Why?

Nearly every day, I ponder the why of child abuse and neglect. Why do we as individuals, families, neighborhoods, communities, states, countries and the world accept and allow the atrocities committed to our children? And by our children, I mean all children, not just those in our immediate families or neighborhood. Why do we deal with our pain, our fears, frustrations, stresses, anger and addictions by wounding not only the bodies, but the hearts and minds of our most precious resource, our children?

You may say this doesn’t mean you, that you don’t do these things, But I mean each and every one of us…
as individuals and parents, we stand by and watch children being emotionally or physically mistreated without taking any steps to intervene. We don’t say what needs to be said. It is time to offer to help people who are struggling. We must take responsibility for our children, our future. We must risk ourselves (maybe even our lives) for all of our children.
As families, we don’t always support or educate one another. By not stepping up, we condone behavior that we might feel is wrong, but we don’t believe it’s our place. The extended family, not just parents, is the first school for the child, the place where they learn how to treat others and themselves. They learn who they are in relation to others. They learn of their value and the values that will carry them through their life.
As communities, congregations, or businesses, we watch and condemn, but aren't prepared to offer support and assistance to those who are in need or suffering. We could volunteer our help to schools and community centers and programs for children. We must give financial support to valuable programs that are doing their best to help our young people reach their full potential or empowering parents to care for their children.
As states, we are short sighted in the public policies that are passed. We don’t base those policy decisions on what is in the best interest of our children “to the seventh generation”. We need a “children’s fire”, a group of wise elders who can help determine the impact of all our policy decisions on our children and grandchildren. We don’t allocate the funding to all the needs of our children – they must come first in our hearts, our thoughts, and our decisions! We must fully support education from e-16, health care, safety, and meeting family needs at the very least. It is time to stop looking only to the next election and to work on a long range plan for the future.
As a country, we must dedicate our selves to creating a viable, positive future for all of our children and not leave them with the mess that we have created. We must support UNICEF’s Convention on the Rights of the Child and work with the world community to realize these rights for ALL children.

Our future depends on how we treat our children – its time for an epiphany – a spiritual awakening – in all of us, from parents to our federal government, that our children deserve better. Individually we must wake up to our own behavior toward the children in our lives and every child. Each child has the potential to save the world. Let’s treat each child as though he or she was sacred and as precious as we say we believe they are and help them to live up to the potential for good that is in each and every one of them. I would welcome comments from others.