Our inability to take a stand and make a move is becoming one of our biggest hindrances for progress.  We will continue down the downward spiral unless we abandoned what is comfortable, just talking about the issues.  Stop talking and start doing.

I am thinking like Nike’s brand back in the day, “Just do it!”  No need to wait for the right politician to get in office, we need you.  No need to wait for a committee to decide what we should do, we need you.  Stop waiting for the perfect timing, because it won’t come. Stop waiting for our knight in shinning armor, because he is not on the way.  Collectively as we work together we become the superman or superwoman that we need, but until then we will remain as we are.  Separated without strength.

                                      -Andrew Carnegie

We have to give up our soft chairs of comfortability and begin to mentor young people, educate the un-educated, become fathers to the fatherless, mothers to the motherless, etc.  We can not sit by and continue to watch the demise of our communities only to run to the suburbs of saftey and then talk about how bad “those communities” are becoming.

So what do we do?  What can we impact when we have our own families to care for, provide for.  I mean it is survival of the fitist at this point, isn’t it? 

Well that is a fine point to bring up, but what happens if we continue to forge into the future with that attitude.  An attitude that is all about self, an attitude that secludes the rich from the poor, creating an even bigger chasm between the have’s and have not’s.  I believe going in the same direction that we are headed, will bring upon even more dire times.

Let us begin to change our minds back to the old way of doing things.  Sometimes I think some traditions should be continued.  The tradition I am refering to is the working together as a community.  Buying in our own neighborhoods.  Teaching our own children.  We need to stop depending on the world around us to speak into our lives with out our say so.  So let us begin the change, let each one of us make it a point to mentor another, let each one of make it a point to become a change agent.

Facts about The Million Father March  

·        A father who actively participates in the educational and social development life of a child is invaluable and irreplaceable.  

·        Research shows that children whose fathers take active roles in their educational lives earn better grades, get better test scores, enjoy school more and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college.  

·        Additionally, children have fewer behavior problems when fathers speak and listen to their children regularly and are active in their lives.  

·        A good father is part of a good parent team and is critical to strong family structures.  

·        Strong family structures produce children who are more centered, academically proficient and socially developed and are a valuable asset to their communities.  

·        Better parents produce better communities, better schools and better students. 

·        Fathers, grandfathers, foster fathers, step-fathers, uncles, cousins, big brothers, significant male caregivers and friends of the family can participate in The Million Father March.   

·        While this event is sponsored by Black men, women and men of all races and faith backgrounds are encouraged to take children to school on their first day of school. 

·        200 cities are expected to participate in the Million Father March. 

·        2007 is the forth year for the Million Father March.

-GK. Chesterton

Derrick goes on to reiterate a statistic in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, where researchers found that “40 percent of children regularly watched television by 3 months old.  By age 2, 90 percent watch and average of 1 1/2 hours of TV a day.”

Also in the article he points out that “The American Academy of Pediatrics says children should watch no television before age 2, as studies show that too much TV leads to poor grades, attention deficit, obesity, and bullying.”

So parents what ever you do.  Do not use the TV as a cheap babysitter when you are tired, and don’t believe the hype that these new DVD’s and “educational shows” are good for your children, nothing to me can replace the good old fashion book and toy.

So as a solution, Dimitri Christakis fo the University of Washington says, “The message is not to kill your television,… it can be used to pique a child’s interest.  If they see a show on lions, Google lions, go to the library and take out books on lions, go to the zoo and see lions.  Parents often say they live in a fast-paced world.  But we shouldn’t give up on traditional ways of learning.”