April is national Child Abuse Prevention month. You wouldn't know it from all the news being generated about taxes, tea parties and grumbling about the government.
Yet some people took notice at the state Capitol and attempted to draw the attention of the elected officials there. They placed flags there to note the number of children who died as a result of abuse. In our state alone, 32 children died from this horrific crime last year.
One elected official, Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater, was there to take a stand and he called upon our legislators to keep funding programs that help prevent child abuse:
"They want to be tough on crime, but the harm has been done if we’re prosecuting someone. We cannot incarcerate this crime away.”Of all the places to cut the budget, why would this be one? What crime is more insidious than the harm done to a defenseless child? Yet cuts in this area are under consideration by the legislature.
Experts who study the trends tell us that instances of child abuse increase when the economy falters, as it is now. This is a place government can do good and has a responsibility.
So while so many spent this week worrying about government that is too big or a tax burden that is too great, perhaps we should pay attention to a more significant issue. We should discuss it now before we read about the death of another child.
I ask of each chest-thumping politician who attended an anti-tax rally, or took the time to speak out against them, what did you do for those who can't protect themselves? For the defenseless children in our state who are being hurt? Did you do something to protect them, with the same fervor you showed for other issues? If so, then you've done your job and while there may be no press coverage, you've earned a special place in heaven.
If not, if you worked to leap in front of a camera or get ink without helping these children who will be hurt, how do you sleep at night?
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