I’d like to teach the world to sing …
Posted on October 8, 2009 by FoBaM-Jamie
Earlier this week, we enjoyed a little self-indulgent fantasy. I’m proud of you! I was thrilled to see so many of you stepping up to name the non-essential treats would make your life a little brighter. It’s not easy to put yourself first, even in a fantasy. You done good! 
I hope you had the chance to read through some of responses. Some wishes were touching, like Christie Zowalski’s to have her husband home from Iraq. Some of you were pragmatic, like Christine Brooks and many others who wished to be out of debt. Some desires were LOL funny, like Lyndise Damon’s wish for “a nice, supportive BRA! And a good fitting pair of jeans!!!” or Echo Mann who wished for “a smaller butt, and then a shopping spree to buy cute clothes because i have a smaller butt.” Some wishes were simple, like Lynda Lou Larson Jesse who simply wrote, “I love to get new journals.” And some were inexplicable, but charming, like Robbie Boots Gunderman who posted, “I want a lounging night gown, with matching robe … you know, like the kinds that Blanche wears in Golden Girls…”
That was really fun, and we’ll definitely be revisiting that topic soon. Maybe we should post a job opening for a fairy god mother – I think we could keep her busy for a good, long while!
Today, we’re visiting the other end of the spectrum. Inspired in part by the amazing conservation efforts depicted in Ken Burns’ National Parks series and in part by a Virginia Woolf quote, we’ve been thinking about what we’d like to do if we could make the world a better place – for ourselves and for our children. Woolf wrote, “As a woman I have no country, as a woman I want no country, as a woman my country is the whole world.” I”m dating myself, but that reminds me of the old Coke ad – I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony.
It’s true, in a sense, that women – particularly mothers – have a greater-than-average capacity for compassion and nurturing. Whether we are looking after our own children or supporting mothers in countries half-way around the world as they care for theirs, we want to do something. We care about all kinds of causes: saving the rainforest, solving global warming, ending animal cruelty, curing cancer, eradicating hunger, improving education, fighting domestic violence, and so many more.
If you had a chance to do one thing to bring more joy and harmony into the world, what would it be?
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Photo Credit: alicepopkorn
I think it is terrible that we are raising our children in a world with so much hate/ dishonesty and crime.
My daughter is so friendly and sadly, it makes me fear for her as it is difficult for me as a mom to trust others…due to the crazy world we live in.
I completely agree that for me as a mother of five the most important job that I have is teaching my kids to be compassionate, kind, honest, ethical, and to make our world a better place. It has been disheartening to me as a human and mom to watch the sweetness of a child be disrupted by a negative, nasty, mean adult. I often say that if adults were more like little children (kind, loving, compassionate, honest) that our world would be a better place. My dream is to see more of this again in our world.
Orphans are what is closest to my heart. (not on your list) Obviously more eyes need to be open to this huge problem, not only in other countries, but also our own. I wish that more people would step up and provide homes for the many orphans in the world. I can’t imagine not having a family, but so many little ones are dealing with this everyday.
What have we done to help… adopted an orphan, started an orphan ministry and sponsor children beyond the sending of $$ every so often. (and we want to adopt again) All children deserve a family. I wish that those who could adopt (financially) but do not want to, would help other who can’t financially but want to. I am sure we would have already started the process again.
it’s kinda ironic that “Environmental and/or animal protection” made it to the choices but not one choice for children like ABOLISH CHILD ABUSE!!! Fans of Being a Mom… BLUNDER!! The environment and animals came well before CHILDREN.
human rights are so imporaint to me. mostly childrens rights. i have seen so many kids abused and mistreated it breakes my heart.
I’d love to see more research into prematurity. Our daughter was born at just 24w, 3d and thankfully is a happy and healthy 7 month old now. But, her birth was without warning–everything was progressing just fine. It would be my wish that no mother goes through the 16 weeks in the hospital NICU that we did.
I think you are right and I am terribly sry for the troubles u underwent, I think it is awesome to no that your daughter is doing great and healthy, I just recently had a baby number three and started premature labor at 32 weeks but managed not to have him until 35 or 36 weeks, then the day I was relaesed from the hospital the doctors told me by baby would not be going home with me cause he had bad jaundice so as im leaving the hospital without my baby and thinking how I felt it really made me feel for those who were leaving hospitals knowing their babies would never be coming home, I really think there should be more done for families going through these types of things.
