How do you deal with the starvation of innocent children?

[Robert_Sock]

I hate to dwell on negative things, but how do you deal with all the extreme poverty in the world? Did you know that 3.5 million innocent children die of starvation each and every year? This is on par with the starvation of Jews during the Holocaust! People tell me that I should not let it bother me, but those types of statements cause me to become all the more irritated. I simply cannot be happy in a world where these types of atrocities take place; I actually feel some of their pain and suffering! Please take a few minutes to reflect on what I just said, and tell me how you deal with it?

(Why are unnecessary pain, suffering and death so hidden from the sight of people? It’s a hideous crime against humanity!!! Ask yourself: What are we doing to try and correct these types of atrocities? The masses of people are unaware of the severity. Why? Few mention it. Why? It’s not just their political and economic system; it’s that the world has been silenced!)

 

[edwest2]

Robert,

I do what I can. When I see people holding signs that read “Hungry. Homeless. Please help.” I help them. Depending on where you are, it may be wise to do this with more than one person. Since I’m familiar with the areas I go to, I don’t feel afraid, but caution is advised. Put some money in the ‘poor box’ in Church. Contact your local parish and ask what you could do. Jesus told us that the poor would always be with us, so we are to do what we can. And some reading this are poor as well.

biblehub.com/john/12-8.htm

Focusing on the negative is the wrong way to deal with this problem.

Peace,
Ed

 

[Robert_Sock]

Robert,

I do what I can. When I see people holding signs that read “Hungry. Homeless. Please help.” I help them. Depending on where you are, it may be wise to do this with more than one person. Since I’m familiar with the areas I go to, I don’t feel afraid, but caution is advised. Put some money in the ‘poor box’ in Church. Contact your local parish and ask what you could do. Jesus told us that the poor would always be with us, so we are to do what we can. And some reading this are poor as well.

biblehub.com/john/12-8.htm

Focusing on the negative is the wrong way to deal with this problem.

Peace,
Ed

Would you feel angry that this being an ongoing crime is almost completely overlooked by society? We already know that defeating these atrocities will take a collective effort, even if you’re another Bill Gates.

I would be interested to learn why focusing on the negative is the wrong approach?

 

[Corki]

Would you feel angry that this being an ongoing crime is almost completely overlooked by society? We already know that defeating these atrocities will take a collective effort, even if you’re another Bill Gates.

I would be interested to learn why focusing on the negative is the wrong approach?

I guess “overlooked” depends on your circle. In my parish, my local community and my employment, there is a great deal of attention paid to the task of alleviating poverty. I can’t say I am angry, but at times the task seems overwhelming.

 

[edwest2]

Would you feel angry that this being an ongoing crime is almost completely overlooked by society? We already know that defeating these atrocities will take a collective effort, even if you’re another Bill Gates.

I would be interested to learn why focusing on the negative is the wrong approach?

Back in the 1950s, America had enough surplus grain, and the capacity, to grow enough to feed many of those starving people. So, a Foreign Aid program was started, but the population keeps climbing, especially in Lesser Developed Countries (LDCs). All we can do is what we can do. A billion dollars would go a long way to sending experts and equipment to improve irrigation and to teach better growing techniques in these LDCs for higher crop yields and to provide access to clean water. I think we need to focus on those aid workers who are out there. Groups like Doctors Without Borders and others. Focus on the good that is being done.

Peace,
Ed

 

[Used2beSherryG]

Why the world seems ignorant of the actual starvation of millions is because the world belongs to the devil in many ways. Just as so many babies are murdered in the womb and people seem ignorant of this reality, each of us will have to answer for our actions or lack thereof some day. Do what you can personally manage yourself to alleviate this injustice, and call attention to it as you can do so. I am appalled to see people in such a pitiable state, too. My small contributions to the church, the local food bank, and support each month for a family in Guatemala is what I can personally do at this time. It pains me to see so many overweight people in this country, knowing how many are starving around the world. it seems to be a distribution problem as much as anything else. Our efforts to send food abroad are often thwarted by criminals or corrupt governments who actually want to eliminate whole groups of people. Yes, it is so very sad. Just do what you can, that is all anyone can do. And pray for the alleviation of the suffering.

 

[tawny]

Robert,

I do what I can. When I see people holding signs that read “Hungry. Homeless. Please help.” I help them. Depending on where you are, it may be wise to do this with more than one person. Since I’m familiar with the areas I go to, I don’t feel afraid, but caution is advised. Put some money in the ‘poor box’ in Church. Contact your local parish and ask what you could do. Jesus told us that the poor would always be with us, so we are to do what we can. And some reading this are poor as well.

biblehub.com/john/12-8.htm

Focusing on the negative is the wrong way to deal with this problem.

