In Reply to: small children posted by sammie_j on Friday, 6. April 2012 at 08:36 Bali Time:
with the street kids aren't we? If all of the tourists stopped buying the bracelets the very reason they are on the streets would be gone. Hard to do though isn't it when you know how tragic are their lives? I no longer weaken and get abused of course. I don't think those kids were born knowing how to swear in English this fluently so they are doing as they are done by.
These days I will buy them a Bakso or an ice cream. Bakso seems to be a bit of a treat because it is more expensive than the little brown parcels of nasi-whatever.
I am not kidding myself that this is a good idea though but am a little stuck for other options. What am I teaching them? I guess I am teaching them to go with strangers who offer them ice cream so I am still extremely conflicted about this. Hanging around bars late at night, we would all agree, is a hideous life for a child. The only ending to the road that they are on, I fear, is prostitution probably at a very young age.
Any ideas anyone?