Lions led by Sheep -

Sep 18 2008

Terrorist Attack: 24,000 Children Dead

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38 Responses to “Terrorist Attack: 24,000 Children Dead”

1. # Steve N. Leeon 18 Sep 2008 at 5:56 pm

   I imagine some people will condemn me for writing this post and be eager to voice that condemnation in a comment.

   But before unleashing your venom, ask yourself one question: with one needless death every three seconds, how many children will die while you write your complaint about a post that made you aware of that very fact?

   Raising awareness. That’s what it’s all about.

   This post does that.

   If you find the way I’ve done it distasteful, more distasteful than 24,000 children dying every single day of every single week, then go ahead and leave your comment. The world will be a much better place for you taking that action!

2. # Hankaon 18 Sep 2008 at 6:08 pm

   Hi Steve! As usual, you caught my attention! Yes, I was horrified by the title and yes, I am horrified after reading the whole post. Most people would be in agony and full of prayers for these poor souls if a terrorist attack really did happen, but do many of us think about the real problem and about the children who JUST HAPPEN to die?

3. # Alfiluvuon 18 Sep 2008 at 6:50 pm

   Yup Steve ya got ME too!!
   Question: WHY are these children dying?
   Some die from starvation or disease due to wars instigated and funded by westerners for power and money.
   Many more die from malnutrition because of unscrupulous western companies selling them formula which is inferior to their usual diet of breast-milk. They are told they must not breastfeed because of AIDS when no link has been proven. Many of them are given AIDS drugs which kill when they have only been tested for HIV when the link has never been proven. Some children die from drugs and vaccines which we have banned but the drug companies still need to make money from so they sell them where people cannot read or understand what is being given to them by the nice people in white coats. Some are simply human guinea pigs for new and more deadly vaccines developed by western pharmaceutical companies who have found a cheaper way to test their goods.
   Some starve because western corporations have forced their agriculture onto lands which cannot sustain them to feed cattle for greedy westerners leaving their land barren and useless.
   So I ask you, WHO are the terrorists in these cases?

4. # Hankaon 18 Sep 2008 at 7:02 pm

   Alfiluvu! Thanks! I’ve forgotten to ask the same question and came back here to do so, so … thank you !

5. # Joycey Berryon 18 Sep 2008 at 7:38 pm

   You got me on this one Steve. But my heart reaches out to the African children who die everyday. This should not be happening. They are in my prayers. Thanks Steve.

6. # Blacktigeron 18 Sep 2008 at 8:02 pm

   Yup got my eye too! And yes it was a good way to make the point! Most people in the world just concentrate on the soldiers lost, without the collateral loss of innocents. The enemy [if there is one] are cowards hiding behind the skirts of women and children. This headline story brings those innocents to the fore and suddenly they are seen.

7. # Steve N. Leeon 18 Sep 2008 at 8:12 pm

   Hi everyone,

   I’m sorry if you feel I ‘got you’. To be honest, that wasn’t the intent. I never wanted people to believe such an attack could have happened, it was merely a ploy to get people to read the REAL story that no one seems to want to tell. A story that is far more horrific as it’s happening every single day of our lives. In view of that fact, I think it’s fair game to use any tactics possible to bring the truth to light to as many people as possible.

   Hanka, thanks for the ‘just happen to die’ phrase. That kind of sums it up, doesn’t it?

   Blacktiger, glad you see the point behind the headline. Yes, no one sees the innocents. Why? Because they don’t matter. It’s simply too commonplace.

   Joycey, yes, every single day. The statistics are there. Why don’t more people see them and do something?

   Thanks for your positive comments, guys.
   Steve

8. # Steve N. Leeon 18 Sep 2008 at 8:15 pm

   Alfiluvu, thanks for a well thought-out comment. Yep, you’ve nailed a lot of the reasons there. I’ve got some stats somewhere to put numbers to those reasons, but I just can’t seem to find it right now. I’ll keep looking.

   Yes, who are the terrorists? And in more areas than simply poverty? I’m sure in decades/centuries to come, the whole of the today’s Western world will be seen as some of history’s most dispicable terrorists. Not a nice way for history to remember us!

   Thanks for a great comment.
   Steve

9. # Kenny Ritchieon 18 Sep 2008 at 8:47 pm

   My initial thoughts were, what?? Then that was evil why did you post that to get eyeballs on your site.

   Then yup,yup yup…..

   Is western society all wrong yup,yup,yup…

   Thanks a real eye opener.

10. # Steve N. Leeon 18 Sep 2008 at 8:58 pm

    Hi Kenny,

    Yep, those were pretty much the reactions I was expecting. I was just hoping that people would get passed the second one to reach the main part of the post.

    In the past I’ve had people read the title and maybe the intro to my posts then leave weird or way off the mark comments because they haven’t taken the time to get to the real meat of the post. That was my concern today. Glad you stuck with it and got to the important stuff. And then ‘got it’!

