ON DEVELOPING FERVOR TO STOP CHILD ABUSE

What is it about Americans and their passionate concern for animal welfare, but no passion at all about the welfare of children?  With perhaps the sole exception being the unborn, there seems to be fervor only for the rights of animals.  Though animal cruelty is a crime, it certainly is not as serious a crime as maiming or murdering a child.

The ASPCA has developed a strong TV ad campaign extolling the terrible abuse of dogs and cats that occurs everyday in America.  With its reliance on the sad voice of Sarah McLachlan singing “Angel” over a plethora of photos of animals with only one eye or matted hair, the abuse is palpable.  Sarah appears in the ad sitting on her couch.  She tells us we need to act now to save these helpless critters. I leave the room when I hear the song come on the TV.  I know I am going to be bombarded with sad photos. Friends have told me they find the ads so distressing they give the $25 each month, but refuse to watch the commercial because it makes them cry.  

It is terribly sad what human beings do to animals.  Whether it’s mistreating a family pet, herding orcas for Sea World, or killing a rhinoceros for its horn, it’s horribly wrong.

For me, however, nothing is more startling than the abuse of children.  Every day babies across America suffer at the hands of abusive parents and relatives, are pimped on the streets for sex, or they are able to easily find Daddy’s not so well-hidden pistol. Around the world children are mutilated in tribal ritual, bombed from above, or are malnourished by famine or abuse.

Some, like the “Dozier Boys,” were beaten and murdered while housed under the supposed watchful eye of the Florida School for Boys located in Marianna, Florida.  According to the Tampa Bay Times the graves of 55 boys have been dug up and more are expected to be found.  The number of graves already found is 24 more than the State of Florida reported had died at the facility.  The school has since been closed.

But, no one seems to care.  Hell, a gunman slaughtering 20 children in a grammar school cannot get America off its duff to help children be safe. More, rather than less, guns was the immediate rallying cry of a caring Congress and National Rifle Association.

If Sarah McLachlan wants to really make a difference in the world she would license her song, “Angel,” to play over a one-minute commercial showing photos of children chained to radiators; locked in closets; living in their own filth; missing limbs or eyes taken by guns or knives; dead from gunshot wounds caused by parents who did not love them enough to hide weapons; malnourished due to poverty or neglect; beaten until their bodies were weak; unable to walk because their mother preferred crystal meth to love; or maybe some of the thousands of orphans who lost their parents to disease, accident or crime and now await a safe place to live.

Sarah’s voice-over might read:  “Every day thousands of children are abused by neglect, poverty, violence, and bad parenting.  You can help.  With a donation of only $30, just one dollar a day, you can help one of these children.  Call the number on the screen now and donate what you can.  If you call in the next ½ hour and commit to supporting one of these children, we’ll send you the name of the child you are helping along with their photo.  Don’t wait.  Do what you can.  Save these children from abuse, starvation, and death. Thank you very much.”

I am certain whichever organization is brave enough to air this commercial will raise tens of millions of dollars.  Unfortunately, knowing America as I do, the Tampa Bay Times “Charity Checker” will be required to separate those charities that actually provide care to children in need from those who put the money in their pocket for personal gain.

But, do it we should.  Too many children in this country of wealth are abused and starving. For that matter, this epidemic is worldwide.  Perhaps the "new" Roman Catholic Church under Pope Francis could pull this off.