A Call for Help in Congo

A recent episode of "60 Minutes" featured the women of the Democratic Republic of the Congo who live in constant fear of vicious rape by warring militias. It's difficult to imagine what they endure, but you can do something in response. Visit Women for Women International and learn more about this ongoing tragedy; then send a message of hope, or take another simple action on behalf of women around the globe.

Wounded and Wiser

I’ve talked before about the unique ability we have to help others heal from pain we’ve experienced ourselves. Those who have suffered, whether from violence or illness or unexpected tragedy, are uniquely qualified to light a path for people who must find their way through a similar forest. We see this every time a crime victim, school dropout or bereaved parent launches an effort to restore justice, engage students or support the grieving.

Larry King recently interviewed Lee Thomas, a TV broadcaster in Detroit who has vitiligo, an incurable disease that is turning his black skin white. You can read the transcript or download the podcast about Thomas’s struggle here. The interview was truly compelling, but what stuck with me was Thomas's assertion that his affliction "has made me the man I always wanted to be." He said he is more understanding, more compassionate. He is in touch with the struggles of others, and with children who have vitiligo in particular. He is using his high media profile to bring much-needed attention and acceptance to a condition that often generates despair.

Similarly, a newly released book, Strong at the Broken Places, profiles ordinary people with various chronic health challenges who are triumphing, emotionally, in the face of great odds. The author, Richard Cohen, has multiple sclerosis and is a colon cancer survivor. The book is giving hope to those who battle illness every day, as well as to those of us with our own "broken places" awaiting transformation.

What are your broken places? What might you offer to others who share a similar experience or challenge? Take a small, initial step and feel the healing begin.

Want Fries With Your Cloneburger?

Amid growing trends toward eating fresh, locally and organic, I was jarred by a recent news report about the FDA's imminent approval of milk and meat from cloned animals. I don't know about you, but I have no desire to ingest the latest natural interference, be it cloned meat or genetically "enhanced" produce -- especially unwittingly. (So far, the FDA hasn't established any mandatory labeling of these foods.) And given its track record over the last few years, do you want to trust the FDA with determining the safety, both short- and long-term, of what you and your family put into your bodies? Enjoy the lighter side of the issue by listening to The Cow Cloning Song; then write to your legislators and the FDA to tell them how you feel. And if you've ever thought about it, this might be a good time to become a vegetarian.