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See the original image at cnn.com —

Hard Times Force Parents To Send Son To Orphanage

cnn.com — Ahri's chin quivers and his large dark eyes fill with tears the 11-year-old can't control. "Be tough, I am sorry you have to go," his grandmother whispers while hugging him. His parents are taking Ahri to live in an orphanage. They swear they are not abandoning their son. "I am not throwing my child away," says his mother.

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  • kuz2r, on 06/24/2008, -5/+78Ubefreakingleavable! and we complain about cell phone signal strength and cable providers. I would go nuts if I had to give up my son.
    • shadowmoose, on 06/25/2008, -8/+62But you don't understand! The number of black out zones in my house for my cell is flipping ridiculous! Sprint better get their act together.
      • cdigioia, on 06/25/2008, -1/+27And don't even get me started on their customer service!
    • Elranzer, on 06/25/2008, -13/+7This is sad, but I considered this myself (not for my kids, I have none, I meant for MYSELF). I've often thought, as times and money got tough, to check myself in to the local prison. Free lodging, free food, free CableTV, free gym...
      • Albear89, on 06/25/2008, -2/+20Free ass raping. WTF?? Dude, things are never that bad.
        • wedges, on 06/25/2008, -4/+6easily solved by carefully inserted nails or pieces of broken glass. then they'll learn.
        • Elranzer, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1"Free ass raping. WTF??"

          I wouldn't worry about that. Prison isn't like you see on TV (eg. Oz)
      • jbird32275, on 06/25/2008, -0/+4I know somebody who did that. But you don't just "check in". The dude I know that did it broke into someone's house that he was pissed off at and proceeded to beat the living ***** out of him while he was asleep.

        We call that guy "Mr. Upstanding Citizen"

        Actually, people committing crimes to get off the street is not that uncommon. Mostly these are people who have been to jail and may be a little institutionalized.
        • gurudrew, on 06/25/2008, -0/+4Especially in cold climates. When it's 20 below zero outside, punching a cop will get you 3 hots and a cot.
        • coyote1284, on 06/25/2008, -3/+1"I just wanted a Pepsi."
          /too obscure?
        • thebza451, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1yeah, you did it wrong. all i wanted was a pepsi
    • thebza451, on 06/25/2008, -13/+23well maybe you shouldn't be having kids if you can't afford them or if your government can't afford to pay for them (like ours does, effing welfare)
      • MattB123, on 06/25/2008, -2/+9Maybe they could in the past ago and things have since changed.
        • Stradenko, on 06/25/2008, -1/+11Planning for adverse change is an important part of being a responsible member of society.
        • buba1243, on 06/25/2008, -3/+3If you wait till you can afford kids you will never have them. Not advocating having them with out some degree of intelligence but not very many can actually afford children.
        • thebza451, on 06/25/2008, -1/+3@buba1243

          oh so then it's ok to just pump out kids, even if you can't afford them?

          hey i can't afford a new sports car, maybe i should go get one financed, and a new house to park it in. gee i wonder why everyone's credit is so messed up nowadays... and when people have kids they can't afford, it messes up our country's financial situation when everybody is taking from our tax monies that's wasted because other people are irresponsible and have children that they can't afford. that's fantastic.
        • buba1243, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1Did you miss the disclaimer about "Not advocating having them with out some degree of intelligence"

          What I am saying has more to do with at one time I can afford kids then I lose my job now I can't or something else changes, or I am just waiting to be able to pay for college before having kids. This story is about a family that had 3 kids hardly a lot and probably counted on having a successful life to continue to be able to raise them correctly.

          What is the cut off point to where you can afford kids? How do you know how much a kid is going to cost since they could get some sort of illness or birth defect. When do we draw the line.

          If I don't buy the sports car on credit buy the time I can buy it i will probably be to old for kids.
      • xptoast, on 06/26/2008, -1/+1How about you pay to get one of them neutered then? I assume they don't have that money either. I am pretty sure that you wouldn't just give up making love to your mate either.
    • Spuy767, on 06/25/2008, -1/+17Agreed. I loathe those little rat bastards whose most difficult experience is having their mother take the 360 away.
    • LogicBomB, on 06/25/2008, -1/+8I'd go nuts if I had to give up your son too.
    • tower31, on 06/25/2008, -4/+2I would give up everything in order to keep my family together....And all real parents would do the same....
      • SoullessPoet, on 06/25/2008, -2/+6They *are* real parents. They're trying the best they can to give him a chance for a better life.

        "'I am not throwing my child away,' says his mother, Nuraini, wiping away tears."

        "'I just want him to get a proper education. I hope that one day he'll do something useful for this country and help his brothers, because we are living in poverty.'"

        "Ahri's parents make $2 to $3 a day, with about half of that going toward their daily rent. With the increased cost of living, what's left just isn't enough to send Ahri to school and to feed him and his two brothers, 3-year-old Mohammed and 7-month-old Eka Jaya."