Peace,
Ed

Agree. Well stated.

 

[Robert_Sock]

What would you think Christ would do? If He was so negative towards the Jewish leaders of His time not lifting a finger to lessen people’s burden, imagine the anger He would likely have for our greedy, power hungry and prestige seekers who ignore His little ones?

 

[PietroPaolo]

What would you think Christ would do? If He was so negative towards the Jewish leaders of His time not lifting a finger to lessen people’s burden, imagine the anger He would likely have for our greedy, power hungry and prestige seekers who ignore His little ones?

I think Christ would tell us to help out brothers and sisters who are hungry (“as you do it to the least of these you do it to me”) but would also recognize that “you will always have the poor with you.”

We are called to help as much as we can, but the problem will not be solved until the Second Coming.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

What would you think Christ would do? If He was so negative towards the Jewish leaders of His time not lifting a finger to lessen people’s burden, imagine the anger He would likely have for our greedy, power hungry and prestige seekers who ignore His little ones?

Who are the greedy, power hungry, and prestige seekers who ignore His little ones?

I would venture to say that all of us reading this message, or perusing these forums, and the vast majority of people ‘outside’, have all seen and heard about poverty. They’ve read of it in the paper, seen it on TV, heard it preached from their churches, seen it ‘on-line’. Many will send generously when it is brought to their immediate attention (think Hurricane Sandy, and yes, there were hungry children). Many hear about something from their church, like the Heifer project and do it at least once; others take it on as a yearly ‘Christmas present’.

And of course, along with the global starvation, people quietly do things in their own home towns --soup kitchens, ‘Stuff a Bus’, food drives, etc.

They pray.

They educate their children to help, and now we’re seeing more young people (and I mean young) getting involved as well.

We’ll probably always have to keep aware, as Christians, and keep ‘preaching the news’ about helping the poor (we certainly have a major advocate in Pope Francis), but the message IS out there. What we can NOT do is either decide that it is too much for us to handle and fall into despair, cursing the ‘hard-hearted’ and breathing fire and brimstone and ‘prejudging’ others as ‘not doing enough’ . . . or else to decide that ‘it’s being dealt with to the maximum already’ and let ‘other people’ handle it because "they don’t need MY help’.

 

[yosephdaviyd]

The only thing you can do is do something about it. God made us action figures for a reason. People are not dying of starvation because they don’t want to eat. They are dying because we aren’t there to feed them. Therefore, do what you can do, not what you can’t do.

 

[garn9173]

The only thing you can do is do something about it. God made us action figures for a reason. People are not dying of starvation because they don’t want to eat. They are dying because we aren’t there to feed them. Therefore, do what you can do, not what you can’t do.

Exactly. In my Parish, the last Sunday of every month is a reverse collection. As the announcements are being read, the hospitality ministers pass out the baskets with slips of paper. Take one or two slips and bring the items on the slips the following Sunday for the local food pantry.

Remember Band-Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas? and the United State’s We Are The World from the 80’s with all proceeds going to feed starving kids in Ethiopia?

In addition, there are food drives all the time around the Des Moines metro. It’s not like people have their collective heads buried in the sand when it comes to hunger.

 

[glendab]

You feed them. I give to places that do so. I give groceries to my parish that get funneled into the food cupboard for local hungry persons and I give money to others who do the feeding in soup kitchens and overseas.

I thank God for all those tireless workers in the Church and outside the church who work day and night giving food to the hungry and making sure it gets to them where it is needed when it is needed. It is a ton of work most of it done by voluteers. I’ve worked in food cupboards and soup kitchens myself.

Oh but since this is an apologetics place perhaps I could ask who feeds the guilty kids? Is there different line at the soup kitchen for them? LOL. (Sorry it was too obvious.)

Glenda

 

[Robert_Sock]

It’s nice of society to let charitable organizations donate, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to what is needed. Society as a whole is largely apathetic, as is most of mass media. The rich man (that’s all of us in the West) and Lazarus is a fine analogy that I think Christ takes very seriously. Even EWTN is to blame in that they are blind to these atrocities! EWTN has MOP, and they are to be deeply commended, but the hard facts and the need for action are largely absent.

Starvation, it seems, has become a purely political concern, and not humanitarian. I wonder about the Jews during the holocaust, and how we would react if it was happening today?

