Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 1, 1992 TAG: 9201020163
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
OTHER BABY ISAIAH CASES CAN BE AVERTED
I DOUBT that there is anyone in the Roanoke area who was not touched by the
tragedy of Baby Isaiah. What disturbs me is that an innocent child has to
suffer and die to get people to show they care.
I applaud all those who opened their hearts and wallets to this child when
his need could no longer be denied. But I ask you to consider whether your
response would have been so compassionate and generous if his mother, still
pregnant with him, had turned to you for help with whatever severe problems
drove her to discard her child. If someone had helped her, then he might be
alive today.
There is nothing we can do for Baby Isaiah now. But if you really cared
about what happened to him, there are things you can do to prevent other
children from suffering a tragic fate. Baby Isaiah was but one unwanted and
neglected child with enormous needs. Look around you. There are lots of
children of various ages, and many teen-agers - some pregnant - who are badly
neglected, whose basic needs go unmet day after day.
How long will we - each of us - walk by them and pretend we don't see their
need? Will we allow them (or their babies) to end up in some dumpster of life
(prison, mental hospital, welfare rolls, the streets), hoping that someone
will find them and help them before it is too late? Will we ignore them until
they lose all hope and discard life itself?
A long time ago, a baby was born in a manger, suffered greatly and died
young to try to teach us to really care about one another. Ask yourself
honestly, "Does my behavior show that I've learned that lesson?" People of
Roanoke, you demonstrated your capacity for unselfish caring toward Baby
Isaiah. Continue that caring toward those in need around you now. JENNIFER J.
RIDDEL ROANOKE