    Thanks for dropping in, Kenny,
    Steve

11. # Mark McCullaghon 18 Sep 2008 at 9:47 pm

    I have to admit that the headline and lead-in really caught my attention.

    I always thought that much of the tragedy in Africa was due to the corruption in leadership and the ongoing civil wars etc.

    It is also very unfortunate that the long-time hatred between competing tribes is an aggravating factor.

    How much aid from the West really gets to where it is needed?

12. # Marian Elliotton 18 Sep 2008 at 10:34 pm

    Good one Steve! (Our society loves sensationalism!!!)

13. # kim son 19 Sep 2008 at 10:18 am

    I agree, good one Steve!
    You’re absolutely correct, no one seems to be concerned about the deaths of children in Africa, not the media or those who are dependent on it. Britney, Paris and other so called celebs demand our attention while these innocents die unmarked. What’s the answer? How can we bring about change to assure these children don’t fade into oblivion without notice?

    I urge all who care to take the World Wide Pledge;

    http://wholeworldpledge.org/gp/index.php?option=com_jambook&Itemid=89

    I do hereby pledge:
    I shall always do my best to neither take part in nor knowingly support any action that requires anyone to suffer harm.

    (excerpt)
    It has been revealed to us that ALL of the inhabitants of Earth are Beings of Love and any that have acted as other than Beings of Love were functioning so due to acting from trainings and value structures held onto from old, out dated, paradigms not yet realized as such. By recognizing that the actions of the past are exactly what have created the present, some call it Now, it becomes clear that the past is truly in the past and offers only information, nothing more. That information may be valuable when planning future actions, yet, since the past belongs to a time that no longer exists, information is all it offers. We feel it is time to give thanks for the past and all we have learned there, stepping gratefully and boldly into a future that we as a Human Family will create together. Together we will create a wonderous future that includes EveryOne. We will, together, apply the Whole World Pledge to our actions and thereby create a thriving, sustained, future for EveryOne.

    Sure it’s just a pledge, but if people around the planet began to think about others and the harm which is inflicted upon them in the name of greed, we CAN make a difference!
    Thanx Steve for your continued efforts to make a difference, together we will bring about change!

    You know there really is still a chance for peace and that chance will definitely increase if we each do our piece. So let’s make peace — in our homes, in our own hearts, in our relationships, in our communities, in all of our dealings and in the world. Peace be with us all.

14. # Steve N. Leeon 19 Sep 2008 at 10:59 am

    Thanks, Marian. Though I would add that, for me, sensationalism makes something out of nothing. 24,000 people dying is hardly nothing. All I did was put it in a form that would make people read and appreciate the scale of it. That’s more truthful than any tabloid you’ll ever see!

    Thanks, Kim. It sickens me to see the garbage on the shelves of our newsagents (newsstands). Week after week, trees cut down and pulped, water wasted, electricity consumed, just so we can follow the exploits of celebs who frequently lead lives to be despised, let alone worshiped!

    The pledge is an interesting idea. I’ve never heard of it before. Sorry! I wonder how popular it is? And not just amongst people who actively try to make a difference, but those who don’t really do much and are pretty apathetic? I wonder what their reaction is, if any?

    Thanks for adding something new to the discussion.

    That’s a fine point, Mark. How much aid does actually get through? I remember the Burma disaster recently and Ania, my partner, was so concerned she wanted to do something to help but she refused to send money as she was almost certain it would just go to line someone’s pockets. From the reports that came out, that sadly seemed to be the case with much of the aid that was sent.

    You’d think that when we all know what goes on, or at least some of it - I’m sure the real problem is far, far worse - governments and aid organizations would have been able to find a solution by now, wouldn’t you? If only they could. That alone could probably half world poverty overnight!

    Thanks for contributing, Mark.

    Have a great weekend, everyone,
    Steve

15. # Bonnieon 19 Sep 2008 at 3:48 pm

    As always Steve, you are right out there.

    How true it is that these horrendous acts against these totally innocent children go unreported on a daily basis. It is much more important for example to note that Governor Palin is making a fashion statement, or that Brittany Spears is making a comeback, rather than focusing public wareness on the plight of Africas children. I have to wonder what the public reaction would be like if this tragedy was an ongoing event in the Western World and in your case over in the British Commonwealth…certainly it would be outrage.. resulting in positive action being taken.

    Keep doing what you are doing Steve, no matter how you do it. Shock treatment..perhaps, but you certainly open many eyes. Don’t ever stop.

16. # Steve N. Leeon 19 Sep 2008 at 4:41 pm

    Sometimes it takes a smack in the face to see what’s right in front of your eyes, Bonnie. I hope this will be that smack to a lot of people.

    I find it astounding that so many children die every single day and yet our media is so proud of ’selling’ us the garbage that is does. That’s monstrous!

