One of
the most-watched videos on YouTube a few years ago showed the struggle of a
water buffalo family and herd to save a child. It’s called the Battle at Kruger Park. It begins with a buffalo mother,
father, and child meandering peacefully ahead of the herd unaware that a pride
of six lions is stealthily easing up to attack them. Sensing the danger too late, the water buffalo parents and
calf immediately turn and run away. The child cannot keep up. The six swift lions lunge and overpower this slowest and most vulnerable
family member, tumbling with him into a river.
As the
lions attempt to pull the buffalo calf from the water, a crocodile grabs one of
the child’s legs, eager to share the bounty. The tug of war between the lions and crocodiles over the
young buffalo prey seems to last a painful eternity. As the lions win and drag the buffalo child onto land and
surround him, ready for the kill, you realize, joyfully, that the child is
still alive, but are horrified that he now is going to be devoured.
In the
middle of this life-and-death drama, you suddenly hear and then see movement as
a large herd of water buffalo—a rescue posse—comes storming in to surround the
lions, who do not immediately relinquish the child despite being greatly
outnumbered. After a moment of
herd uncertainty, one angry buffalo—who I just know was the mother—furiously
attacks a lion with her horns and hurls him away. Others in the herd follow her
lead and confront another lion, but still are unable to extricate the child.
Another attempt succeeds as the child struggles to its feet, and the herd
swiftly surrounds and whisks him away. A buffalo remains to chase a remaining lion away. Incredulous that the child was saved, I
asked myself: Where is our human posse—our community and citizen posse—as
powerful human lions and crocodiles eat our children alive across America
today? And what lesson should this
thrilling rescue of a water buffalo child provide us about our responsibility
to protect and save our endangered children?
Protect
the most vulnerable first. Powerful animal—and political—predators go after the weakest and the
most vulnerable first and so we see far too many politicians calling for cuts
in safety net programs for children at a time when one in five of them is poor
and they are getting poorer. They
propose to take away food when children and their families are hungry and
homeless and cut early childhood and education investments when millions lack
the reading and computing skills they need to survive in our economy. The ultimate test of American
democracy, historian Taylor Branch says, “is whether we can protect our
voteless, most vulnerable group—children—without whom there is no future.” So I hope you will join the human posse
to rescue our vulnerable children from political predators.
I believe
deeply that our unjust neglect of and failure to invest fully in all of our
children is the economic and spiritual Achilles’ heel that will topple
America’s leadership in the world in the twenty-first century. I want to yell, “It’s the children,
stupid!” It’s the children—all children—who are the key to a safer, more
economically viable and just nation and world order. And for those of us who seek to heed the prophets and Jesus
Christ and who believe children are also the key to God’s kingdom, why are we
so silent in the face of so much child suffering and need?
Parents
alone cannot protect children: it takes a community and aroused citizens. There are many lurking dangers that
threaten children over which parents have too little control like the massive
joblessness and foreclosures and misguided tax cuts for the wealthy that have
ravished our economy.
I am
encouraged though, by two powerful leaders who get it—that it’s the
children. Federal Reserve Chairman
Ben Bernanke says: “No economy can succeed without a high-quality workforce,
particularly in an age of globalization and technical change. Cost-effective K-12 and post-secondary
schooling are crucial to building a better workforce, but are only part of the
story. Research increasingly has
shown the benefits of early childhood education and efforts to promote the
lifelong acquisition of skills for both individuals and the economy as a
whole. The payoffs of early
childhood programs can be especially high.” nd Nobel Laureate economist James Heckman in a letter to the
National Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Reform wrote: “…it is a
natural reaction to cut spending when faced with a budget deficit. Make no mistake, reducing spending in
some areas is necessary and warranted. However, when one has dug themselves
into a hole, the solution is not to stop digging as much as to start digging
the hand and toe holds that facilitate climbing out. Investing in early
childhood education is that hand and toe hold.”
When Dr.
King left us in 1968, calling for a Poor People’s Campaign, there were 11
million poor children. Today there are 15.5 million poor children and who knows
what the new poverty data will show on September 13th. I’ve no doubt he’d be calling for a
poor people’s campaign today. I
suggest that a loud organized voting citizen posse call on our President and
Congressional leaders to begin with a poor children’s campaign and commit to
protecting rather than cutting children’s food, shelter, health, early
childhood development, and education they need for a positive future. Dr. King is not coming back. We’re
it. Let’s get going to rescue
children from the political lions poised to attack them in the weeks and months
ahead.
Marian
Wright Edelman is a lifelong advocate for disadvantaged Americans and is the
President of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF). Under her leadership, CDF has
become the nation's strongest voice for children and families.
