The Lorax

“I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees because they have no tongues.” These famous words were spoken by a character of a Dr. Seuss book, called The Lorax. You may wonder why I am starting off the first post of my blog by quoting a children’s picture book. The answer is quite simple. The trees are not the only creatures in this world devoid of a voice to speak out against injustice. You see, there are many groups, past and present, who lack the influence and voice to speak out for themselves. One such group is children.

Throughout history children have always been convenient victims of political and societal evils. Everyone speaks of basic human rights and such, but oftentimes, the children, the most vulnerable members of society, are overlooked, neglected, and totally ignored. It is time for the children to have a voice, however quiet that voice may be! That is what this blog is all about. I want to look at issues that children face, and have faced throughout history. I am a Lorax for the children, making their quiet voices heard.

And quiet they are, those voices. Ostensibly, parents are those who are to speak for their children and care for them. But for those who suffer, it is often these selfsame parents who are the source of their misery and troubles. And these parents are all part of an overall culture that endorses and develops their child-rearing beliefs and practices. Even parents declared non-abusive by society may simply be abusive in a way society at large continues to endorse, accept, or tolerate. There is a Congressional Children’s Caucus, but it has no child members, and children do not elect them.

How can people expect to be represented by representatives they have no part in choosing? It is true that children may not possess the full faculties to do so, but as people, do they not have the same human rights as everyone else? Society leaves it up to the parents to protect such rights, but children do not choose their parents and have little ability, if any, to seek redress of problems from outside authorities.

In this blog, we will look at all the problems children face, and have always faced throughout history, from a global perspective. We will examine the issues, but we will also look at the solutions. There will be many distressing stories, but there will also be many stories of hope. All of it will be thought-provoking, I hope.

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, anything at all to say, I will be very happy to read and address your comments! It is my hope that this blog will inspire thinking, and I would love to see discussions of these topics taking place in the comments!