Regular readers will be familiar with this blog’s ongoing, heartless War on Clowns. A reader alerts me that my comical nemeses have enlisted a new ally:
Operation Sock Monkey is an initiative in support of Clowns Without Borders South Africa (CWBSA) providing laughter, hope and healing to communities affected by HIV/AIDS. Handmade Sock Monkeys can be purchased for you or someone you love or sponsored to be sent to children in need of a smile. All proceeds donated to CWBSA.
While my first instinct was to ridicule, on reflection this may not be such a bad idea.
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki recommends garlic to cure your AIDS, while new President Jacob Zuma suggests a quick shower. Relatively speaking, sock monkeys represent a big improvment over the historical Health Ministry fare.
6 Responses
Chris – I also like this one: http://www.adoptaword.com/ – better than child sponsorship.
Hi Chris, Lindsey here from OSM. Thanks for the shout-out.
RE: ‘War on Clowns’ -Hilarious!
I would agree with you and your readers that Sock Monkeys and Clowns cannot begin to solve the complex problems surrounding HIV/AIDs in South Africa and so many other places in the world… but they sure do cheer you up when you’re feeling blue!
Both OSM and CWBSA have the goal of addressing the psychosocial needs of those in affected communities.As I’m sure you’d agree from your obvious sense of humour and humanity, drugs and doctors aside, laughter is the best medicine and every child deserves a smile.
There are certainly better ways to help poor and HIV-positive children. However, providing them with a sense of comfort– a sort of “security blanket”– and something to smile about doesn’t do any harm. I know from past personal experience that hugging a teddy bear can lifts spirits… at least momentarily.
I think it was Dlamini-Zuma (the health minister) who raved about garlic and potatoes, not Mbeki. He certainly didn’t distance himself from it though…
I quite like the sock puppets. Although I doubt they have great healing power, for impoverished HIV kids they’re probably better than no toys at all.