Sound good right? Children have rights. Of course they do. The problem is that this treaty isn’t actually protecting the rights of the child at all. It is, in fact, nothing more than an attack on the family and is a tool for the government to under mind the rights of the parent. The US is one of two countries that have not yet signed the treaty and is under increasing pressure to do so.
Here are just some of the things that the treaty states:
I have written all of my representatives and urge you to do the same. You may or may not agree with my views, but as we are all entitled to our views and the fact that this is my blog, I can write about what I want 🙂
And while we are talking about rights, I feel the need to mention that not only do I have the right to free speech, but I also have the right not be be accosted by hateful and rude comments or emails from those who don’t share my opinion. If you don’t like what I say, then just say nothing or feel free to address it in your blog. And please don’t insult me by thinking that I have come to my conclusions because I am ignorant, brain-washed or in any other way incapable of thinking for myself.
Here is the letter that I wrote, feel free to post it on your blog, email it to your friends or send a similar letter to your representatives. I only ask that you don’t claim it as your own and if possible, reference back to my blog.
I am a mother of three wonderful children with another on the way. I am a stay at home mother because I believe that my energies are best used in the rearing of my children. I am raising them to be polite, positive, happy, hard working, patriotic, productive citizens who love one another and take pride in all they do.
In a world where young and old people alike are increasingly disrespectful, selfish and immoral, I find that my family stands apart from the norm. I know this is direct result of the fact that I spend my time at home teaching, playing with and adoring my children rather than working for a paycheck or pursuing my own interests. I see my children interact with their peers. They are not like other children of their age. Nor do I want them to be.
My children are polite, modest, intelligent and moral citizens and as they grow under my direction and love, they will continue to be such. Therefore, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child disturbs me greatly.
I do not deny the fact that children have rights, and that those rights should be protected, however the idea that it is the government’s job to advocate for children is absurd. I must also say that while children do have rights, they do not have the same rights as an adult.
Children have the right to be raised by a mother and father who are ready for the responsibilities of having a child. They have the right to express themselves and create, they have the right to be loved and adored by their parents, siblings and others. They have the right to their innocence and to be protected by those who would take advantage of them. They have the right to be educated with love by their parents. They have the right to remain children and only experience age appropriate disappointments and hardships. They have the right to know that the people who know and love them most are the ones who serve as their advocates. It is nothing less than cruel to treat children as though they are adults and force adult responsibilities and choices upon them.
A twelve or thirteen-year-old child should be dreaming about her future and the vast options that are open to her. She shouldn’t have to be worrying about whether or not the boy she had sex with the night before likes her. A fifteen-year-old girl should be developing her talents and thinking about what she wants to do with the rest of her life. She shouldn’t feel like her life as ended already because she just found out that she is pregnant.
Mistakes happen, and if an unwed teenage girl finds herself in that position, she should immediately realize the seriousness of being a mother and the responsibilities that have been thrust upon her. She should also know that it isn’t too late to make it right and that her unborn child can be a blessing to a couple who haven’t been able to have the children that they dearly want. Her child has rights too, so she does not have the right to end that baby’s life before it begins.
How can a committee or organization that claims to support the rights of children also support the killing of coun
tless children that have yet to be born? Just because he or she can’t survive outside of a mother’s womb does not mean that it isn’t a person. If that were true, than anyone who was on life support, required an oxygen tank or needed to be hand fed by another person would also fall under this category. What about their rights? If an adult child who is entrusted to care for her elderly and invalid parent neglects them to the point of death, no one would think twice about demanding that she answer for her crime. There is no difference. You can choose your actions; you cannot choose the consequences.
As a parent, I also have rights. However, unlike the rights that are inherent to the children, my rights are also my responsibilities. I have the right to remove my children from what I believe to be harmful influences. I have the right to teach them about God and his tender mercies. I have the right to teach them the value of hard work and to show them how satisfying and happy work can make you. I have the right protect them. I have the right to teach them the importance of obedience and I have the right to appropriately discipline them for not obeying. I have the right to play with them and to enjoy their company. I have the right and to be an example to them. I have the right instill a sense of morality and virtue in my children and I have a right to expect my teachings and efforts to be supported by the government.
I understand that there are neglectful and hateful people who call themselves parents. I know that there are abusive, perverted and evil people who prey on children. There are government organizations that are already in place who’s job it is to see that those things don’t happen. And they already have sufficient, if not more power than necessary for their purposes.
My husband and I work together to create an enjoyable and thriving life for them. As their mother, it falls primarily on my shoulders to nurture my children. I don’t see this as a burden, but as a gift. I use the word “nurture” because being a mother means so much more than meeting the physical needs of your children. It means to tenderly care for a child. The citizens of our nation are becoming increasingly selfish, defiant and vulgar. Let us stop pretending that this disturbing trend is the result of anything other than parents having less and less of an influence in the lives of their children. Several willingly handing their children off to be raised and reared by others, be it governmental or otherwise. If we want to stop the abuse and create a thriving, happy society, the key is NOT to lessen the role of the parents even more.
Let us spend our energies and resources on reminding mothers and fathers of the divine gift that children are and urge them to take more action in the lives of their children, not less. I wear my role as a mother with pride and honor. The only way to keep our country from crumbling is if we protect the traditional family and hold it in high esteem.
