June 15, 2010

"Today I ask myself how I feel about corporal punishment?....and how do I feel about being in a country that views corporal punishment as 'normal'?

Physical punishment is hard for me to deal with....and it's even harder when I know that ther are children who have scars as a result of being 'disciplined'....it makes me think of the fear, hurt and pain the children must feel....and it makes me think of working in Edmonton with an agency that took in the 'unwanted' youth.

In listening to staff today...it really bothered me to hear how some individuals proclaimed to me "these children are bad"....and while I know not all staff look at the children that way...I felt hurt inside - because it made me think of where I stand in my heart with helping children.

I asked myself today...what is it I want for the children - whether here or among my own people? And my response was a feeling of emotion that I wish I could do much more than what I was offering now....it seems that my efforts to create a program based on leadership without borders is peanuts in comparison to the needs....and then I reminded myself...I'm only here to help be change in whatever small way I