Blind and Selfish

As humans we tend to take everything we have for granted. We always want more, even after we have everything that we need. For some people, it's a new iPhone or a new car. Because who wouldn't want that new Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max with three cameras or a new Tesla from Elon Musk, right? For others, it's the new Xbox or PS5, even after their current gaming systems that they have are in perfect condition! (minus the few that rage quit and throw things around them). We all have that common knowledge that for every fortunate person out there, there so many more unfortunate people somewhere else. But what does the common person do with this knowledge? Nothing. There's always those people who walk past Santa's Helpers at the mall and don't throw in their scraps of change to help those in need. There's always those who don't donate to St. Jude's or other organizations to help children and families that need the help. But some parts of the world, places that are in great devastation, need so much more and we don't acknowledge it. Parts of South Africa and South Sudan, for example, are in great poverty and lack vital non-material things such as safety - something that many of us don't realize that we're taking for granted. We're too focused on our selfish wants to recognize how great we have it. 

In the Op-Ed Miseducation, filmmaker Nadine Cloete, who is based in Cape Town and is best known for her 2016 film Action Kommandant, examines South Africa's violent culture through her work. Cloete sets the stage by introducing us to Kelina, an eleven year old girl, who lives in Cape Town, South Africa, where it is ridden in gangs and violence. Kelina tells us how it is a struggle to go to school every day because of what can happen to her as soon as she steps out of her home. Kids in Cape Town fear the walk to school, as it is common for them to get grabbed and killed by gangsters. 

Where I'm from, I know many kids that moan and groan about taking the bus to school every morning. The thought of having to wake up early and getting squished inside a vehicle full of other annoying and gross kids is too much to bear for some. They'd rather have that Tesla, right? Riding to school with their friends and listening to music the whole way there, not having to wake up early to catch the big yellow bus that sometimes speeds past their neighborhoods without seeing them. Who would've thought that kids, such as Kelina, don't have the option to take that bus that you dread every morning. Who would've thought that there are kids out there that have to worry about getting kidnapped and killed on their way to school, a place that most just use as a way to see their friends. Who would have thought, right? Because there's nothing worse than what we have...right? 

In Toys of War, director Andrew Berends, who is best known as the cameraman for the 2019 Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo, explores underreported details of international conflicts. Berends captures a civilization from the Nuba Mountains who have fled to South Sudan to escape the bombing and shootings of war. In his documentary we meet many children who are beyond terrified and missing their home. Even though parts of them understand that their village is in ruins, they have hope of eventually returning home when everything is over. Their makeshift toys, made from dry clay and water, were once pots, flowers, and people, but have turned to tanks, helicopters, and soldiers after witnessing the devastation of their civilization. They will forever be changed by the destruction they've seen. 

The unreported desolation of these civilizations in the media has played a major part in us not realizing what we take for granted. Here in America, we don't have to worry about our homes and towns being targeted. We don't live in constant fear. Many children in Sudan have witnessed their fathers and grandfathers getting fatally shot, whereas that will forever be a foreign sight to most of us here. Of course there are many exceptions; some of us are put into terrible situations where that can happen. There is gang violence and hatred all over America, but in places such as Sudan and South Africa it is on such an immense scale. 

Directors such as Cloete and Berends create these documentaries in hopes that we, the more fortunate, can try to understand the brutal realities of other nations and try to help their people. Bringing awareness is the first step in taking action. I truly wish that more people took their time to watch documentaries and read articles about what is going on around the world, even in poverty-ridden areas like South Sudan and South Africa. Op-Eds are amazing and really open your eyes to things that you've probably never thought about before, as most of us have and never will witness these events in our lifetime. We are so fortunate to have the safety and security we do in America, and it's sad to know many abuse it/take it for granted. I hope that eventually, one day, everyone can have what we have. 

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