        "It doesn't take long for Ahri to make new friends. Soon, he's stuffing rice into his mouth and chatting with the other boys."

        "'If my son can adapt, then I am happy,' says Ahri's father, Joni Lubis. 'I can see that it's calm and peaceful here. That makes me happy. So does the school -- my son can be educated.'"
        • thebza451, on 06/25/2008, -1/+2"I just want him to get a proper education. I hope he doesn't make the same mistake we did and have a bunch of kids while living in a 200 square foot shack while making two dollars and fiddy cents a day."
  • fitqueenb, on 06/24/2008, -7/+61Me too, however they must somehow use birth control too, holy cow, they have 3 kids, the youngest is fairly young and hard times did not just show up.

    Anyhow, that county does operate somewhat differently than North America at the same time.
    • specialK16, on 06/25/2008, -6/+15Yes but there is a direct relation between your financial level and your level of eduaction. Poor families are very likely to know nothing about birth control.
      • ChzPlz, on 06/25/2008, -2/+17or be able to afford it.
      • SlimeyBooger, on 06/25/2008, -1/+22They knew that having sex makes babies.
      • Y0tsuya, on 06/25/2008, -0/+4The poor know how babies come about, but age-old customs die hard especially among the poor. Back when life was hard-scrabble, having more kids means a better chance for the family line to continue since a lot of them die young. But these days survival rate is much better and the poor simply end up with more mouths to feed.
        • specialK16, on 06/25/2008, -0/+2You have a point, and actually I never really thought on that. Maybe also back then in poor families, the more kids you had the more money would be able to bring to the family. And yes, of course they know that having sex will give them a baby, but seriously, not even the poor can avoid having sex.
        • popfrogs, on 06/25/2008, -0/+3Good point, but southeast asia along with Indonesia has a built-in social security plan through their families. Thais often have 3-5 children, and give their children everything they ask for (money etc.), with the understanding that it will all be paid back as the parents age, without question. Therefore, while raising more children in this manner is more expensive initially, it tends to have a bigger payout as the parents reach retirement age. Also, it ensures that children get what they need to grow and become successful, as their success is in the best interest of the parents.

          They don't understand the ridiculous American idea of kicking kids out of the nest the minute they hit 18 unless they're attending college. As long as the children continue to live at home, they contribute more to the family monetarily and socially. I guess Americans have some self-imposed independent streak that must be satisfied universally, starting with the family unit.
    • Cybermaul, on 06/25/2008, -8/+11Uh, dude? Just letting you know, but having three kids is not a desperate cry for birth control education. If they had more around thirteen or so, then you might be able to argue the point to some degree.
      • BetterOffEd, on 06/25/2008, -0/+16Uhhh.. DUDE? Having even ONE baby without the means to support it is a desperate cry for birth control education. Having no roof no roof over your head, no food in your stomach, and no formalized education is a *****' tragedy no matter if you're the *1st* or the *13th* child in a family.

        You shouldn't make babies if you *know* that they're going to need support outside of what you can provide them.
        • wafla, on 06/25/2008, -7/+4Your thread fails. You guys are projecting your twenty-something commitment-phobe slacker male caucasian 20/20-hindsight outlook on the Indonesian ultra-poor.

          You're saying the sort of stuff that feels GREAT to say, but actually has no bearing on anything in the world.
    • wafla, on 06/25/2008, -2/+7It doesn't help that every religious authority in the world advocates against birth control. E.g., when the Pope went to India and told them to be fruitful; or when President Bush won't give aid packages in Africa if they include condoms, because he thinks abstinence does the same thing as birth control.
  • lucy22, on 06/25/2008, -5/+33This is so sad.
    • jd72277, on 06/25/2008, -0/+10I was hoping for the link to be theonion.com on this one. Very sad to see it was cnn therefore serious.
  • ileen4justice, on 06/25/2008, -17/+18There but for the grace of G_d go I......
    • rryanhayes, on 06/25/2008, -3/+10
    • rryanhayes, on 06/25/2008, -2/+8
      • AdmiralKarelia, on 06/25/2008, -0/+13That would be way cooler if all five replies weren't you.
    • Mier, on 06/25/2008, -17/+8Why remove the 'o' from God? Ohhh..right the atheists that run digg will give you an automatic -7 diggs to make sure your comment isn't seen easily.
    • thailand1972, on 06/25/2008, -1/+9Gunderscored? Is he Norwegian?
    • leerayIG88, on 06/25/2008, -2/+3GQP
    • gryphon50, on 06/25/2008, -2/+2some orthodox Jews will not write out the name of God, maybe it's like that...
      • serif69, on 06/25/2008, -2/+6That's a great theory, but God is not the name of God in Hebrew.
        • gryphon50, on 06/26/2008, -0/+0that's true, but on some Jewish sites I still see people writing G-d.
      • Mier, on 07/01/2008, -0/+1You people are so ***** predictable.
    • ColorBlind, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1O_O
    • selfobsessed, on 06/25/2008, -1/+1Jenny Lewis tribute?
    • VgRasta, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1I have a hard time pronouncing words with underscores.
  • westbay1, on 06/25/2008, -2/+17Just hope that it doesn't come down to this in the United States. I can see it now on a lesser level... fill up my SUV or buy the kids school supplies?
    • nesagwa, on 06/25/2008, -0/+5More realistically its probably going to come down to what it always does.

