Mudiwa: Suicide

There are people on this earth who are capable of ignoring a need. There are others who, in an effort to palliate a need, throw money at it. There are very few people on this earth who are blessed with a presence and a drive to sincerely make a difference - those who are willing to work hard so that others can have a chance at true life. Society today is too politically correct to be truthful. I am 25 years young - but I remember a time when a person was more respected for the truth they spoke instead of being praised by the truth that another wanted to hear.

The photo above is one that many have seen but few know the story behind it. It was taken by a young South African photographer who waited for 20 minutes to see if the vulture would leave. After this time he adjusted his lens, took the award winning photo, chased the vulture and left. After the photograph was published many inquired as to whether the child survived. Unfortunately to this day that answer is not known. Years later, haunted by the images that won him awards, by the death and destruction he had witnessed, the photographer committed suicide at 33 years old.

Will you commit suicide? You may not gas yourself, pull a trigger or swallow some pills but will you live your life in a way that makes you forget the suffering of others? Do you drink yourself senseless? Do you over indulge yourself just so you feel alive? If you want to avoid suicide you will not wait 20 minutes, you will step out from behind life's camera lens to live a life of action and activism. If you truly choose to live life to the fullest, you will live a life that makes a difference.

Mudiwa: save a life


I thought about this piece over the weekend. Coincidentally, Barbadian artist Hal Linton released a video called "Choose Life" I think it fits my script. Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-sj0kSEcP0