I can hardly believe the city I left a week ago has become the site of a revolution. It is a little surreal to think I was there snapping pictures of the Presidential Palace and the House of Parliament just a few weeks ago. It is scary and exciting (as change usually is) to think about what these protests will mean for this little country.
I was surprised to learn before our trip that Moldova has a communist leader. And I was quite unsure of what that meant once I got there, as I didn't see anyone standing in line waiting for their share of bread or oil. After talking with someone who has lived there her whole life about what communism was like under the USSR, I was able to ask why people would still want to live under that. She said the older generation longs for that security, the illusion that everything is okay and working as it should. It was explained to me later that this is why so many people send their children to orphanages; they believe that it is the state's responsibility to take in and care for their children. That the state will provide for their children what they as parents could not.
We visited an orphanage in Straseni during our stay - over 400 children live in what can only be described as an institution. Someone on the team said they only thought places like this existed in the movies. The lady we spoke to has about 20 children in her care, some of whom were in the room with us. She talked about then and their lives with out much sensitivity or regard to their presence. I don't want to be down on orphanages or the people who work there. I only spent a few hours there and can not imagine what it would be like being there day in and day out. I want to believe (even if it is naive) that they do their best to deal with the needs of the kids. But it didn't take much for us to see these kids are longing for attention. Someone who will look at them and hold their hand. All of us had thoughts of there must be another way. With over 12,000 orphans in Moldova, surely people can't continue to believe the state has all the answers.
The elections in Moldova were held just 3 days after we left. I got the impression that there seemed to be little doubt that the communists would remain in power. Most of the people of working age live abroad in order to make money, which explains why there are so many orphans, and they can not vote. This leaves children, who also cannot vote, and the older generation who long for the (false) security that communism provides. In some ways I am thankful for these protests. It shows the people are ready for a change. I think it shows the citizens are ready to take on some responsibility for the direction their country is going and not just be lead by the state. It gives me hope that things can be different there.
I have thought a lot about politics since arriving here 2 months ago. National and international politics, the politics of Jesus, how politics plays a part in almost all of my interactions. I am still confused by most of it, but I am coming to see politics is about accepting the power you have to change what you see going on around you. I am thankful for these Moldovans who are willing to stand up for what they believe, who want change and are willing to risk something for it.
Here are a couple articles about what has been going on in Moldova the past few days:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/04/07/world/0407-MOLDOVA_index.html http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/world/europe/09moldova.html?scp=3&sq=moldova&st=cse
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2 comments:
'Reflections on Moldova' would make a good newspaper or magazine article. Have you ever thought of becoming a journalist?
Do you think that places like the Bethany House do a better job? (I mean, I know the answer...but you know) I know that with sooo many orphans it seems impossible to set up enough places like that, but do you know if they are looking to expand? How do they get the children that come to them? I have so many questions about this place that is just like the children's homes.
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