    And people buy their crap!

    In this day and age, it’s a scary that so many people are more hooked on this crap than on what really matters.

    Thanks, Bonnie. Have a great weekend,
    Steve

17. # Arletteon 21 Sep 2008 at 12:41 pm

    Touched ! I know this since about 40 years, nothing changed in these 40 years. More people has to become aware of what happens in the world. Thank you Steve for bringing this to the knowledge of more people.

18. # Steve N. Leeon 21 Sep 2008 at 2:18 pm

    If only we could touch more people with this info, Arlette, maybe, in another 40 years, things could be very different and we’d look back on today and the achievements we made with great pride. Sadly, it’s more likely to be remembered with great shame if we continue to do nothing.

    Isn’t it awful to think that this problem has been around so long? How many millions must die before we actually do something?

    Thanks for adding such a pertinent comment, Arlette. I hope you’re enjoying your weekend,
    Steve

19. # And Now The Apocalypse! of www.wolfbritain.com (click here)on 21 Sep 2008 at 7:53 pm

    Look at how few comments, on the “progressive” Care2 site, Steve, and the fact that they didn’t let this post go to the front page (or did it go to the front page with less than 30 Note Its when I can’t get any of my truth-filled posts to the front page on less than 30 Note Its?). Are you tired of hanging out and posting on a site that turns a blind eye to the mass slaughter yet? Progressives, my eye (or something more derogatorilly descriptive, eh Mate?)! Most of these “progressives” live in a fantasy world; and, chances are, you’re not going to wake them up. They figure they (supposedly) can’t do anything about it anyway.

    Well, no, they feel that voting for the liar, Obama, will supposedly be doing something about things, and that they’ll truly bring about “Change” that way, and/or that Obama and company (supposedly) will. Give me a bloody break! Obama is owned by the international bankers just as McInsane is! They are ALL insane, are globalists, are out to destroy the U.S., and are seeking to eradicate most human beings from the entire planet!

    If you “progressives” think Mc(Insane)Obama really cares about those 24,000 little 100% black children dying every day in Africa, or that 10,000,000 poor children die needless deaths worldwide every year, think again, you delusional people who live lies, who vote for lies, and vote for false hope and “change” that is NEVER going to come. Oh, yes, they will put on some appearance(s) of changing things for the better, but it won’t amount to much, if anything really, at all.

    I doubt at this point that even if Obama did stand a true chance of being elected and wasn’t assassinated, he would restore the rule of law and overturn most of the draconian, Orwellian laws that the Bush NeoNaziCONS and the “Democrat” NeoLibNaziCONS voted for, passed and signed into completely unConstitutional “law”; so don’t hold your breath that the one-party globalist NeoLibNaziCONS, that ALL OF THEM ARE one and all, bought and paid for by the NeoLibNaziCON international bankers as they are, will in any real way(s) stop the destruction of the U.S. and the mass slaughter the world-over that most “Americans” are complicit in. It won’t happen.

    No matter who you’re voting for in the one-party system, and/or in the globalist system worldwide, if indeed you do vote that way, you aren’t voting for “change” but for more of the same, and worse, and you are complicit in the mass murder and destruction of Constitutional republics and True Freedom; and you are voting for the mass enslavement and extermination of most innocent human beings on the planet. God will NOT have mercy on your soul if you vote that way.

    Vote for REAL, TRUE change by not voting for ANYONE who is part of the problem, isn’t really for True Change, and who one way or another is selling us out, either as controlled proponents of globalism or controlled “opponents” of globalism; and “vote” by standing up against ALL of the lies and the liars who tell them, and taking a True Stand, putting your liberty and very lives on the line, in any and all ways you can for True Freedom, against ALL of that which is, and those who are, destroying True Freedom in the U.S., in the U.K., and all over the globe!

    There are MANY ways to “vote”. And if you don’t put your lives and liberty on the line to stop the insanity that these globalists are foisting on the whole world, you are complicit in helping to setup the international enslavement and extermination that is fast increasing. But it is MUCH better to die casting your true “vote(s)” standing up against all of this mass insanity, that most “Americans” and others are fooled by and are part of, than it is to “live” having ANY part in the system of lies that is bringing it about!

    ONLY TRUE PEACE AND TRUE FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    GOD SAVE THE WORLD AND THE U.S.A. FROM ALL CORPORATE COMMUNIST-FASCIST DICTATORS, TYRANTS, OPPRESSORS, DESPOTS, AND/OR DESTROYERS OF LIBERTY AND FREEDOM!!!!!

    http://www.gcnlive.com/Bible_Says/the_bible_says.html

    and/or

    http://www.form-legal.com/wolf-two.html#evils

20. # Steve N. Leeon 22 Sep 2008 at 4:39 pm

    Hey Wolf,

    Thanks for dropping by again.

