Poverty at a Snap Shot

I have discovered these three pictures thanks to my G+T teacher.  Each speaks to me with very weighted words.  As we know, a picture is worth a thousand words.  I hope to convey my opinions and feelings the best way possible.  Here they are: (These pictures can be found at the according URL's.)


http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/02/slum_life.html
Jan. 16, 2012. (Muhammed Muheisen/Associated Press)

This picture displays a little girl standing in a muddy alley way in Afghanistan.  This girl happens to be a refugee.  I took note in things that were not instantly noticable.  For instance, who noticed she was wearing only one shoe?  The girl looks to be in rags, and she does not even have enough clothing (poor as it is) to cover her both of her feet.  Also, where are her parents?  Her parents could purposefully have been taken out of the picture, but that would have been done to portray this message.  The message is: both parents (or guardians) are out working unable to chaperone their daughter.  There is no school for her to go to.  She is not old enough to work.  So, she aimlessly roams the streets, through the mud.  From this picture, one can gather that children are still harshly affected by poverty.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/07/poverty_within_white_south_afr.html
March 12, 2010. (REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly)

This pictures shows a couple, Donovan Durant and Anna Snyders, grieving over the loss of their baby a few hours after that baby was prematurely born.  I found this picture truly heartbreaking.  The toys Anna holds were all probably meant for their baby.  If you look closely at Donovan's right hand, you will notice a small teddy bear that would have been the perfect toy for an infant.  These two wanted a child, and they wanted to shower him/her with love.  These two must be suffering from the worst pain, the loss of a beloved baby. 

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/02/portraits_from_the_congo.html
February 10, 2009. (REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly)

This picture shows two boys, Jean-Pierre Kalikunshe and Espoir Kangeshe, comforting each other.  They both recently under went surgery for their leg deformities.  They come from the Democratic Republic of Congo and they were assisted from the charity Stand Proud.  Only about 70 children were fortunate enough to be helped from this charity.  Personally, I enjoyed this picture in a way.  They both smile.  To be able to smile means that you (and them as well as everyone else) are able to enjoy life for what it is and have a will to live through it.  They live in a war-ravaged area with handicapped legs, and they still manage to smile.  You could break their legs.  You could break their homes.  You could break their families apart.  But, you could NEVER break their spirit.