@Ashley:
I have had two children in NICU’s after birth. I won’t get into the details but you are right that unless someone has been there than they can’t understand. What breaks my heart in NICU’s are the babies that no one is visiting…that is just tragic.
Good luck to you and healing blessings to your jaundiced son. I am sure he will be home in your loving arms soon. Be comforted that it isn’t more serious. It’s a blessing that this is the only thing wrong so know that he will be with you soon.
The two hospitals where my sons where had a supportive network through the staff. I have been told that they can’t connect parents because some people get offended and think they have to go through it without wanting others to know their heartache.
Again..best wishes for you and your son.
…what I get for doing this while I’m working…lol….supposed to read “..where my sons were…”
I agree with Karen. Nothing gets me more mad than when I hear about a child who has been neglected or abused. Some day I hope to be a foster mom to some of these kids who don’t stand a chance unless a loving adult steps up and makes a difference.
It is a toss up for us between medical & the environment… Our daughter at just 14 months old was diagnosed with cancer due to something environmental! This is just NOT explored enough! And then after my daughter’s diagnosis it was impossible to find someone from the CDC or EPA that would just talk to me, it was just our tough luck!! I pray for a cure everyday for these children with cancer! And then a safe surrounding to grow in to a ripe OLD age!
Moms would definately get a paycheck and would not have to stress over soo many things. Just being the best Mom they can be.
If moms could afford to stay home and just be awesome moms (or dads for that matter), our entire society would improve. Maybe the government would get a clue and spend some of that money that they are throwing around on making it possible for moms to be with their children.
My plan to help the world involves more than one of those options. I’m studying genetics and hope to bioengineer a safer and more efficient source of energy (to replace oil, hydrogen, and nuclear fuels). This coincides with the environmental option. The main reason why I got into genetics in the first place though is to have enough of a scientific standing to prevent things that violate human rights and safety, i.e. be on the ethics commitee, (such as genetic classism, designer children, genetically modified food, etc). It’s a fine line to tred but I hope to walk it with more caution than those before me.
Good luck Sarah I hope you succeed in your goal as a genetic engineer.
So many of these causes are inextricably linked… we can not have World Peace without Human Rights… and I believe that a part of human rights is the right to sustanably managed natural resources. Most of the ecosystems that are in jeopardy happen to be essential to the survival and traditional ways of life for people in those parts of the world. If we don’t respect the people and their right to live on their ancestral lands, those lands get decimated in the name of “development” or for the short term gains of a few wealthy corporate CEOs. We need to see people as having basic rights before we will really see how damaging those attitudes are. We need to end the concept of “eminent domain” as well.
Amy – love it. Totally agree.
As a homeschooling mom, education is near and dear to my heart. I feel that so many of the causes listed would be solved by properly educating our children. I tell my boys tht if the only thing they take away from their education is the ability to THINK they will be ahead of many of their peers (unfortunately), and I will consider our educational experience a success. Schools in this country teach children to conform, not to think outside of the box. A major overhaul in our educational system is needed before so many of these other casues will be achieved.
I find it heartbreaking & infuriating that there is so much discrimination & hate out there for ‘others’ simply because they are not just like ‘us’. I’d like to teach the world to love as God commands & intended. Acceptance & love would certainly help to further almost every other worthy cause out there.
IF I COULD HAVE ANYTHING I WANTED…I would invent something to make children comfortable in their own skin…forever
I chose medical research because I work in a laboratory. My family has been struck with cancer quite a few times, and if I were able to help keep that from happened that would be wonderful. I have also had a few very close friends who have come close to losing their battles with cancer, and it breaks my heart. Some day I hope to be on a research team, until then I will continue my work in a hospital or physicians office to help people throughout their every day lives. Take care all.
I believe that by enriching our kids education, this in turn would improve many other things for their future and for generations on. There would be less poverty, less crime, etc. I have a step-son would was 18 in 10th grade. He quit school in 10th grade because he just couldn’t keep up. We tried to have him held back in middle school, but due to him already being 16, they refused to keep him in middle school past this age…even after admitting that they too, didn’t think he was ready for high school. Why do our school systems just push these kids through, knowing they aren’t ready? Stop over looking our kids! This will only endanger everyones future even more!
