For the Love of the Kids

http://cnnphotos.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/30/effects-of-agent-orange-ongoing-silently-in-children/

The war in Vietnam ended about forty years ago, and yet some of the devastation continues on today.  Vietnam has estimated that nearly 500,000 children have been born with birth defects due to the war.  For example, the effects of Agent Orange can still be seen, especially in children who are born with birth defects.  There is swelling in the brain that is quite obvious by the size of these small children’s foreheads.  The arms and legs of these young children are too thin for use and often times deformed.  This leaves them lying in hospital beds.

In the photo from CNN, the condition of the child is obvious.  Sickly and pale, the young boy just lies there. The bubble gum pink walls and baby blue sheets give the room a child-like feel of cuteness and happiness for years to come, but then the bars on the bed are noticed and the tiles on the wall come into view.  The room is evidently part of a hospital.  Now the walls and sheets seem to be mocking the situation – “Yes, happiness could have been yours…Instead, you lie here, suffering from the devastation people you do not even know left behind years ago.”

The position of the child’s body and his facial expression will tug at your heart strings.  With one arm up in the air and his little hand all wrapped up, Agent Orange has altered his hand.  Children are always thought of as playing with balls and dolls, but this picture makes it clear that this precious boy may never be able to play with those common toys.  Then his face looks dazed and uncomfortable, as if he still is not use to the condition his body is in. The pain on his thin, despite the swelling of his forehead, face is used to tug at people’s heart strings and make them thankful that the little boy is not their own child.  It is also plain that the boy is too skinny, and this makes people want to wrap the boy up in their arms to keep him warm as they feed him with sweets.

Children always get the most reaction out of people, whether they are giggling at bubbles or lying in a hospital bed.  It will either get an “Aw” out of someone or a “How in the world did this happen?”  For the most effect, I believe that is why CNN chose children to photograph the effects of Agent Orange in Vietnam today.  We often forget that things we do can leave their mark for decades to come.  Hopefully, the horror of this one child’s life will help us remember that and impact the decisions we make today.