Stand For Our Children by Marian Wright Edelman

Marian Wright Edelman - Children's Rights Advocate

We must affirm the sanctity of each child. When Jesus Christ invited the little children to come unto Him, He did not invite only rich, middle class, white, male, children without disabilities, from two parent families, or our own children to come. He welcomed all children. And so must we. All great faiths place a priority on child protection. Our challenge is to reflect this priority every day in our families, communities, and professional lives, and in our private sector and governmental policies.

We must build strong politics and climate for child investment that cuts across race and class, and appeal to self-interest as well as conscience.

We must combat the myths that it is only poor or minority children or those in developing nations who are afflicted by the breakdown of moral, family, and community values throughout our world today. The pollution of our airwaves, air, food, and water; growing economic insecurity among middle-class children and young families; rampant drug and alcohol abuse; teen pregnancy; and domestic violence among rich; middle-class, and poor alike; AIDS; random gun and terrorist violence; resurging racial, ethnic, and gender intolerance in our places of learning, work, and worship; and the crass, empty materialism of too much of our culture, threaten every child. Affluenza and lack of moral purpose are more dangerous viruses than influenza for millions of America’s and the world’s children.

We must stop adult hypocrisy and live what we preach.