No Victims?

Completed Joyce Carol Oates' "First Love"... Long short story or short novella. Painful, dark, so vividly written it tears, mutilates your own heart. Incest and dark secrets from 11 year old victim's point of view.

Some people say there are no victims. But yes, there are. Adults make choices and children suffer. This suffering of the children is the tragedy, the great tragedy, of the Fall.
May 9, 1997

At this moment I am reminded of Princess Di's work with regard to land mines. One of the great horrors and tragedies of war are the massive quantities of unexploded mines and bombs which sit idle for years and decades, scattered in massive quantities about the globe. All too often it is the children, out to play, who discover to their own peril these maiming implements, not of mass destruction but of personal life disfiguration and dismemberment.

I think, too, of the investors who profited from the development of these terrible devices, and who continue to profit from investing in companies that create new concepts for doing damage to tomorrow's children.

Perhaps we should think it through. Can we invest in organizations and businesses designed to alleviate sorrow? Yes, that is what giving to charities should be about. But what about the totality of our lives? In addition to our giving to charities, both our livelihoods and our investments can contribute to making the world a better place.

On every level we can make a difference. If we so choose.