Monday, February 4, 2013

Kozal Article (Argument)

    Kozal gives insight about a drastically poor area of New York where homicides and rapes are at a rise and there is suffering and death.  In the Bronx of NY, the poorest location is in the center of Mott Haven.  Most people are of race with an average income of 7,600 dollars.  Addictions to Heroin and AIDS are very prevalent here; along with depression, fear, anxiety, ad asthma among the children.  Homes are freezing in the winter and a sauna in the summer which are also infested with roaches and rats.  I found this to be astonishing and disgusting to know that there are places in this country alone that are so poor and rapid with disease, yet we put more focus on helping other countries rather than our own.

    As the young child, Cliffie led the tour around the neighborhood, he speaks about how he witnesses shootings, incinerators, prostitutes, and addicts as if it was the norm because he is so familiar with this type of atmosphere.  It is so sad to know that there are so many children growing up in this environment.  Although Cliffie does not have an easy lifestyle, he has strong religious views and enormous faith.  Even when he is hungry, he is willing to share food with the homeless because, "God told us, share."

    Within this terrifying city, the air is filled with pollution, the streets are filled with crime, and the hospitals are filled with disease.  Hospitals run out of medicine to treat their patients and the wait to get into the hospital is astonishing  even if the person is on their death bed.  Another child, David, his mother is dying because she is unable to recieve help from the state and unable to .  wait in the hospital because of the rapid disease.  David is unable to sleep at night because he fears his mother wont wake up.

    He believes that God is powerful but not powerful enough to keep the evil away.  He says, "I believe that what the rich have done to the poor people in this city is something that a preacher could call evil.  Somebody has power. Pretending that they dont so they dont need to use it to help people __that is my idea of evil.

    Will this suffering or evil ever end?

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