Terry Sarten: The Little Country that Could and Should

With only a small voice, the little people rely on the big people to act on their behalf.

Once upon a time in a land far, far away near the bottom of the world there was a Little Country with a small population of people. This Little Country wanted to be like the big countries and have all the things that big countries have like flash cars and houses for some but not for everyone. The big countries all had glamour alongside homelessness, bigotry and conspiracies and so the Little Country made sure to have all these things plus some rare to medium and well-cooked scandals so it could feel big and important like the big countries.

The 4.794 million people who lived in the Little Country were so few in number that they all knew each other by their first names and the people did adopt a certain smugness. The climate was mild and hospitable but nevertheless the people did often bemoan the rain when it was wet and the sun when it was dry. This was a great pity as there were so many more important things to be worried about.

Amongst the 4.794 million citizens, who all claim to know each other, there were far too many grown up people who felt it necessary to beat upon, neglect and abuse the Little Country's little people (aka children). It should be easy to identify and protect these children because there are so few people and a lot of them are related to each other. As a Little Country this should be eminently achievable. So why was the Little Country that Could failing at this crucial task?

Every now and then there was an outcry, much hand wringing and the traditional hunt would begin for someone or something to blame for child abuse. The easy place to start is at the unhappy end of the story with the agencies charged with protecting children from harm. And so it was that the social workers and Police were blamed for failing to protect the children when things did go wrong. They also got blamed for intervening before things got worse for the children. For some reason the rest of the people escaped the accusations and blame even though people were there in those streets, towns and communities and knew those who were inflicting great harm on children.

And there followed the ritual repeating echo in the social sound chamber of the great shouting and uproar as fingers were pointed, blame throwers aimed and so the issue became once again deflected away from the communities and neighbourhoods where the children lived and played.

The wonderful saying that it takes a village to raise a child became forgotten in the rush to find someone to blame and make responsible for the neglect and abuse of a child. But such pithy sayings are only words not deeds. Anyone can say they care - but it means nothing without action.

With only a small voice, the little people rely on the big people to act on their behalf, to care and speak out loud and strong. Every time those little voices are not heard and another child is harmed, it seems that very little changes. And so, the Little Country that Could remains the Little Country that Should.

* Terry Sarten (aka Tel) is a parent, grandparent, musician, writer and social worker.