The Abs and the Ab-nots - Price of Vanity III

As much as we need a prosperous economy, we also need a prosperity of kindness and decency.
Caroline Kennedy
This picture, taken in 1998, revealed open disregard for the poor in Sudan. The person walking away with a ration of maize snatched it from the malnourished kid who also happend to suffer from polio. The boy had just received the ration at a distribution center. The food was rightfully his but the man who took it was more powerful and exercised his 'right' to steal from the poor. No one stopped or even questioned the thief because they saw nothing wrong with it; privilege took precedence over basic decency and Human Rights.

But before we get too carried away with being appalled at the cold-hearted wealthy and powerful Africans, think about this:

Tummy Tucks versus Tucks and Tummies...

The largest population of poor people in the United States are not black, or white or red or yellow or brown - they are under the age of eighteen years old - they number between between 13 million and 27 million.

Tonight, those children will not be tucked into bed and they will not have enough food to fill their tummys - no tummy, no tuck.

Despite the poor's right to basic neccessities including food and shelter, folks with money are not inclined to share their wealth. They walk away, vainly choosing to spend their extra cash on elective surgeries instead. So, in America - as in Africa - privilege also takes precedence over basic decency and Human Rights.