      Pay utilities or buy food.
      • subliminalurge, on 06/25/2008, -0/+10It already HAS come down to that for a large number of families out there.
    • twinbreeze, on 06/25/2008, -4/+5That's an easy answer....buy the kids school supplies and catch the darn bus....
    • Mier, on 06/25/2008, -2/+4I doubt it'll get that far here. Something will have to give and I'm betting the speculators will go first.
    • Laminarcissus, on 06/25/2008, -1/+11Unfortunately, this happens all the time in the United States, just not in this way.

      No one specifically wakes up and gives up their kids in the US, but they do it passively. They slip into poverty, either because of drug or alcohol abuse, or just plain poverty, and the worst among them allow their life situation to deteriorate so much that child protective services is forced to take the kids away and put them in foster care.

      Sitting back and allowing circumstances to arise that let kids be taken is not much different from actively giving them up.

      In a sense this woman is doing better than them, because at least the kids see an example of someone in control in bad circumstances. Kids taken from their parents in the US have every right to feel let down by their parents and the State.
    • JointVenture, on 06/25/2008, -13/+2Cut me a ***** break. Its more like, buy this six pack and pack of ciggs while living in a motel or government housing or buy school books.

      *****.
      • EffZee, on 06/25/2008, -0/+2You've never been out of the country have you?
        • JointVenture, on 06/25/2008, -3/+1I live in Bangkok 6 months of the year, FLA 3, and San Fran 3.

          *****.
  • shauntacular, on 06/25/2008, -5/+24Not beating "Don't Fear the Reaper" on Rockband doesn't seem like such a big deal now.
  • dsa203, on 06/25/2008, -35/+5
    • Onyxblaze, on 06/25/2008, -1/+11Troll, but it is everyone's problem. If we don't stop this now, it is only a matter of time before this starts happening in America.
    • coyote1284, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1"If you tolerate this then your children will be next." -Manic Street Preachers
  • dnields, on 06/25/2008, -1/+16Direct link to the article:
    http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/06/24/indone ...
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  • j3ff86, on 06/25/2008, -6/+89"But with a new mouth to feed and new rising food costs.."
    Stop having new kids if you can't afford to raise them?
    • asleepy0, on 06/25/2008, -4/+10I think that is easier said than done. I would assume the family would have a hard time affording birth control in the first place.
      • Lukesed, on 06/25/2008, -0/+19Condoms are a whole lot cheaper than raising a child.
      • brokencode, on 06/25/2008, -1/+7Clearly the men don't know when to pull out.
      • itsthebrod, on 06/25/2008, -1/+26Then stop *****. Kids don't appear magically, they're made.
        • PopcornDave, on 06/25/2008, -1/+2Tell that to the guy who finds out he has a kid two years after a one night stand.
        • KingGorilla, on 06/25/2008, -0/+4I dunno, as a virgin I heard this "sex" thing is pretty awesome
      • MaddieCakes, on 06/25/2008, -1/+17It's called anal. What what, in the butt!
      • aladrin, on 06/25/2008, -2/+13There's always free birth control. It's called abstinence.
        • subliminalurge, on 06/25/2008, -5/+8Unrealistic.
        • MattB123, on 06/25/2008, -2/+12It doesn't seem to work.
        • Calinthalus, on 06/25/2008, -1/+5it's 99.999999999% effective
        • Y0tsuya, on 06/25/2008, -3/+2Abstinence may not work when you're a teen with raging hormones and no self control. But adults should know better.
        • Gioleb, on 06/25/2008, -2/+3Damn Jesus, ruining our statistics!
        • subliminalurge, on 06/25/2008, -0/+3"Abstinence may not work when you're a teen with raging hormones and no self control. But adults should know better."

          Sorry, but that's a crock of *****. Adults get just as horny. Maybe not as often, but the intensity isn't much different (at least in my experience).

          Add to that a willing partner in close proximity who is also just as horny, and sooner or later, everyone is going to give in and get it on.
    • chispito, on 06/25/2008, -3/+9Perhaps they were doing better when they had the kids?