    No, to be honest, I haven’t checked if it hit Care2’s front page. All that kind of business is incidental to me. I don’t really look at the comments there either, I’m afraid, as I have my work cut out replying to everyone here, writing new posts, and everything else I have to do. When I announce a new post, I usually tell people I’ll reply here, so it’s up to them where they choose to comment. Strangely, many do seem to prefer to keep themselves to themselves within the confines of Care2. Surely that’s illogical - if you really want to make a difference, the only place to do it is out in the world, not in a ’safe environment’ with your cronies. I have noticed, though, that REAL stories often don’t attract the attention they should, even though Care2 is supposedly populated with people who care deeply for everyone and everything. Yes, I do find that most puzzling.

    That said, all I care about is presenting people with REAL issues in a format that will entertain them enough to keep them reading to the end.

    I’ve posted about many of the problems you talk about -
    poverty - http://www.lionsledbysheep.com/2008/09/04/rich/
    - http://www.lionsledbysheep.com/2008/05/15/poverty/
    over consumption ruining everything -
    http://www.lionsledbysheep.com/2008/03/13/obesity-how-the-fat-guy-beside-you-is-killing-you-your-family-and-everything-you-love/
    making a difference come election time - http://www.lionsledbysheep.com/2008/05/08/lazy/
    corporations and politicians damaging our world - http://www.lionsledbysheep.com/2008/09/11/oil/

    In fact there are posts dotted throughout the archive that look at these problems. It’s sad that there are so many. And so few positive posts so there’s a tremendous imbalance.

    To be honest, I’m a little shocked at how few comments this post has received considering the statistics on how many have read it. Either most came looking for a white middleclass bloodbath and were disappointed when it was black, poverty-stricken ‘old news’ they found, or they simply didn’t read to the end. Or, thought I was crazy for writing the way I did and, as you say, didn’t ‘get it’ at all.

    One comment on Digg claims this is a post merely to boost my readership. One on another site will get a mention in this week’s post as it’s so vile! (Hence keeping it from view by not mentioning where it is.)

    I really do despair at times because I hear the same things week after week - good people wanting to do good but feeling they’re beating their heads against the wall because the average Joe things everything is just fine and dandy with the world. Well, he’s just bought a new plasma screen, so it must be!

    There’s a lot of truth in your comment, Wolf. I hope people give it serious consideration and read deeply.

    Thanks for a thought-provoking contribution,
    Steve

21. # And Now The Apocalypse! of www.wolfbritain.com (click here)on 23 Sep 2008 at 4:04 pm

    Yah, the blind clique on Care2 is disgusting. They can’t stand the real truth, and/or only like those who are “popular” with them. I wondered about you because you appear(ed) to be popular there, with most of your posts being allowed to go to the front page. They can’t stand me because I shake them up “too much”, get them to really think and come closer to facing certain things “too much, and because I stand up in comments against their dellusions that they don’t want to be awakened from but hold onto for dear, deceived, “life”; so they keep my article posts from getting to the front page. As you can see, after over a thousand posts, I’ve only had a very small percentage get there, and none for months now. But thank God I don’t fit in with those New World Order, one-world government loving, “New Agers”. Most of them have taken “the blue pill” and are content to roll over and go back to sleep like the “good” sheople they are. Their god is Evil and they don’t even realize it, and really believe they “are on the right path”.

    I have been attacked there by vicious, evil people on Care2 who have falsely accused me of the most vile things; but, like an idiot I guess, because I think the site has been co-opted by U.S. government, and/or is full of NeoCON agents provocateur, shills, trolls, and “progressive” manipulators, etc., keep posting there, probably getting myself more and more reported to the government for “thought crime(s)”. Steve, do you realize how bad it really is in the U.S. and U.K. (especially around and in London proper), and how much worse it’s getting every day? Blair/Orwell’s “1984″ is being followed like a playbook, and both governments, as well as others, are setting up totalitarian communist-fascist militarized police states where all True Freedom is being eradicated. It’s truly that serious, but will most “progressives”, like on Care2, wake up out of their fantasy worlds to how bad it’s getting and Truly stand up against it? No! They are being herded like cattle to the slaughter, and just more or less willingly go along.

    As I’ve long said about Care2, it’s also full of a clique of control freaks who the staff lets control who’s posts get more attention, and only those who toe their anti-Christian line and spiritualistic lie(s) get to be popular there and receive a “following” of “Noters” and commenters. The people, like myself, who post what’s really going on, are driven away, are censored, have their human and civil rights to free speech violated, have their memberships illegally dropped, and/or are allowed to continue to remain members and post but their contributions are not allowed to get much attention at all. And all of the avoiders and deniers” fit in and go along with it. The “gods” forbid that they should be shaken out of their mass deception(s) and mass insanity! If Jesus the Christ were walking this earth again today, they would murder Him again! They will not tolerate ANYONE who gives them the hard, real truth, and they will, for the most part, not allow anyone or anything to interfere with their pathetic dream world of lies.

