They are all orphans.
Mother and father probably died of HIV.
Or they were perhaps raped and murdered in front of the now orphans.
Maybe they are not orphans, but simply abandoned, by parents hopelessly impoverished or by elderly grandparents who could no longer cope.
They may have been living on the streets, a six-year old brother trying to care for a four-year old sister.
Maybe they were left as infants in a dumpster or on a garbage heap. If they were lucky they might have been left at a hospital or a church.
Perhaps they are veteran child soldiers. Abducted at under eight years of age, had an AK-47 put in their hands and forced to commit unspeakable atrocities against their own families and society.
Today they are Watoto, the ophans of Uganda.
They are jubilant, smiling children singing and dancing to our and their delight. Overjoyed to have a home, a meal, and the opportunity to gain an education.
All in spite of scars that must surely torture them for life.
How lucky and thankful are we Canadians for our lot in life?
Thankful enough that a 12-year old girl in a Canadian court sued her father for grounding her from attending a school trip, after she repeatedly disobeyed the parent by posting “inappropriate pictures of herself” on the internet.
She wasn’t raped, or beaten, or physically abused- just grounded
The judge- a presumably intelligent person- found for the child. Dad is guilty. The punishment was ‘excessive and inappropriate.’
Why would we, a country like Canada, allow its legal system to fritter away its resources so foolishly?
When do we start labeling such ‘politically correct’ actions for what they really are- stupid?
This little tale of two extremes like all Squirrel Pie’s must be, of course, high fiction. Don’t believe a word of it.
