She cried dry tears. Her baby was dying. There was no food and the little one was severely malnourished. And parched. The mother – who had not had a bite of food and precious little water in three days – leaned over her baby, pressed her mouth against the child’s mouth and let her spit drain. Over and over until she had no more saliva to give. Have you ever watched a mother – in desperation – spit into her little one’s mouth? I haven’t in person. Though pictures I saw are unforgettable.

According to the United Nations – UN Chronicle – 25,000 people (including more than 10,000 children) die from hunger and related causes each DAY. That’s 9 million souls annually who die of starvation. And it is estimated that 854 million people worldwide are undernourished.

Donna and I donate to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. To Churches. And to other charities. Some contributions find their way to Africa and those faraway places where the scarcity of food is raging. And hunger is a pandemic. The United Nations, the United States and many other countries are generous in delivering food to impoverished areas. But still – it’s just not enough.

Wouldn’t it be nice if autocracies like Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and terror organizations like Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, Boko Haram and so many others would devote their time and money to helping people instead of fostering conflict and hate? These people could be heroes. Why choose cruelty over good will when you can make positive difference? Why not turn a page? I continue to hope. But I’m not holding my breath. . . . .