    As Dr. M. Scott Peck said in his book, that I gave the link for excerpts of above, “…(T)he evil are the most insane of all…”; but, of course, most of them really believe they are not evil, and that they are “normal” and “sane”. The insanity is very fast becoming even more insane, is more and more considered to be “sane” and “normal”, and falsely perceived to be the (only) right way to go. The “wide path which leads to destruction” that Jesus the Christ spoke of in the Gospels (the first four books of the New Testament). But “the narrow way” through Jesus the Christ is what is Truly the ONLY right Way to go. “It is written, thus says the Lord [God in Jesus the Christ, the Words of God and the Creator of all things except evil…”: “…(Jesus the Christ) is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, AND NO PERSON COMES UNTO (GOD) THE FATHER (OR THE REAL TRUTH, OR TRUE NORMALITY, OR TRUE SANITY) EXCEPT THROUGH HIM…”! (John 14:6; emphasis added by me.) Yet most people do not want True Sanity, True Normality, or the Real Truth.

22. # Steve N. Leeon 24 Sep 2008 at 11:36 am

    Hi Wolf,

    Fortunately I haven’t encountered the ‘dark’ side of Care2. I have had front page success and I’ve met a lot of good people, some very informed and very active in trying to make that all-important difference. I have heard of people being banned but never heard any reasons why.

    It sounds like you’ve had a particularly tough time. I wasn’t aware of any backroom shennanigans that involved promoting ‘good’ stories and trashing ‘bad’ ones as no one has ever mentioned that to me. When good stories see now ‘air play’ I just assume it poor choice of category, title, promotion technique, general apathy, not that good a story… all mannor of reasons. I have found it very puzzling at times, though.

    I don’t know what stories you’ve had trouble posting, but it is sad when those in control feel a crappy little post on a crappy little network could spell the end of Western civilization!

    That said, everywhere I go I get a degree of people bad-mouthing me because they don’t like what I say, even though it’s all grounded in truth and all meant with the best of intentions. So I fully appreciate how you must feel. It does make it a struggle at times, but then it makes your successes even more satisfying, doesn’t it?

    I also don’t take crap on my blog. I let anyone post their thoughts as long as they are ‘thoughts’ and not meant purely to offend or upset. I give abusers a hard time then ban them. Some people have a great outlook; some, as you might put it, haven’t just taken the blue pill, but crammed as many into their mouths as they possibly could!

    I agree that our freedoms are being erradicated - a point I regularly return to on this blog. It’s a pity more people can’t see the truth when it’s in front of them. And it’s an even bigger pity they don’t appreciate the power they have if they only chose to exercise it.

    I hope you have more luck on Care2, Wolf. Whatever happened to freedom of speech? Or was that an illusion all along? Stupid question really!

    Thanks for stopping by again, Wolf,
    Steve

23. # Tim Redfernon 25 Sep 2008 at 8:11 pm

    This wasn’t a “gotcha” on me, Steve, but I’d just finished listening to news on the radio before I read your post.

    24,000 per day, one child every 3.8 seconds. As I do the math in my head, this is more than 50 fully-loaded 747’s going down every day with no survivors. Do you think THAT would be a news story?

    These children DO NOT have to be dying! It would cost pennies a day to keep this from happening. Where the hell is the UN?! Didn’t they used to step in in situations like this? Where is the Intl. Red Cross? It can’t be for lack of money on the IRC’s part, their CEO makes a six-figure salary……or is that why they don’t have the money?

    Priorities are severely screwed-up, nations fight unprovoked wars for oil and empire, and the bodies of children stack like cordwood. There’s a price to be paid for negligence like this, and I believe we in the States are watching that price just now being paid as our economy collapses.

    We are on very, very thin ice, and just one reason among many for that is the way our government has ignored the humanitarian catastrophe going on in Africa.

    A wonderful post, Steve.
    Thank you!

24. # Steve N. Leeon 26 Sep 2008 at 10:47 am

    That’s a great analogy, Tim. And that’s why I chose my headline and intro - people have such limited attention spans these days and so little time that you have to grab them with something that’ll hit them where it hurts. Children just like theirs dying a violent death will do that; children not at all like theirs and halfway around the world… Well, the media shows us the results of that story - a big fat 0!

    As I’ve said before I dread to think what future generations will make of us ignoring these atrocities. Especially when it would be so easy to fix - we’ve got the money and the resources, just not the will! What a great people we are. (In fact, I wrote about this very issue not too long ago - http://www.lionsledbysheep.com/2008/05/15/poverty/ )

    Thanks for another great comment, Tim,
    Steve

25. # Deniseon 27 Sep 2008 at 9:16 am

    I think the issues that make my heart bleed the most are child & animal abuse. To me, this is child abuse-the fact that they are NOT getting the help they need! And it’s disgusting that there are more people interested in Britney Spears showing her hoo-haa & etc. instead of focusing on the important issues, like looking out for your fellow being (human & non-human).

