How do you deal with the starvation of innocent children?

[thistle]

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!)

Why have you started yet another thread on the same subject. You have already started many on this. Do you expect us all to give different responses from those we gave in the other threads?

 

[Timothysis]

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

Including yourself?

 

[TEPO]

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

My obligation is my family and my children, but I still like to help others.

 

[Robert_Sock]

How can this not make anybody angry! It’s inhumane! Animals are treated better.

 

[Robert_Sock]

My obligation is my family and my children, but I still like to help others.

These children are your family… the family of God.

 

[Timothysis]

These children are your family… the family of God.

And again, Robert, what are YOU doing for the least of your brethren?

 

[Robert_Sock]

And again, Robert, what are YOU doing for the least of your brethren?

Why are you so obsessed with what I’m doing? You’re judging me.

 

[Timothysis]

Why are you so obsessed with what I’m doing? You’re judging me.

No, Robert , I am trying to hold you to the standard that you set for everyone except yourself. All many of us here can do is provide for ourselves and our families while helping others as much as we can. To call starvation a crime requires someone to be the perpetrator and according to you, all of society is compliment. I have to wonder if your concern would be as great if you were more affluent.

 

[Robert_Sock]

No, Robert , I am trying to hold you to the standard that you set for everyone except yourself. All many of us here can do is provide for ourselves and our families while helping others as much as we can. To call starvation a crime requires someone to be the perpetrator and according to you, all of society is compliment. I have to wonder if your concern would be as great if you were more affluent.

Starvation is a crime being continually committed by society. Please stick to the topic of this thread. If you want to change the topic, open a new thread.

 

[Timothysis]

Agreed. I look forward to the next variation of the same topic.

 

[Robert_Sock]

Isaiah 58:7-10

Thus says the Lord:
Share your bread with the hungry,
and shelter the homeless poor,
clothe the man you see to be naked
and do not turn from your own kin.
Then will your light shine like the dawn
and your wound be quickly healed over.

Your integrity will go before you
and the glory of the Lord behind you.
Cry, and the Lord will answer;
call, and he will say, ‘I am here.’

If you do away with the yoke,
the clenched fist, the wicked word,
if you give your bread to the hungry,
and relief to the oppressed,
your light will rise in the darkness,
and your shadows become like noon.

 

[thistle]

Starvation is a crime being continually committed by society. Please stick to the topic of this thread. If you want to change the topic, open a new thread.

You still have not answered my question.
Why do you keep opening so many threads on exactly the same topic. If you wish to pursue this topic why don’t you stick to the original thread you opened?

 

[thistle]

Why are you so obsessed with what I’m doing? You’re judging me.

He’s not judging you. You are sort of bullying others on this topic and this poster simply asked what you are actually doing about it since you are the one who opened the thread (for the umpteenth time).

 

[Robert_Sock]

You still have not answered my question.
Why do you keep opening so many threads on exactly the same topic. If you wish to pursue this topic why don’t you stick to the original thread you opened?

This is the Catholic Answers Forum, isn’t it? I’m very sympathetic to those living in extreme poverty, and I ask questions that help me understand how people view this most important topic. I admit that I’m confused how people deal with these atrocities and as a psychologist I’m interested in better understanding various facets of extreme poverty.

Notice that the topic of this thread has to do with understanding how people deal with starvation, and not what people are doing to alleviate it. This specific question has yet to be addressed. I must admit that I’m sort of baffled at the relative apathy. People seem to turn their heads to these crimes against humanity, as if they did not exist.

Look at the numerous postings about topics like abortion and masturbation. Why not complain about these threads too?

 

[Kamaduck]

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!)

I suppose I deal with it the same way I deal with my tendencies towards anxiety and depression in my personal life: I try not to think about things until and unless I can do something about them.

I am angry about this. Probably not as angry as you are (I don’t know that I have much spare energy for anger), but I still realize that there are lots and lots of people who need help. But on the other hand, is there anything I can do about it right now?

No. No, there isn’t. I have no money and no income to give to charity. I can barely keep my grades up. Goodness, some days I can barely bring myself to shower or drive to school. Some days I don’t. And while I don’t think everybody feels exactly like that, I can understand the sentiment upthread that lots of us are just trying to keep our day-to-day lives in order.

I know there’s a battle going on. And if I stopped to think about it at every moment of every day, I would never be able to gain the resources I will need to help fight it. I realize that dwelling on the suffering of others does nothing to alleviate it, and I do the best I can with the time I’ve been given.

I don’t know if that’s what you’re looking for, but that’s my answer.

 

[mommamaree]

Our Holy Father has given us some indication of what we must do. We must conquer gluttony within ourselves, and not be wasteful or extravagant with food. For me, that means cook less food at a time and save leftovers, and teach my children the “take what you need and eat what you take” approach so they also learn to avoid gluttony and wastefulness.
Also, we must actively support the poor and starving people of the world. There is a wonderful organization called Food for the Poor, and it has a monthly giving option called First Friday Fast. We can fast on Fridays, or just on First Friday, and the money we might have spent is donated to feeding starving people of the Western hemisphere, in the Latin American countries mostly. You can set up for whatever level of giving you can afford. Your fast is in solidarity with your brothers and sisters who are hungry, and your treasure is used to nourish them. And that is just one of the many options they have to address this problem of starvation in the modern world. Please consider it. They also have a prayer ministry to get involved in.
When you are taking active steps, through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, you are being obedient to our Lord, performing spiritual and corporal works of mercy, and His peace will be with you. It is true that we could always do more, but you have to start somewhere, and over time you might be able to do more and more.