      What a beacon of compassion you are.
      • 42Vindictive, on 06/25/2008, -3/+2it's called planning ahead retard...
      • Canuck, on 06/25/2008, -0/+4"Perhaps they were doing better when they had the kids?". The youngest is 7 months old, things didn't change that much that fast.
      • DmtriPutin, on 06/25/2008, -2/+3Kids are not any more special than my dog.
    • gryphon50, on 06/25/2008, -1/+17here in the United States, with all of our resources, how many babies are accidentally conceived? Almost everyone I know was an "accident." So if we can't manage to practice safe sex, how can expect third world people to? Birth control might not be readily available and abstinence is not going to work (doesn't work in our high schools, either, no matter how hard they push it).
      • revjustin2, on 06/25/2008, -1/+2Birth control is also not 100% effective. My son is proof of that. Worked out for the best, though. He was a happy accident.
        • popfrogs, on 06/25/2008, -1/+2Pro-tip: The condom goes on the head of your penis, not the head you have eyes on.
      • itsthebrod, on 06/25/2008, -0/+3The difference is, most kids born in the US (accidentally or not) can usually be taken care of. If not they can always be aborted, but they're certainly not being sent to orphanages at the age of 10.

        It's hard to feel sympathy for poor people when they keep ***** out babies without considering their financial position.
      • Canuck, on 06/25/2008, -1/+1maybe rather than the government spending so much on orphanages, they should spend some on vasectomies.
      • coyote1284, on 06/25/2008, -0/+2I was thinking "adults should know better" but then I was reminded of how many "adults" I know that act like they're 18.
      • nepidae, on 06/25/2008, -1/+1Lowering the bar so everyone can meet it is counterproductive to advancing society. I've seen what happens in lower income neighborhoods, people end up with more children than those who could actually afford it.

        If you can't use protection and can't control your instincts then you really are nothing more than an animal, but an animal that becomes a major drain on society.

        There are poor people who do pull themselves up, but they aren't the ones baggaged with 5 kids at age 25.
    • egthareal, on 06/25/2008, -1/+2back in my day we didn't have fancy methods of contraception like pulling out.
      • popfrogs, on 06/25/2008, -0/+3That reminds me...

        I was at a grocery store recently in Dallas, buying only a big box of Trojans. Some old mexican dude behind me saw the box and scoffed at it, then looked at the cashier with a grin. The cashier didn't flinch. After I paid, the old dude said to the cashier, "we do it the old fashioned way!". Not to let this slide because he thought I couldn't hear him, I turned to the guy and said "oh really? How's the herpes workin' out for ya?". The cashier busted out laughing.

        Ignorance is universal. Protect your junk. There's more at stake than an unplanned pregnancy.
    • jaydedragon, on 06/25/2008, -0/+5well put.. stop breeding.. OH and btw except for maybe distance being a problem.. they can get contraception for free. clinics and free hospitals do exist over there
    • xptoast, on 06/26/2008, -2/+1I got a great idea...We will put you at their level of ability to procure birth control or getting fixed and then tell you to never make love to your mate again. Want to try your statement again?
  • Yimyack, on 06/25/2008, -3/+37When I was a kid it was called "Summer Camp"
    • serif69, on 06/25/2008, -1/+3Seriously. Now this family knows what it's like to be Jewish in the northeast US.
      "What? School is almost over? Time to enroll you kids in camp!"
      • PopcornDave, on 06/25/2008, -0/+5Except that you come home from camp.
    • zaii7, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1Don't lie, you know it was fat camp
  • Snoosy, on 06/25/2008, -4/+23I'm wondering why she chose to give up the 11 year old who's already very attached to the family as opposed to the 3 year old. Seems like odd rationale for picking which child goes.
    • PhonicUK, on 06/25/2008, -0/+12The 3 year old won't yet be ready to start school and so wouldn't be making the same benefit of the opportunity that an 11 year old would.
    • sillymeganlee, on 06/25/2008, -1/+12I think that the eleven year old would be able to adjust better than a three year old. He has an understanding of what is going on.

      Plus, eleven year olds eat more.
    • tightscrummy, on 06/25/2008, -0/+33 year olds don't talk back as much.
  • pathouston22, on 06/25/2008, -0/+11http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1333/1224049920_34d ...
    • alpha94, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1Didn't realize it was a big problem there.
    • samard2002, on 06/25/2008, -0/+5I hate when people don't recycle.
    • simg, on 06/25/2008, -1/+1that's unbelieveably terrible :(
    • wafla, on 06/25/2008, -2/+1How stupid. Typical religious panty-bunching, for an epidemic of baby-tossing that happens [edit: a few times] per year.

      Rather than putting stickers on trashcans about throwing babies away, they could have fed some homeless people or funded an after-school program.
  • sexypeon, on 06/25/2008, -6/+21No parent should have to give up their children.
  • altinnovation, on 06/25/2008, -3/+5I think the government should provide more relief for education over there. The basic thing those parents should know is that if you're not financially secure, don't have more kids!
    I'm sure that the child will be happy there, but I think parents are very important for the development of the child.
    • jnisme, on 06/25/2008, -4/+7Yes, that is the answer. Have government take care of them so they don't have to be responsible for themselves. I can agree about the not having more kids part, but not the rest. To your last sentence, if the parents are giving up and getting rid of the kid because they were stupid, then what kind of "development of the child" would they be teaching them? Buried because your argument doesn't fit.
      • PopcornDave, on 06/25/2008, -0/+2What about the government just educating the poor about birth control? You don't have to take care of them per se, but rather let the government act as a mentor of sorts.
    • JointVenture, on 06/25/2008, -1/+3People in Asia have kids to support them in their old age.