26. # Steve N. Leeon 27 Sep 2008 at 6:46 pm

    It’s scary, but you are right. Seeing Britney’s hoo-haa, as you put it, is far more news worthy than thousands dying on a daily basis. If only more people’s hearts would bleed for these children. It’s not as if there’s nothing we can do, is it? (Likewise, animals should be protected and not abused the way they are.)

    Thanks, Denise.

27. # Wai Minon 03 Oct 2008 at 12:36 pm

    Hello Mr. Steve,

    Man, the world is getting more grim, vicious and inhumane.

    I din’t know about this news. Not at all, I was completely blur when I saw the title. Was it even featured in the Malaysian newspapers?

    I doubt. But I remember, yes reading about Britney drunk driving, Lindsay Lohan getting sleazy with her new partner (A lady, mind you) etc etc. And lots of more of bullsh-ts.

    I am a huge football fan, so I was utterly disturbed when they actually demolished the Leeds United’s stadium. What would people think about bringing their kids to soccer games held in stadiums? Parents who bring their kids to stadium, will have to think more than one, more than twice or as many times as they want because such things happen, safety cannot be ensured. Actually, safety cannot be ensured anyone these days. You have zillions of body guards, someone assassinate you, you are gone. Safety guards, garrisoning a building, someone runs in as a suicide bomber, boom! Everyone surrounding is dead. Like you said, not pretending dead, ‘dead’ dead!

    On the long run, this will affect the child-parents relationships. A child yearns to go for a soccer match in a stadium, parents contravene, child enrages, lashes out, parents, provoked, berates child for being a rude, opprobrious person! As time passes by, the child will hate his/her parents, and GOOD parents will try to set things right, but LOUSY parents will ignore their child’s feelings, keeping vengeance in their souls. So what is this gonna result?

    About, Africa, losing 24,000 people per day, yup, I do know that. I doubt not 15% of the world, cares or knows about it? Why? Because it does not intrigues them? And why? Because it has nothing to do with them? Africa people are dying, so what? I am alive and I dont give a sh-t about Africa dying kids. Sounds familiar?

    Maybe it is because people nowadays are only conscious of their own personal health, and welfare, anything not concerning themselves is treated like a piece of rotten pizza thrown into a garbage bin.

    What am I trying to convey here is people nowadays are too self-centered. And this is a sad case.

    I commiserate the kids in Africa, may God bless them.

    And to you Mr Steve, keep writing, keep loving.

    Cheers for the awesome workpiece,

    Wai Min

28. # CGFon 04 Oct 2008 at 8:39 am

    http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=24000+children+die+everyday&meta=

    The above link says it all too Steve. I’m not gonna write a whole post here (even though I have!) but if you click the above link, you will see I have been trying to raise awareness. To the extent I seem to have made it to number one on google with the same “phrase” - 24000 children die everyday.

    The frightening thing is you will see the top two links are for MSNBC news forums owned by Microsoft and well there is no easy way to say this but I am getting insulted for getting mad about this issue after being BANNED from Msn UK forums for posting this exact “story”.

    Yesteday I contacted Microsoft and chatted for about half an hour to their team who claim they are gonna investigate what their UK forum moderator team are doing.

    For the sake of these children, we need to talk to the leaders of this world and the answer is simple. CHANGE THE SYSTEM. Doing it, isnt easy.

    I dont know…

    What seems true to me is if one child dies from a drunk driver, people jump on the band wagon of judgement.

    Check out MSNBC forums… its not pretty… I lost it. You will see why.
    One guy has been insulting my family for bringing this news to light. And I brought this to light in Feb 2oo7.

    Msn Uk deleted the POVERTY thread and banned me.

    “What kind of drugs must the msn moderator be on, to delete a thread about poverty?” Hit a cord with a couple of posters.

    Believe it or not, I as a free minded person, have been studying the GREED problem, since I was 7, I am now 35. And nothing has changed.

    Disgusted, sickened.

    CGF.

    God bless 7 billion people.

    and thank you.

    http://www.saywhatyoulike.com

29. # Steve N. Leeon 04 Oct 2008 at 11:57 am

    Wai Min, sorry but I think you’ve missed reading a little of the middle section of my post.

    This was never intended as a factual report of a real incident. Sorry if you thought it was.

    So what was intended to be?

    We never hear of this shocking story from our media, probably because it goes on all the time and people think, hey, it’s just filthy, black kids with flies crawling all over them who’ve no future anyway, so what’s it matter?

    But…

    If it’s clean, white godfearing children who go to church, love their parents, and will grow up to be doctors, firefighters, pilots… Children just like they once were, just like those they now have. Hell, we gotta save those children!

