BUKAVU, Democratic Republic of Congo (CNN) -
Tintsi, like everyone else in this room, is a victim of the worst kind of sexual violation imaginable
"Some of them have knives and other sharp objects inserted in them after they've been raped, while others have pistols shoved into their vaginas and the triggers pulled back," said Dr. Denis Mukwege Mukengere, the lone physician at the hospital. "It's a kind of barbarity that only savages are capable of."The alleged perpetrators are men in uniform, part of the Congolese army. These troops are a compilation of various militia groups that had been fighting each other for years until a truce was reached two years ago.

A recent report by the United Nations found that Congo's own soldiers were responsible for the nearly seven dozen complaints of crimes and human rights violations over the past two months. Among the crimes committed were extrajudicial executions, disappearances, rapes and brutal beatings, according to the U.N. report.

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I read this yesterday and was absolutely and utterly abhored by the acts of people. This was a day after a read an article about the survivors of the Beslan hostage incident in Russia. A little girl who survived did not speak for 2 months afterwards. Her mom lost her job while taking care of her and now the family lives in some sort of horse like stall.

Last night I watched Baghdad ER on HBO. The documentary gives a look at what soldiers and Marines are subjected to as a result of the war. I watched arms being thrown into biohazard bags.

I am not sure what to do with all of this..and there is more but I need to collect my thoughts and ideas better. There are so many good and generous people in the world and yet there are so many evil and despicable ones too. I wonder which number is greater. Would we all help if we could? Or is it mentally safer to just try and deal with our own problems. The difficulties of everyday life and our own family life can be enough to drag anyone down and then to be burdened with the worlds problems. It's just overwhelming. I want to make a difference. Right now I am trying to raise one good kid, who cares about people and animals.

Is it enough to lead a good, moral life and be a upstanding citizen? Is there a positive impact on society if we all did that? Or do we each have to take a greater stand than that?

And something else that has been bothering me. What impact is religion making on the world? Is it really making it a better place? It should be.

I have to go walk the dog now. Maybe I'll ask her what to do. ;-)