Washington Watch
Success at Any Price?
Showing Compassion for Our
Nation's Children
by Bernadine Grant McRipley
How do we value children? The Bible contains stories of Jesus
who both spoke about and demonstrated his love for children.
However, there are an equal, possibly greater, number of stories
that depict something else-relationships between adults and children
that were without compassion, love or respect.
In Judges 11 is a story about a father and daughter that is
often difficult for modern readers to accept. Jephthah wanted
to win the battle and used his best talents and energy to do
so. But he was also willing to forfeit another person to ensure
his success and he gave his daughter as a human sacrifice. Success
may have a high price, but should it ever come at the expense
of our children? You and I are not waging battles, but are we,
like Jephthah, also sacrificing our children because of our misguided
values and priorities?
"Children are the reward
of life." ---Congo Proverb
Extending the Year of the Child
As the General Assembly prepares to conclude this "Year
of the Child" (June 2000--June 2001), our efforts on their
behalf do not need to end along with it. Child advocates will
be pressing the new federal administration and Congress to continue
programs that benefit rather than harm children. The State Children's
Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Medicaid are federal programs
that are in partnership with the states, offering health insurance
to children-and sometimes their parents-who previously have been
uninsured.
Other programs that need our continued attention include immunizations
and childcare. They will be in the congressional appropriations
process and if this year is anything like the past few years,
this will probably happen in the fall. Approving programs is
only the first step-funding plays a crucial role in their success.
President Bush has referred to himself as a "compassionate
conservative." As the first year of his term progresses,
child advocates will be checking to see how he uses his leadership
to demonstrate his compassion for the nation's children, especially
those in low-income families. Along a similar vein, one of the
early statements of the new Congress was to produce "productive
legislation." It seems both goals could be combined and
successfully met by being attentive to the needs of our nation's
children.
Urge Congress to work in a bipartisan effort for programs
that benefit children. Remind your senators and representatives
that children are not only the future citizens of the United
States, but also this nation's future leaders and decision-makers,
as voters and possibly politicians.
Bernadine Grant McRipley is the associate for domestic
issues for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office.
For more information, contact the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue NE, Washington, D.C. 20002;
202/543-1126;
fax 202/543-7755; www.pcusa.org.
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