Yesterday the water main outside our house broke. This means that we have been without running water for almost 24 hours. To make things even worse, Tiff and I are in the midst of the flu. I was feeling so bad this morning that I didn't go to work.
After the kids toddled off to school I went back to bed. Laying there feeling sorry for myself and the horrible turn my life had taken, I thought of all the people around the world who don't ever have access to running water. The worse thing that this situation means for us is that we can't have morning showers or run the dishwasher. It's not life or death. We have three dozen bottles of water so we won't run short of water to drink. And even if we did drink it all, I could just drive to a grocery store and buy more.
Fortunately, we don't even have to do that. Yesterday within a couple of hours of the water main break, the city came and set up a water tank outside our house. While we may not have running water, this tank ensures that we have access to safe, clean water. The sad reality is that 1.1 billion people around the world do not enjoy the same access we do.
What is ultimately a minor inconvenience to us is a way of life for far too many around the world. That seems a little bit fucked up considering the money that our western governments piss away on useless things (like renovations to the facade of the Governor General's house) and bad things (like ill conceived and fraudulently concocted wars. Do I even need to link to a story on that?). I am practically hysterical over not being able to jump in the shower when I want to. I can't imagine what not being able to have water to drink at all would be like.
Before you rush out and plan a telethon for me, consider how blessed you and I really are. We have homes, food in the fridge, and governments in place who take steps to help us out when we have problems like a water main break. If I lost my job tomorrow there is a social safety net in place to help me pay the bills. Basically, my worst day is a damn sight better than a lot of people's best day. Hell, the mere fact that I have a bank account means that I am wealthier than the majority of people on this planet.
As we in the West enjoy a culture of consumption, people are dying for a lack of basic necessities for life. I know we don't want to hear this when we would rather wallow in our self-pity. It is, however, the reality. Hopefully, that won't always be the case.
EDIT:
Immediately after uploading this post I came across the following video via. Need I say any more about how hard it is for some to get drinking water and how callous our disregard for their suffering is?
i continue to love your blog because of your posting from the heart.
thanks, conners.
Posted by: Lew Ross | March 28, 2007 at 08:18 AM
Thank you Lew!
Posted by: Paul Connors | March 28, 2007 at 08:25 AM