A confronting – but necessary – image.
August 10, 2013
I don’t know who created this image – it’s from a friend who shared it from someone else and it doesn’t recognise the creator. It came with an explanation in Spanish.*
>>> I have since discovered that it is called THE UNTOUCHABLES – by Erik Ravelo.
Erik has composed an image that is haunting.
Our children are being sacrificed for the avarice of man.
Nearly all of the Seven Deadly Sins are represented – all being satisfied. At any cost.
Children – around the world – are the very real and prevalent commodity, in the degradation of human decency.
Image #1: Pedophilia in the Church. (Vatican)
Image #2: Sex trafficking for tourists. (Thailand)
Image #3: War. (Syria)
Image #4: Organ Trafficking – Black Market – where the majority of victims are children from poor countries.
Image #5: The right to bear arms in the US.
Image #6: Obesity. (Fast Food companies)
As a species, we should be ashamed of ourselves.
Ashamed for letting things get so chaotic.
Ashamed that we permit our most vulnerable – children – to be preyed upon.
The state of things are so horrific worldwide, that it seems unfathomable to actually succeed in pulling back on the reins.
Question #178: Are we going to able to get some control back?
Are we?
I really, bloody-well hope so – because in my eyes, our global mental state seems quite despondent and our beliefs, defeatist.
Our existence has to be balanced out with more of the positive – celebrating the things that fill us with light:
* Laughter * Love * Compassion * Bravery * Strength * Respect.
Human Rights.
I write with a naïve optimism; that we snap out of our collective coma and simply start making some noise – taking a stand – calling it out – changing ways.
Do it for the numbing amount of children with pain and cruelty in their lives;
lives that entered this world with the same rights to existence as you when you were born.
Deep Breath
* La primera imagen hace referencia a la pedofilia en el Vaticano. En segundo lugar el abuso sexual infantil en el turismo en Tailandia, y el tercero se refiere a la guerra en Siria. La cuarta imagen se refiere al tráfico de órganos en el mercado negro, donde la mayoría de las víctimas son niños de los países pobres, el quinto se refiere a las armas libres en los EE.UU.. Y, por último, el sexto imagen hace referencia a la obesidad, culpando a las grandes empresas de comida rápida.
Questions for Us 
Yes because obesity is as bad as sex trafficking, war, and child molestation. That makes total sense. I hate McDonalds, because it is the height of capitalism, which is out of control. I hate the way the company treats it’s employees, I hate that it sells horrifically bad for you food (not because of the fat content but because of the chemicals and contaminants). I don’t hate McD’s for making people fat, one because I know people who eat fast food five times a day and never gain a pound. two, because I know tons of fat people, myself included who haven’t eaten at mcdonalds in their life. But thank you for making it clear that the problem with my body is bad enough that it should be compared to black market organ trade and gun deaths.
This is powerful imagery but it’s just a scare tactic that’s not offering any insight, and honestly? It reminds me of something someone else said about the piece “shock porn for feeble minds”. You want to talk about kids, this piece itself is exploiting children for a political purpose as well. Especially the fat kid who’s being hung up there, not as a person, but, as a just a fat body, as if the photographers trying to say Look at his gross fat body, judging a group of people based off of their body types just like everyone else and then turning around and pretending to be profound and innovative. It’s pathetic.
I’m so sorry this image struck such a personal chord with you, Laura.
I didn’t create the image but did think it strongly conveyed how children are being preyed on – in so many ways.
Your strong response to the last image needs me to explain how I see it.
Firstly, I only wrote ‘obesity’ as that is what was written in the Spanish text that accompanied the image. My interpretation is that these businesses have a lot to answer for in the way they have horrifically altered the health of children due to their food – including the devastating rise in diabetes – so much so, that they are dying before their parents.
Is it as bad as sex-trafficking? Well, no, in that it’s not violent and soul-destroying BUT just because something is a lesser evil, it is evil none-the-less. It is PREDATORY.
Secondly, if you read any other posts on this blog – especially relating to girls/women and body image – you will know that I abhor judgement on weight and feel strongly about beauty resonating in everyone. I also know many women who are overweight who are absolutely stunning.
My personal view on weight is that if it’s the result of bad diet, then the person needs help, learning about better food alternatives so their body receives the nutrients it needs to function at its best. That does not necessarily mean (as you’ve stated) that they’ll be overweight. But there will be other indicators of ill-health. However, if a person is overweight, but basically looks after themselves, then that’s the body they’ve been blessed with and should be seen as beautiful. I do.
This image is NOT about that.
It’s not ridiculing the child for being ‘fat’ – that child is symbolising a VICTIM, as all the others, of a world that feeds on them for money.
No, it’s not as bad as the others, maybe, but it’s obviously important if it drew such a raw and painful response from you.
Shouldn’t we save other children from feeling the same – coupled with bad health?
I thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. x
PS If you’re on Facebook, I have a page ‘Questions for Women’, that has lots of inspirational stuff for girls and women – as well as lots of other avenues of discussion.
This image certainly grabbed my attention. Laura has a valid point re obesity and we all know that McDonalds is not the ’cause’ and there are many reasons for obesity. Unfortunately, If you ran a poll asking people what they associate McDonalds with…..
The artist has taken the easy option to portray this. It’s not your fault that he was lazy Paula.
Many would find this image ‘disturbing’ and probably choose to look away because it is so confronting. Sometimes reality bites. Thank you for continuing to fight the good fight x
I see all of it as symbolic – using the ‘common’ denominator.
The way in which all the fast-food companies market to lure children to them, is predatory. McDonald’s is the most recognisable for this, esp. because of Ronald.
In terms of the ‘good fight’ – being in people’s faces seems to be the only tactic left. I’ve just posted a very blunt question. I don’t think many people want to face it, though.
Onwards and upwards!
Thanks Christine! x
Thank you for your work.
Thank you 🙂