stuff" A nice comfy bed for poochie to sleep on
No bed for these two little ones to sleep on. They are street children. Yet, notice how big brother lets the little one lay his head upon his arm as a pillow. He has nothing to give but he gives himself.
Poochie's got a nice little pad while these boys have a box.
No box - just hard stone.
No box - just hard stone.
WOW - the American IDEAL!!! "A boy and a girl and we're done" That's what dreams are made of - a coordinating set, boy and girl, and just enough expendable income to take plenty of nice vacations and such. Got to get away from all that stress you know.
These little ones must learn very early to fend for themselves.
Shopaholics shop til they drop for that "perfect pair of shoes" while this 8 year old girld "shops" for anything of value in a garbage dump all day.
To the left here the baby pictured with the green knee pads on is an ad. The ad is for those knee pads. They ACTUALLY sell knee pads to parents concerned about the wear and tear all that crawling will do to baby's knees! In contrast, this baby is a toddler who lives at a dump. The photographer who took the pic stated that many of the children there are naked and that they are always putting things in their mouth from the dump that most people wouldn't even consider touching. They suffer from many mouth sores and skin infections. Don't think his mom is too concerned with knee pads eh?
The titles speak for themselves.
Americans spend $21 Billion dollars a year on toys. Fewer than 4% of the world's children are American, but American kids consume more than 40% of the world's toys. 80% of toys in the USA are made in China's (communists) Pearl River Delta.
Here a short excerpt rom an abc news report titled:
A dog's Life Is Looking Better and Better
Why Americans Spend Big Bucks on Their Pets
By Ned Potter
The W Hotel near Times Square offers a special room service menu, monogrammed beds, bath robes and a masseuse, and has a psychologist on call if the need arises.
That's not just for you. It's for your dog, if you bring one along. ...
Numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau suggest that Gabby's first class treatment is part of a growing phenomenon in America. In the last ten years, the percentage of households with pets has remained relatively stable, but the amount of money people spend on their pets has doubled. Last year it was more than $34 Billion. That is more than Americans spend on sporting goods,candy,jewelry,toys or shoes. ...
"Dogs are the new children, as far as we're concerned," said John Ryan who last year began publishing The New York Dog Magazine.
read the entire article here http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/print?id=601799
Also, Americans spend an average of $5.6 Billion on Super Bowl related items every year. Gotta have the right snacks and a big screen tv you know, or the Super Bowl just wouldn't be the same. 16 million teenagers in the U.S. have their very own cell phone. $1 Billion dollars a year is spent on weight loss programs. Americans spend $6.5 Billion dollars on manicures/pedicures annually. In a Srapbooking In America survey the organization found that American scapbookers spent an average of $2.5 Billion on supplies in 2006.
Now, I know that many people will get VERY defensive after reading these stats. They'll say "hey I love my pet and there's nothing wrong with that" or "there's nothing wrong with having a wholesome hobby like scrapbooking" .... This is true. There is NOT anything wrong with the money spent on these "extras" by itself. Americans are hardworking people generally and they deserve to relax as they see fit from time to time. The immorality of these expenses comes from the fact that many of us do NOT give to the poor as much as we could give. It is very true that Americans are the most financially generous people on earth. we give more money to the poor and needy worldwide than any other country. Most of this giving is done with private donations and non-government run charities. This is a Good Thing!! But we could be doing SO MUCH MORE! We do over indulge in a lot of nonsense it seems. Don't we?
Lent is right around the corner. We must really reflect on the suffering all around us in the world. That's why these images are so important. We need to see how horrible our brothers and sisters lives' are and in stark contrast how arrogant and self-indulgent our own lives have become here in the U.S. We need to change this. We need to give to Catholic relief Services or The Christian foundation for Children and Aging. These are two great organizations which Tim and I have been involved with now for years. They do great things for the poor worldwide. Secondly, we need to rethink our priorities. Does little Janie really need a hundreth Polly Pocket? Does little Johnie really need a tenth pair of shoes? Hasn't God been so very good to us? How do we repay Him for His tremendous goodness and generousity? I try to remember His words..."If you did it to the least of my brothers you did it to me"
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