Children ask - Why?

The Rich - The Poor...

The Powerful - The Powerless...

Why is one child born into prosperity, comfort and opportunity,

while another is born into poverty, suffering and despair?

Has it always been so?

Must it always be so - rich and poor, powerful and powerless?

Why?

Children ask why, why, why? We give children answers that deny reality.

Sometimes we tell them there is no answer - or the equivalent - "It's God's will".

Or, some offer "Karma" as the cause and explanation for these terrible inequities.

I believe we give empty answers, not because we are evil, or wish to mislead them, but because we cannot accept the truth ourselves.

I believe there is an honest and accurate explanation... I believe that the truth is so unspeakable, that we dare not acknowledge it to ourselves, or God forbid, to speak it to our children.

Even to think it causes a painful realization of our individual and collective culpability. Even to think it wreaks havoc on our self-images, our complacency and our ability to honor "self-service" as our prime focus.

A child asks "Why are those people poor and suffering, and we are not?"

What parent could utter these words: "Darling, it's because I allow it".