There is a scene in The Fifth Element when Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) sits down at a computer to learn everything about the human race. The moments, the disasters, flick past her and by the time she’s learned everything there is a look in her eyes of terrified incomprehension, and she falls into Bruce Willis’ arms, spent.
Keira came to me yesterday afternoon with a similar look in her eyes. Stupidly, I had left the 5pm news on while I was preparing dinner. The news upsets Keira, so I normally keep it off. We had this conversation:
“Mum, that Prince (William) went out to the fires. I didn’t see any water. It was all dry.”
“Many of those people need water tanks out there. Some might get it supplied to them in pipes underground like we do. The area is still dry and recovering from the fires last year.”
Before that, a news story was on about a seven year old boy and his twelve year old sister being pulled alive from the wreckage a week after the Haiti earthquake.
“Mum, what does dehydrated mean?”
“Our bodies need water to survive and function. Those kids were lucky because they got out…”
(I left out “…alive”)
Not that I needed to add it anyway.
“So those kids will be okay?”
“Yes.”
“But others won’t.”
“I’m afraid not.”
Keira looked at our kitchen taps, and her feet upon the floor.
“Will we run out of water?”
“I don’t think so, no.”
“Will we have an earthquake?”
“It’s unlikely because we don’t live in an area that is prone to earthquakes. Some countries are more vulnerable than others.”
Keira exhaled deeply, smiled a half-smile, and walked away.
She still thought about those children, I know it. As did I.
******
Photo by IFRC
For the next twenty four hours I’ll be having a fundraiser: for every comment left here I will donate one dollar to the Australian Red Cross Haiti Appeal. This will run from 8.45am (time of posting) today until 8.45am tomorrow (Saturday, Eastern Australian Daylight Savings Time)
Also, I will randomly pick two lucky people who will win either a copy of Surprise! or a copy of Miscellaneous Voices: Australian Blog Writing upon its release (their choice).
Thank you for your support.
8:53 am
Hi Karen. First comment? First dollar
Are you going to cap it?
9:02 am
What a clever idea for a fundraiser!
9:05 am
I’m lucky that I’ve not had to discuss news stuff with Amy yet. She’s still too little and wrapped up in her own world. Which I think, at this point, is exactly how she needs to be.
Great idea for a fundraiser.
9:08 am
Jasmin – no cap!
9:17 am
I’m actually about to head off to do volunteer training for the Red Cross in their retail shop in Newcastle. This is a great fundraiser, wanted to be a part of it. I will also be donating through World Vision.
9:30 am
It is always there at the back of my mind. We are so fortunate.
9:40 am
We haven’t had the news on at all, I can’t bear to watch it and I don’t want Amy to see the images that are burned onto my mind’s eye. Well done for this, such a great idea. I have donated and will donate again, and probably again. Its not much but at least its something.
9:54 am
Hi Karen,
My 11 yr old son with autism has a hard time with the news too, we find that he becomes quite obsessed with what he sees and has trouble processing it (who doesn’t!) and his emotions about it.
Great idea for a fundraiser…I’m off to the Red Cross Appeal site to donate now myself.
Lisa
9:59 am
Thanks for being so generous, Karen.
10:08 am
You are a fabulous generous blogger… am tweeting and will link to you when I blog today… I hope you get a million comments!
11:57 am
I will match you dollar for dollar up to a maximum of $100.
11:57 am
Great idea.
12:03 pm
Am I allowed to comment more than once?
12:15 pm
Fantastic initiative! I will check back and see how many comments there are – and try my best to match your pledge also
12:34 pm
L isn’t even 3 yet, but I am starting to think he shouldn’t be watching the news now. Just seeing his face with what’s been on there lately, there would be all these questions in his head I’m sure… As a mum, it is so devastating to hear about all of the orphans in Haiti now
12:48 pm
Fabulous idea!!!
1:10 pm
Great idea!…this really proves how great and kind hearted people still are around the world!…
1:11 pm
Love this idea!…this really proves how great and kind hearted people still are around the world!…
1:12 pm
Sorry i commented Three times yah’ll….I guess i was just key happy lol…but hey every little bit counts in this case!
1:22 pm
Awesome idea! Keep it up
1:36 pm
Discussing it with the kids has been particularly fraught, in our house. No. 1 daughter is distressed, so we try to draw her attention to ways that people are helping, and thinking about helping in general. Much of her distress seems to come from frustration – she can’t do anything except donate money with her family, and she wants to do much, much more.
1:39 pm
You are inspiring! Off to Red Cross to make my donation now!
1:47 pm
What a thoughful idea.
1:51 pm
Good for you! And you too, Kim (frogpondsrock)!
2:23 pm
fantastic idea. Very much an inspiration.
2:30 pm
Came over from Kim’s blog. What a wonderful idea. Thanks to both of you for your generosity.
2:59 pm
Every little bit helps…
3:12 pm
Super idea.The Haitians need all the support we can give.
3:26 pm
In times like these all we can do is hope, and send money. Good idea.
3:46 pm
Wonderful idea Karen!
4:18 pm
Every little bit helps. Thank you!
4:41 pm
How fantastic. Well done!
5:04 pm
Fantastic idea Karen. The world should be full of people like you.
5:15 pm
Great idea!
5:15 pm
This is very generous of you. I too find the news disturbing and keep it off because I think my eldest son will feel the same.
5:58 pm
Brilliant and generous idea. x
6:03 pm
I don’t think I will ever forget the look on my son’s face the day of the disaster. He just kept saying… But why? Why Mum?
It wasn’t a question any of us could answer.
Thank you for doing this Karen.
6:06 pm
Hopped over here from Kim’s Frogpond. Brilliant idea! Will be off to the Red Cross site next.
I can’t bear to see the pictures of all those poor children either. I just want to scoop them all up and bring them home with me.
6:28 pm
Just gotta comment, though no words can fully express my sentiments. Hopelessness, but with a small grain of hope, due to the generousity of people like you.
6:55 pm
Great idea Karen
7:02 pm
Ah Keira. Her questions remind me so much of the questions Annie asks with that same heartbreaking dawning of knowledge in her eyes that the world is not always a good place.
7:22 pm
This is so great – I know a lot of American bloggers are doing a similar thing, but this is the first I’ve seen anything like this on an aussie blog.
8:54 pm
What a generous thing to do Karen. Good on you.
9:01 pm
Well done Karen, you have a good heart, and sounds like your daughter does too!
12:44 am
I see Keira has your sense of compassion, Karen. Bless you; you’re a saint among, well, women and men. Not a very creative comment, I’m afraid, but anything to help.
8:28 am
Just made it in!
Worthy cause, great idea.
2:16 pm
I’m sorry i wasn’t able to read FRiday’s post until today…I definitely would have posted!! A great idea to help out Haiti.