 

[mikekle]

The amount of perfectly good food going into the trash in the US alone could end hunger all over the world. I see this every day in my job, our convenience store/gas stations serve pizza, hotdogs, burgers, and they are very high quality, each store has their own mini restaurant to prepare this food, but all food not bought within 2 hours MUST be thrown in the garbage, they are not even allowed to give it away!!! I think this is absolutely ridiculous and those creating such laws should be fired and charged with crimes. I have eaten plenty of food older than 2 hours old and it was just as good as when it came out of the oven.

I usually visit about 5-6 stores a day and in every single store, they have big garbage cans full of perfectly good food, but was not bought within 2 hours, so it goes straight to the dumpster!!! This makes me so mad, I try to avoid even looking at this garbage can!

And this is just one store, I know this same thing is taking place in every other store and restaurant in the state/country!!!

Ive written letters about this, but not sure if the enemy is the health dept, the city, or the company itself.

Whoever is to blame, I think they need to be exposed for what they are doing, I think if more people knew what was going on they would be outraged and demand things to be changed.

 

[underacloud]

The amount of perfectly good food going into the trash in the US alone could end hunger all over the world. I see this every day in my job, our convenience store/gas stations serve pizza, hotdogs, burgers, and they are very high quality, each store has their own mini restaurant to prepare this food, but all food not bought within 2 hours MUST be thrown in the garbage, they are not even allowed to give it away!!! I think this is absolutely ridiculous and those creating such laws should be fired and charged with crimes. I have eaten plenty of food older than 2 hours old and it was just as good as when it came out of the oven.

I usually visit about 5-6 stores a day and in every single store, they have big garbage cans full of perfectly good food, but was not bought within 2 hours, so it goes straight to the dumpster!!! This makes me so mad, I try to avoid even looking at this garbage can!

And this is just one store, I know this same thing is taking place in every other store and restaurant in the state/country!!!

Ive written letters about this, but not sure if the enemy is the health dept, the city, or the company itself.

Whoever is to blame, I think they need to be exposed for what they are doing, I think if more people knew what was going on they would be outraged and demand things to be changed.

This has to do with food safety. It is not a particularly relevant concern to the issues at hand; it’s not like any of this leftover food can be transported to the third world anyway - once it is cooked it is either eaten or discarded for safety reasons. Once cooked and over 2 hours old, it is no longer “perfectly good food” but a ticking microbial timebomb.

The questions of poverty are largely political (bad/corrupt govenrments) and to do with wealth distribution (AKA greed). Those of us in the west can help most by supporting our Church charities and through prayer. Some of us are called to other forms of service (including overseas mission), but most of us not - we have family responsibilities. The Church as a whole, with each of us playing our parts, is Christ’s answer to poverty.

 

[Timothysis]

It’s nice of society to let charitable organizations donate, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to what is needed. Society as a whole is largely apathetic, as is most of mass media. The rich man (that’s all of us in the West) and Lazarus is a fine analogy that I think Christ takes very seriously. Even EWTN is to blame in that they are blind to these atrocities! EWTN has MOP, and they are to be deeply commended, but the hard facts and the need for action are largely absent.

Starvation, it seems, has become a purely political concern, and not humanitarian. I wonder about the Jews during the holocaust, and how we would react if it was happening today?

I wonder, Robert, just exactly what YOU are doing about the starving multitudes in the world today. How much have you spent annually on a computer, an internet connection and on the medicinal marijuana that you have acknowledged using? You tend to blame everyone else, including EWTN, but I never hear you accept your fair share. Why not?

 

[Robert_Sock]

I wonder, Robert, just exactly what YOU are doing about the starving multitudes in the world today. How much have you spent annually on a computer, an internet connection and on the medicinal marijuana that you have acknowledged using? You tend to blame everyone else, including EWTN, but I never hear you accept your fair share. Why not?

The purpose of this thread has to do with how people deal with starvation. Nowhere was it meant to be a thread about what I do personally.

 

[Timothysis]

The purpose of this thread has to do with how people deal with starvation. Nowhere was it meant to be a thread about what I do personally.

And the purpose of your post is to deflect the blame. When you say “society as a whole is apathetic,” does that include everyone except you? How much blame as individuals are we to be subjected?

 

[Robert_Sock]

And the purpose of your post is to deflect the blame. When you say “society as a whole is apathetic,” does that include everyone except you? How much blame as individuals are we to be subjected?

Anyone who knows the plight of those suffering from starvation but does nothing is guilty.