    The intention was to twist reality so people could see the truth for what it is - an atrocity!

    You’ll find you have to read every single word of my posts or you can easily miss something vital and come to the wrong conclusion. Sorry that happened in this case, but I’m sure you see my reasoning now. Oh, and please, a simple ‘Steve’ will do - we’re all friends here so no need for formalities!

    Thanks Wai Min. Have a great weekend.

    CGF, thanks for stopping by and for helping to spread the word.

    Yes, I’ve covered over-consumption and greed before, and will do again.

    Sorry, you’ve had problems on the forums, etc, but I know what you mean - here’s what some compassionate individual said when he reviewed this very post on one social network: “Awesome! The world is overpopulated as it is, what’s a few million n*gger deaths going to matter?”

    Nice guy, huh?

    You’re right, the system is broken. Badly. It just needs enough people to realize and then we can go about fixing it. It’s just that ‘enough people’ bit that’s the problem!

    Let’s hope that day is not too long in coming.

    Thanks for adding to the discussion. Enjoy your weekend,
    Steve

30. # Wai Minon 04 Oct 2008 at 3:56 pm

    Hello Steve,

    Oh.. Ok.. Now I get it. This is embarrassing… :)

    I guess from now on, I should read your blog posts twice before I comment. :)

    Well, I am starting to call you Steve now, not Mr Steve as you wanted. Hope you are glad. :)

    Anyways, I was just curious, the book you wrote.. What if? is it sold in Malaysia?

    I don’t frequent the bookshop very often, so I am not sure.

    But do reply to me, if it yes, I might buy it! :)

    This is all for now…

    Im anticipating your next post!

    Have a nice Sunday..

    Cheers,

    Wai Min

31. # Steve N. Leeon 04 Oct 2008 at 4:15 pm

    Wai Min, please don’t feel embarassed, my friend. Really, there’s no need. It was a simple mistake that many people make with my posts. I occasionally write in a controversial, provocative manner so that I can make people think about important issues. Sadly, people are so busy these days that information just washes over them. If you don’t ‘hook’ them they just won’t read an article, regardless of how important its content may be.

    As you’ll see by some of the other comments, this one simple post has illicited all manner of emotions in readers in just a few minutes. Emotions are good because they make us care, make us think, and, sometimes, make us act. This is precisely why I wrote it the way I did - to connect with people and make them connect with the dying children.

    As for my book, I’m afraid you won’t find it in your local store, but there’s a link on the post here -

    http://www.lionsledbysheep.com/2008/10/02/thanks/

    - that links to a webpage where you can buy my book at half price for the next few days. There’s reasonably priced international shipping available so if you want it, now really is the best time to buy it.

    Thanks for your interest in my work, Wai Min, and for adding to the conversation on my blog. Have a great weekend,
    Steve

32. # debbie bon 05 Oct 2008 at 5:45 am

    wow, came here from care2, started reading your blogs, your a awesome writer (but then that is what you do LOL and your good at it) all I kept thinking is WHY ON EARTH hasnt this been on the tv? when I got to the africa part I knew what you were getting at and you are so right! and look at darfur! what a mess our world is in, I do know there are wonderful people trying to help but we need more help! I wish I could do more, the most I can do is sign petitions and make people aware of the problems in the world. I made my kids watch 2 different movies about the genicide going on in africa (before, and now its going on yet again)
    I read about your book, and bookmarked the page, as soon as I can get some money I want to order the signed and dated one, it sounds really good! a page turner that makes you think! I had another book I really wanted to get, maybe you know of it? I dont remember the name so I cant find it (yours is bookmarked) its about a woman running for president and she gets cancer, so they whisk her away, shes not allowed to tell anyone, but they have the cure for cancer, they will (and do )cure her) but she musnt tell anyone. they have had it for a long time, its only used in extreme cases, people the government dont want to die (itsa a fiction book but wow makes ya think huh?)
    so to me your book would go well with that book :) and there’s a woman named jodi picult who writes books looking at both views of controversial subjects, like school shootings, or a family who has a child just to save the other childs life, these books are riviting, and these things happen all the time!
    any way you got me thinkin in over drive LOL thanks for showing me your blogs

33. # CGFon 05 Oct 2008 at 9:20 am

    Debbie, this has been on tv, as an advert for donations. That is how I heard this figure. I havent seen it on the news nor have I seen any real public interest.

    It has been suggested the number is higher, way higher. The argument runs deep enough to suggest with at least some conviction, that every death is un-natural since no one seems to die of natural causes anymore. Although it seems disingenuous to say, there are factual elements of truth in it.

    I was so blown apart by the statement, that I didnt pay any attention to who the advert was from and dont remember which channel it was that “played” the advert.

    http://boards.msn.com/UKNewsboards/thread.aspx?threadid=803939

    Msn Uk have a thread running about child poverty at the moment.

