The Saddest Time of Year

Today's World Humanitarian Day! Flooding in Pakistan, mudslides in China, wars in so many countries and so many suffering people. I applaud the humanitarian workers who are willing to sacrifice their comfort, shed tears and share themselves with those who need it so desperately.

While reading over the Humanitarian Principles a the WHD site, I was struck by two thoughts: Each one of us can function as a Humanitarian Actor in our daily lives. If we can change things in our own backyards, perhaps it could make a serious impact in the larger world. I'm very thankful that my daily trials where I currently live are not as severe as what many face. But as an unschooler, I find that most of the Humanitarian Principles could easily apply to parental life.

Humanity: Human suffering must be addressed wherever it is found. The purpose of humanitarian action is to protect life and health and ensure respect for human beings.

Neutrality: Humanitarian actors must not take sides in hostilities or engage in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

Impartiality: Humanitarian action must be carried out on the basis of need alone, giving priority to the most urgent cases of distress and making no distinctions on the basis of nationality, race, gender, religious belief, class or political opinion.

Operational Independence: Humanitarian action must be autonomous from the political, economic, military or other objectives that any actor may hold with regard to areas where humanitarian action is being implemented".

Maybe I'm particularly sensitive to this as World Humanitarian Day falls so close to Back To School Time and seeing so many kids lose their freedom is difficult for me. No, it's not on the same level as the Democratic Republic of Congo or Pakistan. But if we can give our kids their freedom, autonomy and souls back maybe we'll have more people to stop or help those who don't have the same opportunities we do.