      There is no social security or pensions.
    • samard2002, on 06/25/2008, -0/+2If you want our government to send more of your tax money to other countries for education, why not just cut out the middle man and donate?
      • Y0tsuya, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1Because they don't agree with Christian churches operating in the area. So they just sit back and bitch.
    • p51d007, on 06/25/2008, -1/+1I hope you are not talking about the government of the USA, but the government of where ever this person is. The USA already bails out enough, and once Obama gets in office it will get worse!
  • Mier, on 06/25/2008, -15/+7Ok..this is in Jakarta, Indonesia. I'm tired of people sticking crap up here trying to make everyone think the US is going into the toilet.

    This is a sad thing to happen in INDONESIA or anywhere but try being clear instead of inflammatory by not mentioning where this poor kid is.
    • thailand1972, on 06/25/2008, -2/+16Who mentioned the US? Is this a USA-only website or something? I'm from the UK. Is it OK for me to be on Digg?
      • PopcornDave, on 06/25/2008, -0/+4Only if you've gone through the US terrorist screening and have your fingerprints on file.
  • legalchaos, on 06/25/2008, -7/+17mental note: don't have three kids if I can't afford to rear them properly
    • algorhythmix, on 06/25/2008, -4/+7lol ..he is going to rear his kid !
  • stronglikedan, on 06/25/2008, -18/+87Dear Poor People,

    Stop having kids that you cannot ***** support.

    Signed,
    The Rest of the ***** World
    • 42Vindictive, on 06/25/2008, -3/+3Agreed. Overpopulations hurts us enough already.
    • elig, on 06/25/2008, -12/+6Dear Rich Americans,

      If you don't like the cost of gasoline, stop ***** driving already.

      Signed,
      The Rest Of The World

      P.S. What? It's not that easy, you say? la la la la, I can't hear you...
      • m0tbaillie, on 06/25/2008, -0/+2Oh yea? They curtailed the population boom in China tremendously by imposing disincentives for parents having more than one child. Maybe India and Indonesia should do the same?
        • elig, on 06/25/2008, -0/+2And on the day we solve our high cost of oil by imposing a One Car Per Family rule with a minimum of 40 MPG, I'll agree with you.
        • regeya, on 06/25/2008, -0/+2elig, that's not a bad idea.
      • coyote1284, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1Rich Americans don't drive, their chauffeurs do.
      • ennio, on 06/25/2008, -2/+2Americans should be imposed to masturbate ONCE a week. You guys are a bunch of jack-offs.

        We indirectly are destroying other nations,while lookin at porn,jackin-off and posting on Digg all damn day.

        anywhoo.....let me rub one out.jackoffs.
        • stronglikedan, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1Since one load has enough spermies to build a nation, then you are indirectly destroying a nation every time you blow one.
      • stronglikedan, on 06/25/2008, -1/+1What does driving have to do with unprotected sex? Also, where in my statement did I complain about the cost of gasoline? You sure you're in the right place?
    • dunderballer, on 06/25/2008, -0/+3My grandfather was brought to and grew up in an orphanage after his parents could no longer afford to feed him shortly after immigrating to America from Ireland. Though I wouldn't advise others to, I'm pretty glad my great-grandparents had a son even though they were living in or close to poverty.
    • agenthamsta, on 06/25/2008, -2/+2While overpopulation may be true, a child is one of the most precious gifts in the world. For those who choose not to have one will never know what it's like. It's unfortunate that for some it comes down to this.
      • coyote1284, on 06/25/2008, -0/+2I don't think many here are begrudging a family *a* child, but if you're already struggling when you have that first one, a second, third, n-th is not going to help matters.
      • stronglikedan, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1Most people, poverty or not, can support a child.
        Most people in poverty cannot support multiple children.
      • Syujinkou, on 06/26/2008, -0/+0How are more humans "gifts" to the world?
        Which world are you talking about?
    • wafla, on 06/25/2008, -2/+0The rest of the world actually understands what's going on.

      You should just sign it for yourself.
      • stronglikedan, on 06/25/2008, -1/+2I take it that you are not one in "the rest of the world" that understands what is going on.
    • sk11, on 06/25/2008, -1/+1Dear US government,

      Stop demonising contraception in poor countries.

      Signed,
      The People of Earth
  • BrandonJM, on 06/25/2008, -8/+1No one made the joke yet so... "I've abandoned my child!" "I've abandoned my boy!"
    • MaddieCakes, on 06/25/2008, -4/+1I. Drink. Your. MILKSHAKE! I DRINK IT UP!
    • coyote1284, on 06/25/2008, -0/+2Time and place, now is not one.
  • leerayIG88, on 06/25/2008, -2/+10sucks man....on the bright side i'm sure he will be a dependent IT worker.
    • cookingboy, on 06/25/2008, -1/+1at least i hope that he'll speak better English than you...that's "dependable" btw
  • colem, on 06/25/2008, -19/+7Rule 1: Don't have children if you aren't prepared to raise them emotionally and financially.