    When I posted this “news” story on Msn Uk forums, they deleted it.
    QUOTE
    Discussion started by pam film buff on 05/10/08 02:46 AMWhere are 3.9 million children in poverty. I do not believe the onus is on the government or indeed the tax payer to supp …
    END QUOTE
    They also banned me, from signing up any msn/hotmail/www.live.com accounts.

34. # Steve N. Leeon 05 Oct 2008 at 1:05 pm

    Awesome? Well, this is the first comment I’ve read today and I must say, it doesn’t get any better than that! Thank you, Debbie, you really are so kind.

    I’m pleased you’ve found my blog interesting. I do my best to make it not just informative, but entertaining and thought-provoking. I find that if you intrigue people, hook them with an idea, then it’s much easier to connect with them and make them connect with the issue you’re raising awareness of, as I said above.

    It’s heartening to hear you’re educating your children about what’s going on in the world. We need that. We need conscientious parents to ensure they bring their children up to be well-informed and to be able to tell right from wrong - good on you!

    I’m afraid I don’t recognize the book you describe to be able to help you with a title. Sorry.

    With regards to my book ‘What if…?’, I’m sure you’ll love it. As you’ll have seen on my website, it’s a thriller in its own right, but it also has environmental and human rights themes running throughout which are integral to the plot and to making the characters work, so it’s very much a book of our time, dealing with issues we should be concerned about. I’m sure you’ll love it coming from Care2 and caring about the world as you do.

    Thanks for visiting and being so kind about my work, Debbie. Have a great weekend,

    If you take the child ascpect out of the equation to include adults too, CGF, the statistics for unecessary deaths are far, far higher. I got a load of spreadsheets from WHO as research for my book as my central character actually references these figures and I wanted to be as up-to-date as possible.

    Yes, ‘natural’ deaths, i.e. dying of old age, are more or less unheard of in quite a few countries. In some African nations, most people rarely see through middle age, let alone enjoy ‘twilight’ years that are taken for granted in the West.

    CGF, thanks for popping back.

    Steve

35. # Steve N. Leeon 05 Oct 2008 at 1:25 pm

    Sorry, Debbie, I forgot to say that if you do buy a signed copy of my book, if you’d like it not just signed but personalized, too, then please drop me a note using the contact form on the About page of this blog as soon as you can after ordering. I value those who are interested in my work, so it’s a pleasure if I can make that connection between us both personal and special.

    Steve

36. # CGFon 05 Oct 2008 at 5:44 pm

    Yw Steve… it is refreshing to see other people looking at the bigger picture. I applaud you for the bad things you are saying about a corrupt system.

    God bless 7 billion people.

37. # debbie bon 05 Oct 2008 at 7:53 pm

    wow cgf they banned you? thats crazy! people post things that are so untrue or really crazy thoughts that can harm others, yet they ban you! poverty is a problem all over the world, and I have a feeling the U.S.A. is going to be seeing much more of it now with the wall street probs, banks, and our wonderful government taking over (yea im not very impressed can you tell?) im on disability, well actually workmans comp, for 6 years, had many back surgeries and we went from me working full time 50 or more hours a week to little money, no raises ever, and inflation that i cant keep up with. people talk about not being able to go out of state for a vacation, heck i try and grocery shop and go to the dr and visit my kids all in one trip because i cant afford the gas for more trips. (only have one child home still in school) and let me tell you, trying to do all that in one day makes the pain extreme and i cant move for another couple days.
    Steve thank you! hoping soon I can get the money to order the book, I love to read and this story sounds great and will definately make you think.

38. # Steve N. Leeon 05 Oct 2008 at 8:08 pm

    Thanks, CGF. You have to do what you can, don’t you.

    That said, to be honest, I was a little wary of some of the things I raised in telling the story in my book. While writing it initially, then again later while revising it, I did take advise from a number of people, on one part in particular, as I was worried about being sued by some huge corporation with more money than sense. Luckily - so far! - it looks like everyone’s cool with it.

    I’m sorry to hear of your predicament, Debbie, but it is getting to be a familiar tale that people tell these days, I’m afraid. Other friends from Care2 have added comments saying how they’ve struggled/are struggling in the present economic climate. No doubt you’ve seen them if you’ve checked out a few of my posts.

    I know what it’s like to have to choose between ‘luxuries’ like food or heating, believe me. It’s no fun, is it? But the way I see it, there’s no need for it either. All over the world, good people are stuggling to live when there’s more than enough resources for everyone. Hence, this blog! I don’t mean we should give endlessly to freeloaders, but why should people work two jobs and still not be able to feed their family, etc? It’s wrong. And no one seems to give a damn.

    But that’s a subject for another day. In fact, it’s quite close to the post I’ve drafted for this coming Thursday!

    Hope your week starts well,
    Steve

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