MESSAGE BOARD
Experts say the solutions to the annual loss of 8.8 million lives to preventable diseases, infections, and childbirth complications are within reach. Boston.com users share their thoughts on how to begin to solve this global health tragedy.
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I would like to thank the Globe for publishing this artile and hope they keep featuring this kind of topic every single week! As for all of you whining about how you didn't like the picture -- imagine having to see the body in real life! The truth is, if you don't want to see a poor person in America, you don't have to, we hide our poor very well, all you have to do is avoid certain areas/neighborhoods/towns. In 1996, in order to make way for the Centennial Olympics stadium, Atlanta "evicted" all the homeless people from that depressed area because it would make a bad impression on all its expected visitors. In other nations, you live side by side with the poor, sick and dying. There are tents pitched outside the wealthiest homes. It is so easy for us, in our cozy living rooms, to decree that others' lives are not worth the same as ours. As someone else wrote -- shame on you! What an unAmerican thought! To the poster who called innocent people in Iraq "scum" to nuke -- shame on you as well! The country one is born to does not make one a more deserving person. We spend more on healthcare per capita and have greater infant mortality than nearly every European country and Australia -- what if those countries said "well, then they deserve to die because they don't have it together like we do"? Ludicrous, right? Whatever happened to "do unto others as you would have done unto you"? I don't recall state lines and border issues being a factor in how we treat our fellow human beings.
saima, malden
This was a well-done piece of work, but it neglects to address the healthcare nightmare the Bush administration's assault on international family planning will have in these same countries. In one of his first acts as president, Bush withdrew funding from international family planning organizations that provide abortions among their other services. When performed correctly, abortion is one of the safest medical procedures around. However, Bush's action puts women's healthcare providers in a real bind. Lose funding while providing a needed medical service, or jeopardize patient health. I only hope this emerging story angle generates significant coverage.
Lisa, Weston
Here is a bulletin, life is tough. The problems exist in these countries,in large part, through their own doing. Too many people ?, STOP HAVING SO MANY KIDS. The United States is not responsible for subsidizing their abducation of responsibility.
john, boston
BENI, Congo (AP) -- Allegations are being made in the African state of Congo that rebels have started to resort to cannibalism. Amuzati Nzoli says he watched from a hiding place in bushes as rebel soldiers killed and ate his six-year-old nephew. Accounts like the one told by the middle-aged Pygmy are sweeping through northeastern Congo. Human rights activists and investigators from the United Nations say rebels cooked and ate at least a dozen Pygmies and an undetermined number of people from other tribes during recent fighting with rival insurgents Enough already with worrying about these people. They don't deserve help from anyone since they can't help themselves. No good can come from giving aid to a population that needs a natural checks and balances to keep them from over populating themselves. Why must the liberals of the US always look for hand outs? I never see any help coming back our way, nor any thanks from any countries that are forever in debt to our nation. Let the natural selection take care of itself, the intellectual part of the population will survive and the rest can become a part of the past and lift the burden on the rest of the world.
Jarrod, Halifax
Jason form Halifax - I couldn't have said it better myself.
Tess, Hebron, NH
All of those stories are touching, but shouldn't we be more concerned about the health care problems here, than in other countries? Why is it the U.S.'s job to always supply food and health care to other countries? We need to take care of our own first, there are many Americans who are suffering from malnutrition and poor health care, many in which have served our county proud and no one cares!!!!!!
Dan, Newton
Why is it our problem? For those of you who blame us and say we exploit the populations in these countries I say your crazy. How do we exploit Africa? It doesn't have anything to exploit. They are responsible for thier own problems. Tell them to stop having kids and overthrow the government who keeps holding them down. I loved the statement by one poster that asked where was the Globe when Clinton was in office. I suppose George Bush is responsible for all of this. It must be his thirst for oil, yeah that's it. You liberals are fools and anyone with half an education can see right through you. I see you took the post offline. I wonder why. You must have started to get too many posts that you don't agree with. Typical Globe policy. No freedom of speech in your paper. P.S. Giving up the missle defense system is a stupid idea. If we do we will be nuked by someone eventually.
Ed, Boston
To suggest diverting money away from missile defense to humanitarian aid is an ignorant comment. Why do you think humanitarian aid is needed? It stems from man's immortality. Man seeks power. It is what one seeks to do w/ this power that is of the utmost concern. It would be a wonderful world in which there was no war or destruction, but unfortunately there is and will always be a struggle for power. Therefore, war is inevitable. One can only hope that those w/ the power seek to improve global health rather than destory it. Do you think that Saddam has the African AIDS epidemic in mind and will be sending millions in aid to Africa in the coming year. No, of course not. In fact, he tortures his own people to gain power and influence. In an ideal "civilized society," there should be a constant struggle to maintain "peace" and create an environment in which to improve or sustain health. We must acknowledge the selfish desires of man and that it is these desires that cause suffering. Of course the man vs. man conflict over power is evident but is the man vs. himself conflict that is most pertenant. One must put aside selfish, evolutionary instincts to always benefit himself in order to better society. We are fighting our own worst weaknesses. We must not shift the blame to others. Look w/in yourself and analyze your own behavior. Advocacy should not only be criticism of others' actions, reflect upon yourself and then act!
AG, Montreal