I would love for someone to come up with a miracle or a cure to stop epilepsy. My oldest son, Greg, came into this world as a healthy and bright baby. At twenty-two months of age, Greg could recongnized all of his ABC’s, could write his name and read. But when he was in 5K, on the day his brother, Mack was born. Greg had a GM seizure. From that day on he started having seizures everyday. He has taken just about every medication on the market and has had two brain surgeries and a VGS implanted in his chest. Today he is 21 years old and he can’t talk or read anymore and he has to depend on me to take care of his everyday needs. He is still taking three seizure meds a day and still has seizures almost everyday. He is the sweetest, most caring person that I’ve ever seen. I wouldn’t trade him for anything in this world, but if I could take his seizures for him I would.
Sexual Assault against women on Campus is a big issue!!!!!!!!!
Sexual assault on campus is a relatively unexplored issue. In fact, it is expected that 1 in 5 women will be sexually abused during their university years. This is one of the most under reported crimes as the majority of them occur between acquaintances and the shame and fear of the assault are just some of the barriers to reporting.
Understanding that education and awareness are critical in order to transform social attitutdes about this and that social change needs to be addressed in a variety of methods.
The first thing that strikes me about education is knowledge gain. Education gives us the knowledge of the world around us. It develops in us a perspective of looking at life. It helps us build opinions and have points of view on everything in life. People debate over the subject of whether education is the only thing that gives knowledge. Some say, education is the process of gaining information about the surrounding world while knowledge is something very different. They are partly right. But the conversion of information to knowledge is possible because of education. Education makes us capable of interpreting rightly the things perceived. Education is not about lessons and poems in textbooks. It is about the lessons of life
I put environmental issues, not simply because of “Ooh, look the pretty animals”, but because I believe the harm we’re causing to the environment with multiple chemicals, hormone disruptors and pollution is contributing to cancer, reproductive disorders and many other health problems.
I agree with a previous poster…I don’t understand why child abuse was not a choice in this. I just recentlyw atched a video on a baby girl named Brianna and her story. It was by far the saddest thing I have ever seen, aboud a baby who was beaten and abused by her mother, father, and uncle since birth, and raped by her father and uncle. This baby wasn’t even a year old. Her grandmother, and another uncle knew about it, but said nothing until this girl was killed. It was the most disturbing display of neglect and abuse that I have ever seen in my life. I want to see more being done to end child abuse
@sarah
Brianna’s dad is(or was when this happened) in Iraq serving in the U.S. military. The man that raped her was not her father but her mother’s boyfriend. The poor dad was overseas fighting and when he finally came home he was told his baby girl had been killed. I really hope that justice comes to the mother, boyfriend, uncle, and any other family members that hurt this poor innocent little girl. My heart just goes out to her poor father who was thousands of miles away.
I would increase the number of “Baby Friendly” hospitals in the United States. They are ones that encourage and support breastfeeding for babies and mothers. We only have 65 in our entire country, the lowest for a developed country!
Nothing else matters if you don’t have a place to call home. Every child deserves to be nurtured in a warm house with loving people around them. You can’t possibly gain an education if all you worry about is where you will sleep tonight or whether you will get to eat. I believe that if we conquer homelessness and have it so every person, child and adult alike can find a roof over their head, everything else will look up from there. I see so many homeless people when I go to the city, and whatever circumstances landed them there is irrelevant, all we need is someone to care enough to say “It’s ok, come with me.” Noone ever asks for bad things to happen, often they do though, and we need to get our head out of the sand and open up to the less fortunate. Children are our future, let’s give them a great beginning and teach them how to make it successfully into adulthood and have compassion for those less fortunate.
“Give a man a fish and you have fed him once. Teach him to fish and you’ve fed him for a lifetime.”
If everyone had human rights, following right behind would be all the other rights that human beings are entitled to. We’d need no right to food or education, because all those people who right now have no rights would not be made slaves…and with rights of their own, they’d want children to have food and shelter and education and they’d want the women and disabled of the world to have those same rights that they enjoy.
I would have to say Child Abuse. There is nothing lower than a person who would abuse, neglect or sexually assault a child. There are no words to describe how this impacts them forever, if they survive it. I wish we could save them all. Protect every one of those precious little hearts.
Earth is our only home. What people have done and continuing to do to the earth will be the demise to not only so many wildlife, but also humanity. We’ve already inherited so much pollution, but we shouldn’t go with the flow and just continue on. It’s a sad state when I go to the grocery store and I wonder if there’s any pesticides in the food we’re giving our daughter, wondering if there’s any ecoli lurking in the produce section. I can’t even live in certain regions because I have asthma and the more air pollution the more my asthma gets affected. I think it’s great that more and more people are recognizing the situation we are in.
