Comments on: Desolation http://www.livingfordisco.com/2006/06/25/desolation/ Sun, 11 Dec 2011 03:31:33 +0000 hourly 1 By: Rachie http://www.livingfordisco.com/2006/06/25/desolation/comment-page-1/#comment-116 Rachie Tue, 27 Jun 2006 14:28:37 +0000 http://www.livingfordisco.com/2006/06/25/desolation/#comment-116 Joe - yup, indeed they are. Scarily so, even down to the rolling of the eyes, and the huffing. It takes me back, oh, it does. Joe – yup, indeed they are. Scarily so, even down to the rolling of the eyes, and the huffing. It takes me back, oh, it does.

]]> By: joeinvegas http://www.livingfordisco.com/2006/06/25/desolation/comment-page-1/#comment-115 joeinvegas Tue, 27 Jun 2006 13:53:04 +0000 http://www.livingfordisco.com/2006/06/25/desolation/#comment-115 I can not imagine being there. But it sounds like teen agers are about the same all over the world. I can not imagine being there. But it sounds like teen agers are about the same all over the world.

]]> By: Rachie http://www.livingfordisco.com/2006/06/25/desolation/comment-page-1/#comment-111 Rachie Mon, 26 Jun 2006 14:25:28 +0000 http://www.livingfordisco.com/2006/06/25/desolation/#comment-111 Bill, it's a combination of things. 'San' is a collective name for a group of people, otherwise known as 'Bushmen', but there are different ethnic groups, with different languages and traditions within that. The San used to be nomadic hunter-gatherers, but land settlement and the establishment of farms pushed them off their traditional homelands, and overgrazing means that the land is not suitable for their traditional lifestyle any more. They have been increasingly marginalised and discriminated against, under both the Apartheid system, and the current government. Most San in Omaheke, where we were, now work on commercial farms, mostly white-owned. They are paid very little, and are subject to a great deal of racial stereotyping, which means that they are pretty much ignored and dismissed by the rest of Namibia. Their situation is generally pretty tragic, although this is not always the case, as with most things. To find out more, visit <a href="http://www.santrust.org/programmes_ost.html." rel="nofollow">this</a> website. jr - I hope so too. Jennifer - brilliant! I'm really glad. Bill, it’s a combination of things. ‘San’ is a collective name for a group of people, otherwise known as ‘Bushmen’, but there are different ethnic groups, with different languages and traditions within that. The San used to be nomadic hunter-gatherers, but land settlement and the establishment of farms pushed them off their traditional homelands, and overgrazing means that the land is not suitable for their traditional lifestyle any more. They have been increasingly marginalised and discriminated against, under both the Apartheid system, and the current government. Most San in Omaheke, where we were, now work on commercial farms, mostly white-owned. They are paid very little, and are subject to a great deal of racial stereotyping, which means that they are pretty much ignored and dismissed by the rest of Namibia. Their situation is generally pretty tragic, although this is not always the case, as with most things. To find out more, visit this website.

jr – I hope so too.

Jennifer – brilliant! I’m really glad.

]]> By: Jennifer C http://www.livingfordisco.com/2006/06/25/desolation/comment-page-1/#comment-110 Jennifer C Mon, 26 Jun 2006 11:13:53 +0000 http://www.livingfordisco.com/2006/06/25/desolation/#comment-110 I decided to help my Liberian refugees. They're proving to be quite emotionally enriching. I decided to help my Liberian refugees. They’re proving to be quite emotionally enriching.

]]> By: jr http://www.livingfordisco.com/2006/06/25/desolation/comment-page-1/#comment-109 jr Mon, 26 Jun 2006 06:41:04 +0000 http://www.livingfordisco.com/2006/06/25/desolation/#comment-109 I hope Lydia's ok I hope Lydia’s ok

]]> By: Bill http://www.livingfordisco.com/2006/06/25/desolation/comment-page-1/#comment-108 Bill Sun, 25 Jun 2006 14:39:04 +0000 http://www.livingfordisco.com/2006/06/25/desolation/#comment-108 Cry. That's normal. Remember, though, that without you these people would be invisible in their desolation. There is at least hope that once seen, their lot can be changed. I don't think that any of us could understand the hopelessness without living it. What, do you think, are the causes? Has the area always been like that, or is this a result of war or drought (beyond the climatic norm) or something else? Not that you will necessarily know, but I wonder. And I hope you realize that you are helping, if not these particular people, some. Helping some is a very good thing. Cry, but I hope you won't be depressed, because in that there is no help for anyone. Cry. That’s normal. Remember, though, that without you these people would be invisible in their desolation. There is at least hope that once seen, their lot can be changed. I don’t think that any of us could understand the hopelessness without living it. What, do you think, are the causes? Has the area always been like that, or is this a result of war or drought (beyond the climatic norm) or something else? Not that you will necessarily know, but I wonder. And I hope you realize that you are helping, if not these particular people, some. Helping some is a very good thing. Cry, but I hope you won’t be depressed, because in that there is no help for anyone.

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