Opinion

Watch the little children

Tuesday, October 8, 2002

The child abuse trial in Trenton last week was horrifying. And quite an eye-opener. An adorable little boy was beaten to within an inch of his life.

We know small-town America isn't isolated. We're not immune to society's ills. But isn't there enough compassion left to care about what's going on in the house next door ... down the road... around the corner?

Without being nosy or snoopy or intrusive, we should all care enough to watch out for each other.

We've heard threats of revenge against the child's mother, and against those who let it happen. But revenge isn't ours. God knows who knocks over the tombstones of the dead and who beats on babies and children.

So we feel helpless? What can we do?

The lines from a poem of long ago comes to mind:

"If you watch my child, I'll watch yours.

"If a child is crying, walk a little closer, just to make sure everything is okay.

"I'll watch your child, if you watch mine. But if you won't watch mine, that's okay. I'll still watch yours."

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