“The Perry, Iowa Shooting. Now What?”
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. (Psalm 127:3)
The shooting in Perry, Iowa, is just another example of the suffering our American children endure regularly. The neglect of our nation’s children was evident in “Why America Hates Its Children” by Lydia Kiesling. Kiesling opens with a story of a visit she and her daughter made to Greece. They were standing inside a bus, and an unknown woman grabbed her daughter’s arm so she didn’t slip when the bus jerked forward. The kind woman kept her hand on her child until they reached their destination. Kiesling lamented how the same situation in the United States would have felt creepy or dangerous. We teach children and adults to ignore and even fear each other. She said Greece is not free from predators, but the way “America treats its kids goes far beyond the ‘it takes a village’ attitude that prevails in countries like Greece.”
Kiesling’s opening story doesn’t begin to address the extent to which we’ve abandoned our children. She points out that “Only one-third of American families can afford childcare,” leaving two-thirds of families’ children at risk of poverty or a lack of attention. Additionally, the death of an eleven-year-old Perry boy is the latest example of child abandonment. Kiesling states, “Among 38 leading Western nations, American kids account for 97% of child gun deaths.” Yet, we Americans refuse to address the murders with meaningful gun legislation.
Additionally, government programs, like Child Protective Services, are severely understaffed because they are not valued enough to receive appropriate funding. America’s Foster Care program has too many horrific examples to list in this devotion. We regularly cut funds for Public School education and yet expect children who speak English as a second language to keep up with few, if any, resources. Free breakfast and lunch programs around the country are not meeting nutritional needs. We often leave children who struggle with physical or emotional challenges without the extra support needed to succeed in their future.
Today, prayerfully consider who we are as a society. Do our actions match our words? Does how we treat our nation’s children fit with the faith many of us hold dear? It is easy to become cynical and let ourselves off the hook by saying, “What can I do?” Instead, begin with prayer because God can change all things for good. Yet, remember that God works through us. We are called to make voting decisions considering our children’s needs. We can volunteer and financially support programs and organizations that care for our children. Faith in action, with the Holy Spirit’s support, can chip away at the fear and violence our children face in our great nation. It is time to get to work with reflection and meaningful action so shootings like the one in Perry will become less common.