"Waiting on the World to Change" - children growing up in the poorest city in America.

[Sapphire Blue]

Friday, Jan. 26 at 10 p.m. ET:

"Waiting on the World to Change:" Diane Sawyer looks at the lives of children growing up in the poorest city in America.



Video:

The Children Next Door - 'Moochie of Camden, NJ': http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2819889

Growing Up In Poverty - 'Ivan's Story': http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2816480

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/

Franklin D. Roosevelt said "The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little."

Some people understand that. If you are one of those people, I thank you w/every fiber of my being.

Some people don't understand that. They say that "Poverty isn't a winning issue." If you are one of those people, can you look Moochie or Ivan, or the millions of children living in poverty, in the eye, and tell them that 'Poverty isn't a winning issue'? If you can do that, you are driving a stake into the soul of Humanity.


John Edwards for President 2008

[Mnemosyne]

1. Very important issue. Thanks Sapph! knr! n/t

[porphyrian]

2. There are those in our ranks who think they don't matter as much because they don't vote.

I say the poor are tired of being used by politicians who don't really represent them. Edwards seems promising. I'd like to see him deliver.

[Sapphire Blue]

3. ...

John Edwards for President 2008

[nam78_two]

4. K&R

Thank you so much for your posts.

[Sapphire Blue]

11. ,,

Thank you for understanding!

[Reterr]

5. Now how on earth did a post like this one sink? k&r

[Sapphire Blue]

12. ..

\/


\/


\/


\/





(Thanks for the K&R, Reterr)

[silverojo]

29. Because even here at DU

Very few people care about the impoverished in our country. All they want to talk about is the war. As I always say, wars end eventually, but poverty never will until people start giving a damn about it.

[ulysses]

6. thanks, Sapphire

:thumbsup:

[bobbolink]

7. If it isn't a "winning issue", what do we lose?

Our next generation? Our hope for the future?

What does it take to learn?

How many millions of children now live in poverty in the richest country on the planet?

How long do we *really* think those children are going to be willing to keep quiet about it, accept their fate, and leave the rest of us in "peace"????

If people really don't think it's important, or a "winning issue", then what are they going to think when these children grow up and finally lose patience with our hardened hearts, and start to MAKE US PAY ATTENTION!!

It's not impossible that torches and pitchforks won't appear!

As I've been telling clergy, the only reason that we're so easy to ignore is that we've cooperated in our own invisibility. We're not making their everyday lives a bit more difficult. We haven't nailed our 95 complaints to their church doors.

We've been willing to die quietly, one by one.

These children may not be so willing.

Katie bar the door if they come together and decide that they *ARE* valuable, and deserve a decent life in this country!!

:nuke:

[bonito]

8. I think how a society treats it's people

Directly reflects the future of that society, our destiny has always been in our hands for the most part.

[veness]

9. K&R. n/t

[Sabriel]

10. Show it to Spellings

Maybe then she'll figure out why certain kids aren't reading at grade level like their middle class peers.

Thanks. I'll be sure to show it to the education students don't have any frame of reference for children they have in their classrooms who come from backgrounds like this. I know I sure don't.

[InternalDialogue]

13. Thanks, Sapphire Blue. I'll be setting my recorder for the show.

And bookmarking your links for later.

Can you imagine what a different world we'd live in if that FDR quote were part of our national conscience?

"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little."

Whether they utter a word or not, people in need are asking us to treat them like fellow humans. Pity that it doesn't seem to be a human trait to respond in kind.

[Sapphire Blue]

14. ..

:kick:

[RB TexLa]

15. I'd like to see them do one on Lake Providence, La as well to show

the rural side of it as well.

[AbbyR]

16. I just watched this

I have a faster computer at work. Even though the scenes were short, it is such a horrible picture of how some children live in this country. It has convinced me that my decision to go back into teaching is the right one. We must - MUST - do something to help these little ones who cannot help themselves. The mothers aren't in much shape to help themselves either. How did we come to this - and what do we do?

[Sapphire Blue]

18. ..

:hug: Bless you for caring so much about the children & going back to teaching!

[Sapphire Blue]

17. ***** More Video *****

Poverty in America - 'Billy of Camden, NJ': http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2823563

[Sapphire Blue]

22. kick - for Billy!

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

19. ***** Organizations Working to Improve Children's Lives in Camden, N.J., and Nationwide *****

Find Out More and Get Involved

Organizations Working to Improve Children's Lives in Camden, N.J., and Nationwide


The following groups are working to help underprivileged children in Camden, N.J. Click on the blue links below to learn more about the organizations and how you can help.

UrbanPromise: Urban Promise's mission is to equip Camden's children and young adults with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, spiritual growth and Christian leadership.

Boys & Girls Club of Camden County: The Boys & Girls Club of Camden County works to provide every child with the essential tools needed for a successful and bright future. Every day, the Boys & Girls Club of Camden County strives to improve each child's life by implementing self-esteem, courage, and positive values through all of the educational programs. Club members receive tutoring, computer training, sports education, homework help, and mentoring.

Generations United: Generations United (GU) is a national membership organization focused solely on improving the lives of children, youth, and older people through intergenerational strategies, programs, and public policies. GU represents more than 100 national, state, and local organizations and individuals representing more than 70 million Americans.

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2823067

[Sapphire Blue]

23. ***** KICK *****

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

27. !

:kick:

[smokey nj]

20. Kick for Moochie and Ivan.

[Sapphire Blue]

21. And Billy! (See Post 17)

:hug:

[smokey nj]

24. Kick for Billy.

I hope he makes it.

[Sapphire Blue]

25. Kicking again for Billy!

:kick: :hug: I'm hoping he makes it, too!

[nam78_two]

26. kic.nt,

[in_cog_ni_to]

28. Gotta watch this. It's going to be heartbreaking! I hope it wakes people

UP! I saw a preview of this today and forgot to set my reminder. .hanks for reminding me!

[BadGimp]

30. I salute you Sapphire Blue

You heart is filled with compassion and kindness.

Thank you!

[Sapphire Blue]

31. Moochie, Ivan & Billy are "Waiting on the World to Change". Let's make it happen.

:hug: Let's make this world a better place for Moochie, for Ivan, for Billy, and for the millions of other children living in similar circumstances all over this country. Let's work to fight poverty.