Human right is for the Righteous human

A letter sent by brokenhearted mother to another mother in São Paulo after watching the TV news:

FROM MOTHER TO MOTHER:

I saw your heart-rending protest before the TV cameras today as you protested against your son – a juvenile offender – from the dependencies of FEBEM (the Brazilian punitive institution for minors) São Paulo to another FEBEM facility within the state being transferred to.

I saw you complaining about the distance that will not be separating you and your son. In addition, of all the difficulties as well as the cost of having to travel to visit him among other inconveniences due to your beloved son being transferred.

I also saw all of the media coverage on the matter as well as that other mothers, like you, are supported by the church as well as some other human rights organizations that support mothers in such conditions

See I am a mother, too, just like you and I can understand your protest very well. Moreover, I want to join in the protest because great is the distance that separates me from my son.

I work hard and make very little money and have to go through some of the same difficulties you face and I also have to spend a lot of money to visit my son. With a lot of effort, I can visit him every Sunday because I work even on Saturdays help out in the education and support of the rest of the family.

Fortunately, I can count on the support of my inseparable partner who is more like a councilor and spiritual guide.

In case you do not know yet I am the mother of that young man your son stupidly killed in a strong-arm robbery at the video store where he – my son – used to work during the daytime to pay off his studies at night.

Next Sunday, while you are holding your son in your arms, and kissing him and giving him your love I will be visiting mine and leaving some flowers on his humble grave in the city’s cemetery.

Oh, yeah! I almost forgot. In spite of making little money and having to support the rest of family, I am obliged to help pay the brand new mattress your son burned in the latest riot at the FEBEM facility.
At the cemetery, however, no one - from any of these organizations that support and help the hopeless mothers such as your - has EVER come to comfort me or to offer a a helping hand. No has ever shown what “rights I can claim”!

If you agree with this letter please pass it along and maybe we will be able to change this inversion of values. Because human rights is for righteous humans.

Translation from Portuguese:

César Melo

@caninz