As this nation assesses the progress we have made 50 years after President Johnson official declared a "war on poverty" and contemplate where we need to go, any honest and sober assessment must include a critical analysis of women and children.  Maria Kennedy Shriver has framed this analysis in a powerful and succinct way. Read her recent article "The Female Face of Poverty" in the Atlantic magazine here where she begins with the following:

"Let me state the obvious: I have never lived on the brink. I’ve never been in foreclosure, never applied for food stamps, never had to choose between feeding my children or paying the rent, and never feared I’d lose my paycheck when I had to take time off to care for a sick child or parent. I'm not thrown into crisis mode if I have to pay a parking ticket, or if the rent goes up. If my car breaks down, my life doesn’t descend into chaos.
But the fact is, one in three people in the United States do live with this kind of stress, struggle, and anxiety every day. More than 100 million Americans either live near the brink of poverty or churn in and out of it, and nearly 70 percent of these Americans are women and children." (Maria Kennedy Shriver)


The Female Face of Poverty

The Light of the World Has Grown Dimmer in Passing of Nelson Mandela

Today (December 5, 2013) the world lost one of its greatest humanitarians and political leaders--Nelson Nelson Rolihlahla "Mandiba" Mandela,  South Africa's first black president (1994 to 1999). This great man taught the world what it means to be free even while imprisoned and what true courage means even in the face of brutal hostility.  In the midst  of all of the speeches and condolences that are saturating the internet, audio and radio, another great of all times, Muhammed Ali's statement embodies the essence of who Nelson Mandela was, what he taught and what he meant to the world:

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Mandela. His was a life filled with purpose and hope; hope for himself, his country and the world. He inspired others to reach for what appeared to be impossible and moved them to break through the barriers that held them hostage mentally, physically, socially and economically. He made us realize, we are our brother's keeper and that our brothers come in all colors. What I will remember most about Mr.Mandela is that he was a man whose heart, soul and spirit could not be contained or restrained by racial and economic injustices, metal bars or the burden of hate and revenge. He taught us forgiveness on a grand scale. His was a spirit born free, destined to soar above the rainbows. Today his spirit is soaring through the heavens. He is now forever free."

 

The Murder of Martin Luther King Jr.

The Murder of Martin Luther King Jr.: Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed by James Earl Ray at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn., 45 years ago, on April 4, 1968. His death shocked a country rocked by riots, civil discord, and a controversial war.  It sparked nationwide protests, a...