Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jim Wooten independently confirms this quote from the Bahá’í writings: “A family is a nation in miniature.
This is a brief helping of food for thought.
I just read a column by Jim Wooten of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Forum on manhood misses the mark.” It’s a discussion of an article by Macon Telegraph reporter Ashley Tusan Joyner about the “Let Us Make Man” workshop, a gathering of 500 educated African American professionals held back in March at Macon State College. Its theme was “reclaim black manhood.” For information about the event, go here.
Wooten’s beef is what apparently wasn’t brought up at this gathering: the importance of intact two-parent families. (Wooten freely admits he wasn’t there. Neither was I.) He cites the now familiar statistics: “25 percent of white children, 46 percent of Hispanics and 69 percent of blacks are born to unmarried women.” This, as we well know, is costly both economically and socially. Read the column for more details.
At the end of the column, Wooten quotes Leah Ward Sears, Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court:
“Healthy marriage is not only the best place to raise children, it is the indispensable institution without which all other social reform efforts will fail,” she said. “Healthy and intact families are the cradle of thriving societies.” Preach that. Teach that. Counsel that.
This is what the Bahá’í Faith preaches, teaches and counsels. Abdu’l-Bahá, son of Bahá’u’lláh, the Prophet/Founder of the Faith, put it this way: “A family is a nation in miniature.” It is valid for all racial and ethnic groups and all nations.
Look at families, between divorces and out-of-wedlock births. Look at the nation. I agree with Wooten: to the extent that government can influence social conditions, policies should preach, teach and counsel creating and maintaining families. But it’s not just government’s job. All together now: “Preach that. Teach that. Counsel that.”
For more information:
“A Case for Strengthening Marriage,” Leah Ward Sears
Out of my Mind Blog 