    This applies to moron teens throughout the world and adults who haven't gotten it together as well.

    Rule 2: If you ignored rule 1, vote for Obama. He will rape the pockets of hard workers to give you money.

    Rule 3: Blame Israel for your problems.
    • jnisme, on 06/25/2008, -3/+5You, little man...are a retard. How is this political?
      • colem, on 06/25/2008, -5/+6The way people live and raise children is directly tied to politics and welfare systems.

        There. I spelled it out for you.

        Enjoy.
  • mikeismyname, on 06/25/2008, -2/+12that broke my heart...
    • JointVenture, on 06/25/2008, -6/+2You need to get out more, perhaps travel outside the country a bit.
    • Y0tsuya, on 06/25/2008, -3/+1If you think that's sad, you haven't seen nothing yet.
      • Anomaly100, on 06/26/2008, -1/+2Can't more than one thing be sad? Mikeismyname didn't say that was the only thing in his life that he has ever felt sadness for. geez....Of course, I'm sure you are an authority to all that is poignant and agonizing in life. You are a true guru of all that matters.
        • Y0tsuya, on 06/27/2008, -1/+1Yes. Yes I am. If you haven't had begger children kneeling in front of you on a train banging their heads against the floor for a few chunks of change, or have man with no feet crawling and dragging a basket begging for loose change from one end of the night market to another, then no, you know nothing. I on the other hand, have seen much more than you can wrap your head around. Capiche?
  • chispito, on 06/25/2008, -4/+9This kind of thing has gone on for decades, especially in the former Soviet nations, like Romania. All the shocked comments betray the ignorant cesspool that this place often is.

    Sometimes, just sometimes, my church takes a break from torching abortion clinics, sending death threats to high school biology teachers, and printing literature that shows Jesus riding a velociraptor, and we send people to other countries to see their hardships firsthand, give them a hand up, and them come back and tell our friends so they can support worthy causes.
    • HMMcKamikaze, on 06/25/2008, -5/+2You only hear about these things in church? What about synagogue, or mosque? Hell, why not a shinto shrine?
      • simg, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1he didn't say that you only hear about these things in church, he just said that's what his church does ...
      • coyote1284, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1What would a Christian be doing in a synagogue, mosque, or shinto shrine?
        /The backstroke?
  • bxblox, on 06/25/2008, -1/+17Should have sent the baby away. The oldest is at an age where he can make some money to help. That toddler is a moneypit.
    • Y0tsuya, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1The baby is too cute to give away, while the teen is starting to talk back. Might as well foist the problem on someone else.
  • thailand1972, on 06/25/2008, -2/+10Meanwhile we make millionaires out of z-list celebrities.
    • JointVenture, on 06/25/2008, -1/+3WE? This is an issue in the States? Or do you mean peoples of the world make millionaires out of z-list celebs?

      Thailand makes millionaires out of Tran sexual kick boxers.


      Whats your point?
    • PhildoVT, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1why is this relevant?
  • BufordT, on 06/25/2008, -2/+23Can't afford to feed him or put him through school? Here's an idea, stop having kids.
  • brokencode, on 06/25/2008, -12/+2............................................________........................
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  • LilRedStapler, on 06/25/2008, -3/+7It breaks my heart to see things like this happening across the world. I see a lot of you guys saying that they shouldn't have kids and I agree whole-heartedly, but I have the feeling that healthcare and birth control are not exactly easily accessible by these people. Perhaps they did have enough to support the family, but due to current economic trends, they can no longer provide their children proper care and education. At least they had the mind to hand the kid off to an institution that can be hold accountable, rather than force him into child labor.
    • Spire3660, on 06/25/2008, -1/+1If birth control isnt available, either start having anal sex alot, or be prepared for you to lose offspring, its pretty simple really.
    • TinternAbbot, on 06/25/2008, -1/+2Due to current economic trends? Are you saying that these people lost their money by speculating on subprime mortage backed securities or something?
      • LilRedStapler, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1Wow, I've only signed up onto Digg for a few days and have noticed that some digg users enjoy grossly misinterpreting what I said. I'm unsure of the tone you're using by just reading what you typed, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you're not trying to start an argument.

        Anyway - No, I don't think that these people speculated in anyting. The fact is that when the oil prices went up across the world, all other costs of living have also been inflated. So what does that mean to poor people who survives on scavenging? It means that less bottles of water and sodas are purchased, and therefore less trash produced, and that translates into less for them to find and sell. On top of that, people who may otherwise throw the trash away, or give to these scavengers are now recycling themselves to make a few pennies. Also, their landlord may now be charging more for rent, because he's in a pinch too.

