Is America Still Beautiful?

On Sunday morning I woke up in the early morning hours hearing the words to the song America the Beautiful coupled with the television going on and on and on about Casey Anthony's release.  I grunted and went back to sleep.  When I woke again, the words to America the Beautiful was still running in my head and they were still talking about Casey Anthony.  But for some reason my mind immediately went to the Children's Defense Fund's State of America's Children Report and I couldn't help but wonder is America still beautiful?

I am sure that the Indians, in times before Christopher Columbus, thought America was beautiful and appreciated her in all her glory.   Would they still believe in her beauty after being transplated across the bad lands?  Do the many children who after being found to be abused or neglected and recieve no services believe in her beauty?  Do the other children represented in the Report believe in her beauty?  Do I even really believe in America's beauty when I look around me?

The CDF's Report reveals the following (in no specific order):

• Every 11 seconds of the school day a child drops out
• A majority of children in all racial and income groups and almost 80% of Black and Hispanic children in public schools cannot read or do math at grade level in fourth, eighth, or 12th grades
• America is 1st in number of billionaires and last in relative child poverty
• America is 1st in number of persons incarcerated and last in protecting our children against gun violence
• America is 1st in military weapons exports and defense expenditures, but 31st in math scores and in the gap between the rich and the poor
• Black women are more likely to die due to pregnancy complications than women in 54 other nations, including Iran and Albania
• Every second a public school student is suspended
• Every 8 seconds a high school student drops out (every 4 seconds for a black child)
• Every 21 seconds a child is arrested
• Every 34 seconds a child is born into poverty
• Every 42 seconds a child is born without health insurance and is confirmed abused or neglected
• A total of 15.5 million children or one in every 5 lived in poverty in 2009

How can a country that boast itself as the greatest place, treat and/or allow its chidren to be in such dire conditions?  Congress is fighting over whether to pay its bills and there are children starving.  Republicans are doing everything they can to ensure that the health care is rolled back, while millions of children are in need of health care.  I guess when tax payers pay for your kids to be insured its kinda hard to care about someone elses kids. 

It is time we take a long hard look at America........without the rose colored glasses.  If we continue to treat our children in the way we do, America will never be as beautiful as I am sure it was to the Indians before Columbus came.

The Anti Baby Mama Book

While visiting the Shrine of the Black Madonna in Atlanta, I was standing at the counter paying for some books and noticed a book behind the cash register titled "The Anti Baby Mama Book."  I initially laughed, asked to see a copy, and told my LS that I had to get the book because I could only imagine what it could be about and contain between the cover.  

I must say I was pleasantly surprised.  The author does a very good job of explaining several things.  One that anyone can be a "baby mama."  It is not about economics.  She also speaks on why you shouldn't want to be a baby mama.  I actually read the book from cover to cover in a couple of hours.  I simply could not put it down.  I know plenty of women who jokingly refer to themselves as the "baby mama."  But I also know plenty of women/girls who seriously are "baby mamas."

After reading the book I begin to reflect on what it really means to be a "baby mama" and if that is what we as women should be allowing anyone to refer to us as.  Is it a term of endearment or love?  Absolutely not! In fact quite frankly it minimizes the role of being a mother.  Unfortunately, there are many women who actually probably deserve the title, however, there are many more who for whatever reason have allowed themselves to be referred to this, but definitely should not allow it.

Truthfully speaking there is nothing positive gained when you hear the term "baby mama."  It is usually preceded with "she's just my..." or followed by "drama."  I would dare say that she is probably (if she is truly a reflection of the term) someone who got pregnant on purpose thinking (wrongly) that a baby would make him love her, stay around, or somehow bind them together forever.  When in reality none of the above has transpired.  

I also thought about when the phrase came about because when I was growing up that was not a catch phrase in referring to a parent of either sex.  The only thing I can think of was the song by B Rock and the Biz "That's Just My Baby Daddy."  Anyone else know of another origin?

I have asked the question many times and I will ask it again.  Does it matter what you are called?  Some would say it only matters what you answer too, however, I would suggest that if you are called something long enough you will eventually answer.  

I strongly suggest that you pick this book up and really give what the author says some thought and have the conversation.  The only way we grow is if we begin to honestly address some of what is going on in our communities.  I would definitely say this minimization of parenting and parents is definitely a problem that needs addressing and who knows, maybe it starts with what we define ourselves as.