The Slums – Part I
13.05.2010
Socrates counseled us; “Be kind. For everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.”
Today, Pam, Ashley and I saw this first hand. We went back to visit one of the slums in Pattaya we visited last February. Those we met today shuffle in discouragement, a battle of desperation…in bare feet. The Thep Prasit slum (pronounced ‘Tepesit’) is an enclave of impoverishment of over seventy people (at least forty of which are children), where the very environment around them exists to extinguish hope and aspiration. A dark energy that affects them so much, it demands tribute be offered to feed it. Leaching them of their will strengthens it and creates a vicious cycle of imposed imprisonment and self-imposed exile from drive to escape. The tax it exacts of a soul is that of dignity, of a body its health and clothing, of the mind is desire for salient knowledge, of the heart its desire for beauty. Here, the text adorning the gate that defines the limits of Hell in Dante’s Inferno would find a comfortable home; “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.”
But hope and kindness march beyond such phantom barriers undaunted. Thunderstorms and heavy rains rolled through all morning. It was hot. It was humid. Pam and Ashley’s efforts for 3L Foundation to get flip-flops to everyone they can find is so simple. All three of us walked into a literal pit of garbage and began to hand out treasure. Parents begin lining up with their children to get flip-flops. I was amazed at how many people, especially kids, had nothing on their feet. The very ground they stood upon was covered in filth. How these people manage to walk through compacted paths of debris between piles of garbage is beyond my comprehension.
Treasure can take many forms. As Jules Verne’s Captain Nemo said in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, “…the greatest treasure of all is a sound mind and full belly.” Very true. But Nemo had the luxury of walking upon deck plates of his submarine of his own making. The people of the Thepprasit slum walk upon a carpet of mud and debris. So in context, we may find it strange that a simple pair of flip-flops is treasure here. A few dollars buys a lot of treasure here.
So many of you have been so kind with donations for flip-flops. Thank you Heather, Kris, Annie, Amy, Steve, Laura, and Rayme …all of you. Thank you! Your generosity really made a big difference and here are pictures to prove it. If it is within your means and you would like to help, your kindness will find meaning in this effort.
We are going back today with a new supply of flip-flops. The short term goal here: to get everyone who needs foot wear something to protect their feet. It’s a small, inexpensive item that is a gift of dignity as well as practicality. We need about 40 more pairs of flip-flops.
While I was there, I photographed so much. While society and circumstances are different here and many of these people are here through no fault of their own, I did see many attitudes and behaviors that continue to contribute to a self-imposed enslavement to this way of life. There are as many as four generations of people living in this slum. These problems are not to be ignored nor perpetuated. Sometimes compassion can misguide us into feeding a bad situation. I want everyone to know that the mission of Pam and Ashley to give people something to protect their feet does not invest in energy that contributes to a path of poverty. It just makes sure their feet won’t be torn to shreds while they do it. We could really use your help in continuing this effort.
Click here to see more about the flip-flop project and how you can help.
While I take pictures, I also use my iPhone to record ambient sounds, interviews from people and other audio to give my pictures more context to what it is like here. As I did so, I recorded some comments from Ashley that say it best. Listen to what she has to say.
I have so much more to write about this experience in the slum. Some will be here on the 3L Foundation’s blog. Others will be on my personal photography blog. It takes a lot of time to work these pictures, audio, video slideshows and text up and I need to get back to the field work today as soon as I can. But I will certainly be giving more time to the observations and photography I acquired in the slums. I will be sure to share it with you all as soon as I can.
Take care and I will post an update on how the trip to the slums goes in my next entry.
Namaste’
You all post a great blog! Thanks for all the info and my thoughts and prayers are with you all!
– Steve
Many blessings to all of you and those you touch. THANK YOU for your endless work to make every step they take, be a better one. Much love
Heather, thank you for your kind words. To know we have support from friends and family back home is valued greatly. Hope you are able to continue following our adventure. It’s good to have you along for the ride. Take care.
Thanks Steve. I appreciate it. We all do and the hard work you put into this project as well. Having support from friends back home is so encouraging. We appreciate your generosity with this project as well. Take care.