Why the indifference

My contacts and friends in Facebook will either think I'm KJ (kill joy) or I'm trying to sound deep, for not changing my profile picture into one of my favorite childhood cartoon characters. But what the heck, I don't care what you'll think of me. This is what I think. 


I logged in my FB account and noticed that a bunch of friends started changing their profile picture into cartoon and anime characters. I've immediately thought that something is up with Facebook. Then I saw a friend post this--"Change your facebook profile picture to a cartoon from your childhood and invite your friends to do the same. Until Monday (December 6), there should be no human faces on facebook, but a stash of memories. This is for eliminating violence against children."


The were two things that I first thought of, one who started the campaign, and two, is there some kind of a celebration on children's rights that's supposed to be happening this month of December. 


I didn't change mine because from here on, I have shadows on this awareness campaign. Plus, how can you be against violence when most of cartoons that I see in FB has violent contents not fit for children? I don't do things half-heartedly. I must have total faith in it first. 

And then, boom! Even before I can even lay hands to some answers, the thing went viral and almost every one in FB carry a face of his childhood memories. 


I would be a fool to say that the idea of getting nostalgic did appeal tempting to me. But that per se defeats the purpose of the said campaign. 


I know there are serious folks in Facebook that said "I'm changing my profile picture because I want to fight child abuse and violence." But what's the chance that the percentage of this bunch is higher than those of just wanting to ride the wave of people having cartoon faces? I have my OWN guess. 


Definitely whomever started this meme (GMA News pretty much explained how it started) didn't mean bad unless he wanted to make a big joke out of everybody. But I still see that Filipinos have the NOSE to be aware. 


However, I just think that this campaign fell short, and a I already mentioned, defeated its purpose. 


Because on how much we really get aware--in terms of how many children are being forced to work on the streets, on drug dens, on prostitutions houses, on porn sites; or how many children are raped; or how many are battered and hurt; or what's the real figures on child abuse and violence in the Philippines--that's what did not translate to me. 


And that's what I want to be aware of. And if only someone can inform these things to public with the use of changing profile pictures into cartoon characters, then expect to see the face of Sailor Moon in my FB account. 


*Note: According to childprotection.org.ph, 75 percent of child abuse in the Philippines is sexual abuse; 16 percent on physical abuse; 2 percent physical with sexual abuse; 1 percent neglect; and 4 percent U VA (sorry I can't research what this means! >.<)


Also I found out that a children's day called Universal Children's Day sanctioned by the United Nations is celebrated on the month of November.