Restless Night

I spent some time last night perusing the New York Times' on-line edition before heading to bed.  And, as I often do, I cruised quickly to the 'Op-Ed' corner to see who had what to say.  There was Nicholas Kristof, one of my favorites.  His contribution yesterday: 'The Evil Behind the Smiles'.

Quick summation: those smiling, giggling girls in the (global) sex trade are often brutally tortured.  Kristof provides excruciating details.

I spent a restless night trying not to have bad dreams.  But I knew that my interrupted sleep was a luxury compared to how some of those Cambodian girls were trying to survive the night.

Kristof's piece was not all gruesome news, however.  He introduces two women who are survivors of this brutality, and who are now working to rescue others.

I can easily be overwhelmed by the news of the day.  War, torture, rape, famine, disease, poverty, abuse, neglect.  The immense suffering that humans, animals, the environment, the entire planet must endure.  Much of this violent and brutal behavior is consciously created by humans in order to cause deliberate pain and suffering for other humans.  I absolutely do not understand this.

Welcome to The Good Earth.  It aims to be an assorted collection of stories and wise words of people who are working and living (or who did work and live) with compassion for this world and those who inhabit it.

I write this in order to uncover and contemplate the beauty and love that I am sure resides in the human condition.  I share it just in case someone else may find it helpful.