        The written article also mentioned that the wife runs a shop to make money. It is not mentioned what she sells, but if other people have no money to spend because cost of living is going up, they may stop shopping at her shop. Now, she's out of business just like how truckers across the world can no longer make a living from delivering goods.
  • lead2thehead, on 06/25/2008, -6/+2Why doesn't she just send him to work?
    • m0tbaillie, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1Did you miss the part of the article where the mother said she wanted the son to get a proper education? How the hell do you ever expect people to break out of the cycle of poverty if they go straight from potty training to working full-time?
  • CaptEnder, on 06/25/2008, -1/+9This really sounds more like a state-ran boarding school. If 80% of the kids in the Indonesian orphanages have living parents, then it's a misnomer to label these schools as orphanages. But, I guess it wouldn't be as sensational a story if the title was "Hard Times Force Parents to Send Son to Boarding School".
    • samard2002, on 06/25/2008, -0/+3Yeah and the fact that they "couldn't afford to send him to school" says to me that this is clearly a different kind of solution than we are making it out to be. Apparently, they had no access to affordable schooling and this was their only way to get him an education.
    • revjustin2, on 06/25/2008, -0/+2Wow. I was going to make this same point. 10 points for you!
  • JointVenture, on 06/25/2008, -1/+6People all over SE Asia trade their kids in for money, or whore out their daughters.

    By many standards this kid got lucky, at least he's not selling roses at an intersection at 1am.

    This is nothing new, it happens all over the world.
    • EffZee, on 06/25/2008, -1/+0Don't forget the ever popular collecting money for fake charities.
      • JointVenture, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1thats when they sell a dumb tourist a little bird to set free to bring them luck.

        The birds fly right back to another cage with food.
    • nepidae, on 06/25/2008, -0/+0I wouldn't exactly call it "lucky", more like less unlucky.
  • JAGUART, on 06/25/2008, -2/+3They're just exercising their God given right to overpopulate.
  • samard2002, on 06/25/2008, -2/+1It sounds like they are turning him over to get an education that they can't provide. It may be a cultural difference that we can not comprehend, but this really seems no different to me than an unwed mother giving her child up for adoption to a wealthy family who can give it a better life. From another culture's perspective that might be a horrifying notion -- that rich people "take" poor people's children. But it's a system that prevents us from having orphanages in this country any more.

    The age thing does make it rough though. Eleven is awfully young to essentially end your childhood.
  • hapax, on 06/25/2008, -1/+2To those who are saying they should've used fricking birth control:
    1) It's kinda too late for that.
    2) Don't talk to them, 3 kids isn't a lot, by developing world standards.
    3) Population per se is not a problem. Up north from Indonesia, there is another populous country, twice as crowded but doing fairly well -- Japan. In contrast, they have a problem of not having enough babies.
    • samard2002, on 06/25/2008, -1/+5"Population per se is not a problem. Up north from Indonesia, there is another populous country, twice as crowded but doing fairly well -- Japan. In contrast, they have a problem of not having enough babies."

