one in a million

The most striking fact about this photo essay is that it is only a glimpse of one of the many human atrocities around the globe.

Yes, vulnerable populations are deserving of help.

But, who are they? Where are they?



“Where ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise.” – Thomas Gray





Who, then, are the non-deserving?

Vicious Cycle?

I was not surprised after viewing those pictures and reading about the Roma gypsies. There are many similar "vulnerable" populations all over the world, in every country. Here in America, they are just like homeless people. The people standing on the side of streets, begging for money, etc. However, I agree with another blog posted in that it is not my decision to decide who is deserving or not. I mean, yes, everyone should be entitled to air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat-and some might say-access to good health? But, either these people are born into this type of vulnerability and its not their fault, because this is all they know OR they choose to live life this way-for some strange reason. I think we should offer certain things like shelter or opportunities to learn something, possibly a microloan in certain situations-for instance, a lost job, etc...then that might make a change in the world. If not, this will just continue in this vicious cycle and nothing will change or grow. Also, I agree with some readings in that its a community effort actually-because everyone lives/works around the same areas and everyone influences people around each other. Therefore if an effort is made to help one particular area, instead of one person or family, it might be more effectful.

Discrimination since the beginning of time

Discrimination has hurt populations since the beginning on time. America was founded by a group of individuals seeking relief from religious discrimination. To me there is no such thing as deserving or not deserving. If a population is vulnerable it simply means they need even more help.

It is a sick circle that traps these vulnerable populations. They are frequently poor, and lack access to food, healthcare, and other necessities for a healthy life, but because they appear different then their neighbors people think less of them. Sometimes even to the point where people say they deserve where they are and how they are treated. That is the saddest statement I can think of. No one deserves to suffer the way the Romas do, or the homeless in America do.

This video should make everyone open their eyes. There is discrimination everywhere, and even if we don't know about it that certainly does not mean it isn't there. Photographs of people continuing their beach holiday as two young Roma girls lie dead under blankets on the sand is heartbreaking. Equally as heartbreaking though is the discrimination we haven't yet heard about or had to witness picture evidence as documentation. Everyone is worthy of help when they need it, be it a homeless person who needs help finding shelter, a Roma needing healthcare, or a small child who has lost their way. They all have something in common. They are vulnerable.

Minorities and discrimination around the world

This seems to be a problem everywhere in the world. If one would step back just a little bit and think about this, it's obvious that we humans still have a lot of issues with race and of course, religion. In the 21st century, some of the most financially and culturally advanced nations (such as Italy) can't stand people with a culture or background other than themselves. I understand that health and health care access might be the most indicator of a quality of life. But when discrimination dominates a society, it comes in a big package of all social and economic issues. As one of the major points I learned during the public health program, health and health care should be approached in unique ways specific to each society and culture. As we learned, we have a lot of issues to argue about if we wanted to increase the quality of life, for example, for the minorities in Rome. Or may be we can combine all the issue and just work on discrimination.

On the same subject, I was watching Bill Maher show the other day, and he was saying that a lot of politicians are reporting concerns about the new health care bill. Their concern is to make sure that the new bill would not provide health care for the illegal immigrants. Because no working person would want to pay for a sick person who does not have legal documentation. Another guest brought up a good question when he said, "so what are we going to do with a bleeding Mexican worker in front of the emergency room"?

Are they deserving? Do they live and breathe?

Unfortunately, this seems to be a common problem worldwide. Populations, such as the Roma gypsies, seem to fall through the cracks of our developed societies and become these "vulnerable populations". As another student mentioned in their blog, we are health professionals and we are not to decide who is deserving or not. We are supposed to respect all human life regardless of anything else. However, as a human being I do not see how anyone could deny that these people need help. They are trapped in a perpetual cycle of poverty and near homelessness. They need proper housing, jobs, and health care. Without help they will never be able to get out of that lifestyle. The discrimination they face leads them to live in unsanitary housing and environments and often perform illegal activities to live.

This topic brings to mind the idea of migrant farm workers in the United States as a vulnerable population. These people work long grueling days earning billions of dollars for the farming industry in one of the richest nations of the world (the US) yet they live in barely Third World conditions. Many are making barely enough to live and definitely do not have extra for food, clothing, or healthcare.
http://www.ncfh.org/docs/fs-Facts%20about%20Farmworkers.pdf

The Roma of America

After reading about the Roma gypsies, I started thinking about how cruel and inhumane the Italians were to a group that were essentially also human beings. Although I think most of us are appalled by the extreme cases of police burning down Roma camps and people holding picnics around dead bodies, some of this also exists too close to home. Being new to the west coast and Los Angeles area, I constantly notice the overwhelming amount of homeless in the area. How many of us Americans are able to ignore those begging on the side of the street or homeless man or woman possibly in need of help? You hear stories of the homeless population subjected to violence and lacking protection. They are too often turned away from public places, forbidden to loiter in most areas, and expelled from hospitals for their inability to pay. Are the homeless of America really that different than the Roma of Italy? In general, people may feel that it is easier to ignore the plights of others than to regard them as human beings with life, feelings, and rights.

A voice for the voiceless

After viewing the Roma photo essay I was intrigued and began researching current news articles about the Roma situation. What I discovered was similar to what I viewed in the slums of India, in the shanty-towns of Peru, and the poor back streets of Ecuador and the rural seaside coast. When poor and vulnerable populations are discriminated because of their race, religion, culture, or traditions the whole surrounding population suffers because of it. This seems to be a cycle of evil. When those in a society who have power, resources, and money yet deny access of these to their fellow man, those discriminated against not only become ill and transmit disease but they decrease the quality of life for all living in the area, and they often resort to crime therefore continuing the cycle of evil. These rising levels of crime are fuel to the fire of discrimination and the cycle only spirals deeper into hatred.

The more articles and news reports I read, the deeper the animosity and hatred toward the Roma people seemed to be rooted. Much of it stems from Gypsy gang violence and theft taking place in more and more western European cities but also due to the extreme differences in culture and lifestyle. Traditional Roma people believe in marrying their children young (promised in marriage by age 12 where they send their daughters to live in the homes of their ‘future husband’ until she has reached maturity for marriage), large families with many children, and children foregoing education to work with their parents. Their discrimination denies them access to jobs, education, adequate and safe housing, citizen rights, and healthcare. In my opinion the cycle will only continue if Roma are denied these opportunities and for as long as racial discrimination continues.

It is in my opinion that all people are created equal and therefore all are deserving of help. Therefore I believe I have the responsibility and opportunity to share what I have been given with others who have less. I want to help the poor, the orphans and the widows and as a public health leader I want to eliminate the racial discrimination and improve the living conditions of people like the Roma. May our voices be heard on behalf of the voiceless.