One
Night before last, John and I watched the Diane Sawyer interview with Brad Pitt. I learned quite a bit about him, including the fact that his name generates more than 2 million hits on Google. Well, here's one more, Brad!
Although the promos for the interview hawked the fact that Diane was going to ask the burning question: "Why did your marriage end?" (something I knew he wouldn't answer -- I mean, come on!) the bigger purpose of his appearance on the show was evident right away. As a spokesman for the non-partisan charity group ONE.org, Brad wanted to bring some attention to the terrible domestic/health crisis in Africa. More importantly, he was there to shed light on how each of us can make a difference in the fight to end extreme hunger and the spread of AIDS in this impoverished nation.
Did you know that for the cost of ONE music CD--just $16--you could fund ONE FULL YEAR's education (tuition, books, uniform) for an African child? And these are kids who want dearly to go to school. Watching the footage from Africa, I was sickened with myself for all the money I waste every day on frivolous things I don't really need.
A couple of years ago, Oprah did a TV special about the children of Africa. It was humbling and heartbreaking. I watched it with a lump in my throat the whole time--both for the suffering these children endure, and the simple joy they take in things like a new toy or a pair of shoes. These kids--mostly AIDS orphans--literally walked miles to attend the "party" Oprah threw for them. I'll never forget that glimpse into their lives, and I wish Oprah would air the special every year.
Yes, there is poverty and need in our country, too. But not like this. I hope we never know this kind of anguish, and I think we have a responsibility--not only as one of the richest nations in the world, but also as feeling, caring human beings--that we don't turn away in apathy when we see our neighbors suffering.
It's a downer post today, I know. But sometimes life isn't all romance and flowers. And even this can have a happy ending! We have to start somewhere . . .
Although the promos for the interview hawked the fact that Diane was going to ask the burning question: "Why did your marriage end?" (something I knew he wouldn't answer -- I mean, come on!) the bigger purpose of his appearance on the show was evident right away. As a spokesman for the non-partisan charity group ONE.org, Brad wanted to bring some attention to the terrible domestic/health crisis in Africa. More importantly, he was there to shed light on how each of us can make a difference in the fight to end extreme hunger and the spread of AIDS in this impoverished nation.
Did you know that for the cost of ONE music CD--just $16--you could fund ONE FULL YEAR's education (tuition, books, uniform) for an African child? And these are kids who want dearly to go to school. Watching the footage from Africa, I was sickened with myself for all the money I waste every day on frivolous things I don't really need.
A couple of years ago, Oprah did a TV special about the children of Africa. It was humbling and heartbreaking. I watched it with a lump in my throat the whole time--both for the suffering these children endure, and the simple joy they take in things like a new toy or a pair of shoes. These kids--mostly AIDS orphans--literally walked miles to attend the "party" Oprah threw for them. I'll never forget that glimpse into their lives, and I wish Oprah would air the special every year.
Yes, there is poverty and need in our country, too. But not like this. I hope we never know this kind of anguish, and I think we have a responsibility--not only as one of the richest nations in the world, but also as feeling, caring human beings--that we don't turn away in apathy when we see our neighbors suffering.
It's a downer post today, I know. But sometimes life isn't all romance and flowers. And even this can have a happy ending! We have to start somewhere . . .
posted by --TSJ at 10:05 AM
2 Comments:
hey im 13 and i found your post from AOL Music. i spend 20 dollars on dvds each week but i don't even have time to watch them and to think what that money could do for somebody else made me feel sick. i just wanted to say i totally agree with you and that might have been a downer post but there might have been somebody who realised what they could do and made some poor childs day a little brighter
Hi, Maddie! :)
Thanks for reading my blog and offering comment. Awareness is the first step toward action, so you are way ahead of most people!
((hugs)) to you, sweetie.
--Tina
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