Happy Easter - What we need for Family Rights?

jmurtari@AKidsRight.org

Good People and People of Faith,

Our special greetings to all of you weren't able to go to a church
service with your child.  Who didn't have the opportunity to
participate in an Easter Egg hunt!  Who didn't have the chance to sit
down and eat a load of chocolate with your little one.  Why?  Because
a court order decided that was not in "your child's best interest." 
Imagine that!

[I just got out of Jail Friday, after pleading for release Tuesday in
Federal Court so I could see my son for Easter. It was gut-wrenching
and made me feel like I was in Family Court again.  No rights, never
sure when you will see your child again... We are so fortunate to be
together today! - John]

Our most heartfelt greetings to those of you who didn't talk to your
children today and didn't even get a card.  Not because your child
wasn't allowed to do it -- but because they DIDN'T WANT TO.  THEY HATE
YOU.  More than anything, this should help us all understand the
obscenity of a system that turns children away from parents!

After Understanding / Action & Imagery
--------------------------------------
Did the above paragraphs bother you?  Make you angry?  They should.
How mad should you be, how disgraced and mistreated?  Can you compare
those paragraphs to the imagery of a Black person being told you had
to drink out of a different water fountain, or sit in the back of a
bus, or send your kids to a different school?  How mad would that make
you.  It took a while, but there came a time when they were ready to
sacrifice and risk arrest -- with the knowledge the Klan might even
show up later and burn their homes down.  Can you relate to that
..... yet?

What's worse, sitting in the back of a bus -- or being told to take a
back seat in the lives of your children?  Don't we have it much, much
worse?  Do you really believe that?  Would you go to a parent's rally
if you knew it would cost you your home?  Would you?  What kind of
Faith do you have that your sacrifice would matter?

Before you can paint a picture and create imagery -- you've got to
have a vision.  Before others can see the image, it has to exist in
your mind's eye first and then ....  you have to act.  Don't tell
other people about it - show them.  Good parents, average parents, and
poor parents -- all EQUAL parents, protected from government by a jury
of their peers.

Before the Million Parent Marches, before the Huge Letter Writing
campaigns will ever happen -- there have to be people with a vision
who are willing to act when the risks are high.... and things are
starting to happen.

Jesus of Nazareth - a lesson in good imagery!
---------------------------------------------
Easter is a good time to remember Jesus of Nazareth and PLEASE, we 
don't even need to talk about the Son of God here, or the 
resurrection.  Just talk about the real 'historical' Cristos -- a man 
who had a vision of a human family and was willing to take great 
risks to make us see that vision.

If you have thought about taking real 'action', you can appreciate 
the suffering and doubts of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Aren't 
my miracles and my preaching enough?  Is my death really required? 
Is this the right time?   Will anyone remember me?  Can this 'cup' 
pass me by?  Have I gone too far?

Many of us remember the words from the cross right before his death,
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  But how many of us know
those are the first words of the 22nd Psalm.  One he would have known
very well.  It describes the roller coaster of human emotion, of our
experience of the Divine (an excerpt from the entire text follows)

Part of the message of Easter is that through our willingness
to sacrifice wehave the POWER to bring about great change. No
other resources are required, but Faith.  The result is not certain
and sacrifice is always painful, but when we sacrifice with love
there is personal renewal, joy, and Resurrection!  We could all
use a little of that.

Psalm 22 (New King James Version)

        My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
        Why are You so far from helping Me,
        And from the words of My groaning?

        O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;
        And in the night season, and am not silent.
        But You are holy,
        Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
        Our fathers trusted in You;
        They trusted, and You delivered them.
        They cried to You, and were delivered;
        They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

        But I am a worm, and no man;
        A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
        All those who see Me ridicule Me;
        They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
        "He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him;
        Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!"

        But You are He who took Me out of the womb;
        You made Me trust while on My mother's breasts.
        I was cast upon You from birth.
        From My mother's womb
        You have been My God.

        Be not far from Me,
        For trouble is near;
        For there is none to help.
        Many bulls have surrounded Me;
        Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.
        They gape at Me with their mouths,
        Like a raging and roaring lion.
        I am poured out like water,
        And all My bones are out of joint;

        My heart is like wax;
        It has melted within Me.
        My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
        And My tongue clings to My jaws;
        You have brought Me to the dust of death.
        For dogs have surrounded Me;
        The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.
        They pierced My hands and My feet;
        I can count all My bones.
        They look and stare at Me.
        They divide My garments among them,
        And for My clothing they cast lots.

        But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me;
        O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
        Deliver Me from the sword,
        My precious life from the power of the dog.
        Save Me from the lion's mouth
        And from the horns of the wild oxen!
        You have answered Me....

-- 
                                       John Murtari
____________________________________________________________________
Coordinator                            AKidsRight.Org
jmurtari@AKidsRight.Org                "A Kid's Right to BOTH parents"
Toll Free (877) 635-1968(x-211)        http://www.AKidsRight.Org/

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