I would help with awareness and teach people about neonatal and infant death. It is something that affects more women in the world than we can begin to imagine and something should be able to be done to prevent it. Infancy loss awareness would be my cause!
I don’t mean world peace like Miss America would, I mean the peace of Christ. The everlasting love of our God spreads peace around the world each and every day. I cannot change the world as it is but I can spread the good news of our Lord and Savior. He is an awesome God that can give peace to everyone.
Wow I chose medical because I have an Autistic son. i would love to see a cure there are so many children with autism and related issues. But reading the comments made me realize there are other issues that touch me as well. I defiantly agre that child abuse needs to be stopped.
and I also had a Premature baby he was born at 33 1/2 weeks and was in the hospital for three weeks with under developed lungs. He is now 12 and other than him being small you would never know he was a premi. I give a lot of credit to the nurses that took care of him (and me) around the clock. So more research into premature births would also be great. There are so many worthy causes it’s hard to pick just one.
I would choose food allergies,they don’t get enough attention,although,I think it is getting better.My son has life threatening food allergies to nuts and shellfish,it is very scarey to send him out into the world,just one bite could be deadly,we have his epipen wherever he goes.Advocacy is the key to keep our kids safe!!
That said,I would choose many if I could…cure cancer, advocate against child abuse…. my list could go on…
I would have to say medical research but to be more exact the cause I have closest to my heart would be Fallen Fire Fighters and EMS providers. Currently I am volunteering for an agency and I don’t think there is enough awareness for safety for fire fighters and EMS providers. Both jobs are equally as dangerous as a police officer and military personnel but our training ends up being limited because of the funding for our emergency services so as a mother and EMS provider everyone go out and donate to your local Fire and EMS agencies it helps save lives!!!!
I am definitely with those that want to end child abuse and neglect. Nothing tugs at my heartstrings more. I would add to that the abuse of women.
Hi to everyone who is voting in here ..and leaving the comments….i would like to say that we can talk a lot of about different problems and never get the chance to see the result…..cause we live in a crazy world and this is the initial cause of all the problems……everywhere is criem, violence..on the TV you can see only bad news, bad movies and and if there is something better for us grown people for our kids i just don’t see it, there even is no any cartoon , a normal cartoon like we had in our times at least….there is just tanks, warriors and chinese sex….i appologize for this…….and not only on TV…you can;t trust already to anyone …you don’t know who is behind that smiling face….you don’t know who are you inviting in your own home….what is your private…..i guess you understood my point of view….i voted for the world peace…..and if it will win trust me we won’t need to worry about tomorrow day……Thank you …..N…..
The ultimate stand for human rights would be for there to be no more wars, ever. Anyone is welcome to join my cause on facebook aptly named “No Wars – Ever.” Goal is to end all current wars & start no new wars, ever.
Whether you join or not, advocating for children is I think the best place to start for human rights b/c if you truly want to protect children then global changes in policy must be made to protect their parents, to protect them from war, starvation, violence, disease, etc. Working to make this a child-friendly world is the best thing we could ever do.
if i could do what i wanted for the world i would have a never ending list-there would be peace&harmony&love
most of all there would be no killer diseases-no sickness-nothing harmful to kids especially
would make it a perfect world
but only God can do that
I voted for Human Rights because if people from every piece of the world were treated fairly, hopes would begin to rise, making this world a better place.
As a victim of abuse and neglect myself, I completely agree that child abuse prevention should have been on the list. I ended up choosing environmental / animal causes because I would hope that helping the world learn to respect and care about the environment and other living things, then it would hopefully translate to respecting and caring for other people — especially the little ones.
I voted human rights because there is such a disrespect for humankind. The fight for human rights needs to begin from the moment of conception to natural death. No man or woman should have a say in who lives, who dies, and who gets to even take their first breaths. Embryos are much more than blobs of tissue; they are the most miniscule human persons who deserve to be defended and protected. Their genetic makeup is the same as it would be when they are born, two years old, twenty years old, and so on. Same person, just looks a little different.
As Mother Teresa said, a nation that kills its children through abortion is truly the poorest of all.
Autism is my cause. I wish that people would be more kind. Instead of staring at my son and I when he’s behaving badly in public…smile. I don’t need your help. Usually it doesn’t help anyway. I need your sympathy. I need to know I’m not alone and that you’ve been there, too. Most parents have.
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