 

[thistle]

This is the Catholic Answers Forum, isn’t it? I’m very sympathetic to those living in extreme poverty, and I ask questions that help me understand how people view this most important topic. I admit that I’m confused how people deal with these atrocities and as a psychologist I’m interested in better understanding various facets of extreme poverty.

Notice that the topic of this thread has to do with understanding how people deal with starvation, and not what people are doing to alleviate it. This specific question has yet to be addressed. I must admit that I’m sort of baffled at the relative apathy. People seem to turn their heads to these crimes against humanity, as if they did not exist.

Look at the numerous postings about topics like abortion and masturbation. Why not complain about these threads too?

We do. However, in these cases I have no recollection of one person starting numerous threads on these topics whereas you have opened many threads on the same topic as this thread. As it is your thread and your topic why do you not simply continue in the first thread you opened. What possible purpose can be served by keeping on starting threads over and over about the same topic.

 

[mommamaree]

I have read through the whole thread now, and quite frankly, I am disgusted by the blame-shifting the OP is doing. “Society” is not perpetrating a crime, causing people to stave to death. There are THOUSANDS of societies all over this planet, each with its own success and failures. In the USA, my home country, through government welfare programs and charitable organizations, there are very few people who slip through the cracks and end up starving. Many Western nations of the developed world are similar. We also send massive amounts of aid to foreign nations, again via the government or charitable/missionary organizations. So society is NOT the problem. “Other people” are not the problem. There are unjust structures around the world, there are famines and droughts, floods and hurricanes, earthquake and pestilence. These things contribute to extreme poverty and starvation.

Frankly, WHO CARES how we emotionally deal with the psychological stress WE might experience seeing our brother or sister in need. Emotions don’t matter one wit in this battle of life and death. So what if we feel uncomfortable about people starving? THEY are the ones who are starving! It is their distress that we should be concerned about. Therefore, the only just thing to do about this is get off our butts, and DO something. Become a Food for the Poor contributor. Support your local St. Vincent de Paul society. Donate or volunteer for shelters. Fast in solidarity with your starving brethren. When your neighbor or friend of a friend or Joe Schmoe loses his house in a fire, find or offer him shelter and give him clothes and toiletries and maybe even a Bible. When a mother in poverty had a baby, bring her diapers and baby clothes and blankets.

Get out there and DO something instead of bemoaning the state of the world and passing the buck. It is awful self-indulgent to criticize the efforts of others while REFUSING to discuss what you yourself are doing to help.:tsktsk:

 

[Robert_Sock]

I have read through the whole thread now, and quite frankly, I am disgusted by the blame-shifting the OP is doing. “Society” is not perpetrating a crime, causing people to stave to death. There are THOUSANDS of societies all over this planet, each with its own success and failures. In the USA, my home country, through government welfare programs and charitable organizations, there are very few people who slip through the cracks and end up starving. Many Western nations of the developed world are similar. We also send massive amounts of aid to foreign nations, again via the government or charitable/missionary organizations. So society is NOT the problem. “Other people” are not the problem. There are unjust structures around the world, there are famines and droughts, floods and hurricanes, earthquake and pestilence. These things contribute to extreme poverty and starvation.

Frankly, WHO CARES how we emotionally deal with the psychological stress WE might experience seeing our brother or sister in need. Emotions don’t matter one wit in this battle of life and death. So what if we feel uncomfortable about people starving? THEY are the ones who are starving! It is their distress that we should be concerned about. Therefore, the only just thing to do about this is get off our butts, and DO something. Become a Food for the Poor contributor. Support your local St. Vincent de Paul society. Donate or volunteer for shelters. Fast in solidarity with your starving brethren. When your neighbor or friend of a friend or Joe Schmoe loses his house in a fire, find or offer him shelter and give him clothes and toiletries and maybe even a Bible. When a mother in poverty had a baby, bring her diapers and baby clothes and blankets.

Get out there and DO something instead of bemoaning the state of the world and passing the buck. It is awful self-indulgent to criticize the efforts of others while REFUSING to discuss what you yourself are doing to help.:tsktsk:

I’m not asking anybody what they are doing to help prevent starvation, but I’m simply asking how do you deal with it?

 

[Kamaduck]

I’m not asking anybody what they are doing to help prevent starvation, but I’m simply asking how do you deal with it?

We realize that worrying about things doesn’t do any good. That’s true whether it’s worrying about yourself or other people; you have to focus on what you can do today, and not let the suffering in the fallen world keep you from making the little difference that you can.

What you do or do not feel has no effect on whether children eat.