So I spent last Saturday taking pictures of 45 or so kids, all of which were HIV positive, the oldest at about 12, the youngest at 4 or 5. It started out as quite a somber day in my mind, I focused on the fact that there was the possibility that some of these kids could die by the time that next months meeting rolls around. But it was impossible to stay gloomy surrounded by 45 kids all smiling, laughing and running around. Though they have been born with a disease that there is no known cure for, and will have to be extremely conscious of the decisions they make the rest of their life, each of which could drastically effect their life for the better or the worst, and will be dependent on taking medication at a precise time twice every day in order to keep this disease at bay, they are inescapably happy. They ran about with the biggest smiles on they're faces, and seeing those smiles, lifted my spirits and brought me to the realization that if they can be so happy despite their struggles and situation, what right do I have to be gloomy and moody about? If they're happy shouldn't I be also? After all this day was setup for them, not some snotty American.
They were even more excited about this meeting than others, why so? They were going to be getting dental check ups, teeth pulled, cleaned, etc, the stuff we all dread going to the dentist for. They were excited because there finally were dentist who were willing to work on them. You See because they're HIV positive dentist here refused to work on them, so most of them have to suffer from toothaches from teeth that need pulled or other things that a simple trip to the dentist for you or I would fix. They were now, for some the first time, being treated as equals, as human beings, not a plague to avoid, or an object to be kicked back out to the street, but as humans. They were given the treatment they had for so long been denied. The dentist also took a look at the parents who who were HIV positive, who also faced the same discrimination . This was such a joyous day, seeing the smiles that had been cleaned to shine even brighter thanks to a group of dentist and college students who were willing to go against the grain of their society and possibly show them there is nothing to be afraid of.
You see they are turned away out of ignorance and fear. Most people in India won't associate with HIV positives for fear of becoming HIV positive themselves, they think that by simply touching them. Because of this people will tell them, "get away from me, don't touch me, I don't want to become like you!" Because of this some of these children have never received a loving touch or a hug or phyisical touch that wasn't meant to harm them.
I learned a Telugu word which came in handy for all the picture taking, Navvu, which means smile, and it was so appropriate a word to learn for such a day. That is the only Telugu I know, but most of the time simply smiling at them and then watching their faces light up was so amazing I didn't have to say anything at all...it's amazing how much a smile can say....Go smile at random strangers and watch their faces light up, if they look at you weird so what! They don't know you, and you'll probably never see them again and why should you feel stupid for trying to brighten they're day? If they wanna blow you off so be it, but don't let them dampen you're mood. Now go and smile and wave at someone you don't know.
They were even more excited about this meeting than others, why so? They were going to be getting dental check ups, teeth pulled, cleaned, etc, the stuff we all dread going to the dentist for. They were excited because there finally were dentist who were willing to work on them. You See because they're HIV positive dentist here refused to work on them, so most of them have to suffer from toothaches from teeth that need pulled or other things that a simple trip to the dentist for you or I would fix. They were now, for some the first time, being treated as equals, as human beings, not a plague to avoid, or an object to be kicked back out to the street, but as humans. They were given the treatment they had for so long been denied. The dentist also took a look at the parents who who were HIV positive, who also faced the same discrimination . This was such a joyous day, seeing the smiles that had been cleaned to shine even brighter thanks to a group of dentist and college students who were willing to go against the grain of their society and possibly show them there is nothing to be afraid of.
You see they are turned away out of ignorance and fear. Most people in India won't associate with HIV positives for fear of becoming HIV positive themselves, they think that by simply touching them. Because of this people will tell them, "get away from me, don't touch me, I don't want to become like you!" Because of this some of these children have never received a loving touch or a hug or phyisical touch that wasn't meant to harm them.
I learned a Telugu word which came in handy for all the picture taking, Navvu, which means smile, and it was so appropriate a word to learn for such a day. That is the only Telugu I know, but most of the time simply smiling at them and then watching their faces light up was so amazing I didn't have to say anything at all...it's amazing how much a smile can say....Go smile at random strangers and watch their faces light up, if they look at you weird so what! They don't know you, and you'll probably never see them again and why should you feel stupid for trying to brighten they're day? If they wanna blow you off so be it, but don't let them dampen you're mood. Now go and smile and wave at someone you don't know.