      I remember that population control was such a major issue a decade again. Now, we are seeing declining birth rates all over the world. In the US, only Hispanics have children at a rate above the "replacement rate" and even that is dropping.
      • LilRedStapler, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1why does this situation remind me of the movie "Idiocracy"? Particularly, the part where they explained why our world is getting dumber because dumb people are reproducing at a much faster rate than intelligent people... except in real life, it's about poverty. =
    • wafla, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1Too bad... Your voice of wisdom will be lost among all the teen-agers giving advice about birth control and "not getting pregnant until you KNOW you can take care of the kid."
    • isleepyx3, on 06/25/2008, -0/+2Yes, and Japan now has a problem supporting the old and retired. There are stories of families abandoning their old to die because the burden of supporting both parents and children is too much for some. This kind of thing was completely unheard of before. Just putting this out there for discussion.
  • HenryJonesJr, on 06/25/2008, -5/+2I'm sure that kid appreciates that his life wasn't worth his dad keeping his dick in his pants. Damn people are stupid. Stop having babies if you can't afford them!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • wafla, on 06/25/2008, -3/+1Also, don't have kids if you're going to get colon cancer 10 years from now. Sheesh... you have to tell these idiot foreigners everything.
    • Aeron, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1and stop having kids while you're still in high school bitches!
  • hapax, on 06/25/2008, -0/+6One historical reason why families here in the developing world want to have many children is because we don't have social security, retirement homes and expensive medical insurance. They are investments who are expected to yield a return by way of taking care of their parents as they age. The more children, the more can share the burden.
    • samard2002, on 06/25/2008, -1/+3Yep. I notice grandma was in the article and got to stay in the house. I bet she eats more than the eleven year old, but she's not being sent anywhere. Can you imagine in this country that someone would keep their mother (or mother-in-law) in their house, but give up their child? No way.
    • nj10ii, on 06/25/2008, -0/+4Yeah they'll return the favor by taking them to the old folks home, and tell them "Be tough, I'm sorry but you have to go.", while searing they are not abandoning their parents, "I am not throwing my parents away" says their child who was abandoned at the sweatshops I mean orphanage.....
    • LilRedStapler, on 06/25/2008, -1/+1I was very surprised by the American culture of leaving grandparents/aged parents at the old-folks home and don't even bother to visit or call. I don't understand why people fail to see that grandparents are great providers of nearly free childcare and have lots of wisdom and love to pass onto the children. Also, if your kids see you treat your parents well, it's more likely that they'll treat you well when you get old.
      • samard2002, on 06/25/2008, -0/+3It's a baby boomer thing and really not all that surprising given their attitude towards everything else. When I built my house, I put in extra plumbing in case my parents ever had to live with me.
  • wushin, on 06/25/2008, -10/+3Poor People are such dumb *****!!! If you can't afford a kid stop having them retards!!! I ***** hope they all starve and ***** Die! POOR PEOPLE ARE THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL!!! I think I'm going to send everyone in a third world country a picture of me eating a nice juicy steak signed Eat ***** and Die! God, I'm glad my ancestors learned how-to evolve past tribal nations armed only with spears. I just can't wait until we figure out how to make bio-fuel out of them. MUHAHAHAHA!!
    • m0tbaillie, on 06/25/2008, -0/+2Your ancestors were armed with more than spears and yet they couldn't pass along a bit of compassion? How sad for you.
    • frisk415, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1***** you. Even in sarcasm (I'll give you the benefit of the doubt) you're not funny. Comedy should have a point. What's yours?
    • Bolin100, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2Obviously, you are not a person of means- not with your lack of vocabulary. By the way, evolution apparently skipped right over you. I wouldn't bother with you either.
  • morningchai, on 06/25/2008, -0/+10That's so heartbreaking.
    ...but has anyone passed this on to Angelina Jolie yet?
    • JovensHomie, on 06/25/2008, -0/+1I wish Angelina Jolie would adopt me, but with my lousy luck I'd probably get stuck with Madonna. :(
  • nj10ii, on 06/25/2008, -8/+4Why don't they just eat him? Big boy like him would probably give at least 2 months worth of good eatin if properly quartered.
  • alexmegatron66, on 06/25/2008, -2/+0The fact of the matter is that, we all rich and poor should stop having kids. This is a ***** up world all over the place, and with global warming this planet pretty soon will get rid all of us parasites. (rich or poor parasites). So be tactful and cum outside your bit****.
  • zoomtechtv, on 06/25/2008, -1/+3It's very sad. However I do think the parents are doing the right thing. I hope their son gets a proper education. So he can rise up from poverty, and become successful and help his parents.
  • TinternAbbot, on 06/25/2008, -1/+3It is sad to give a child up for adoption, but not as sad as living in poverty for one's entire life.
  • digitallysick, on 06/25/2008, -1/+2How about this, families give up kids for adoption, people in the usa want to adpot but can't because of the extremely high cost. Its a business, they don't care about the kids, they would just give them to you free if they cared, or make it affordable. Americans go to china to adopt a child! what does that tell you about our country
  • hurricanewane, on 06/25/2008, -6/+1Stop ***** people. If you don't have the cash don't fill the gash.
    • Anomaly100, on 06/26/2008, -0/+2That is the very definition of bad taste. But, you probably think that's funny. Not even a little bit.
  • Canadian0207, on 06/25/2008, -1/+2the whole lot of you needs to see the documentary "Born Into Brothels." It makes this look like a birthday party.
  • CGillett, on 06/25/2008, -0/+2I had hoped that this was an Onion headline.
  • Samurai77, on 06/25/2008, -1/+3If you really study poverty you will understand that this is a happy story,

    Read "A Crime So Monstrous" By E. Benjamin Skinner

  • drmangrum, on 06/25/2008, -0/+6Just so people know, this isn't localized to Asia. This happens in America too. When I was a child, my mother wanted to do something nice for those less fortunate for Christmas. She decided to try and give a child ( although the kid was like 16 ) a decent Christmas by bringing them home for a week or so. Personally, I thought it was rather cruel as he would have to go back to the orphanage. Anyway, his mother was alive, but could barely afford to make ends meet for herself, let alone her child.

    It's hard to call the parents unfit, they ARE trying. They don't give up their children lightly, but at least they are doing what's best for them.
  • simg, on 06/25/2008, -0/+6to all the unbelievably compassionless people who posted that poor people shouldn't have kids, please note that:

    a) a very large portion of the worlds population are poor.
    b) if poor people didn't have kids almost all of us wouldn't exist, since almost all of our ancestors were dirt poor.
    c) living with finanical hardship is the norm for "most?" people in the world

    either way, grow up and realise just how lucky you are to have been born in an affluent country !
  • koreaski, on 06/25/2008, -0/+4"we don't play favorites in this family... BUT...."
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