What to do about the babies? Ten Questions for and Martin Luther King

By Joshua Sparrow, Harvard Medical and some evil in the best of us. Q. 8. How do we take action when the School, Boston , USA, When we discover this, we are less challenge seems insurmountable? [email protected] prone to hate our enemies. A. Human progress is neither Martin Luther King, Jr., Where Do We Go From Here? 1967 automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice Caught in the crossfire of grownup politics, Q. 4. When a nation fails to deploy every babies and children are traumatized, or possible resource to protect its children, it requires sacrifice, suffering, and maimed, or murdered – in Gaza, Syria, a has lost its moral compass. When a nation struggle; the tireless exertions Malaysian jet, in the U.S. heartlands, at its harms its children, it has lost its way. How and passionate concern of do we find ours? border and across the world. We all want to dedicated individuals. protect the babies and children, but how? A. We must learn to live together Martin Luther King, Jr., Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery In other desperate times, leaders like as brothers or perish together as Story, Harper & Brothers, 1958 Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King fools. were able to restore hope and inspire Q. 9. What can we do? action that changed the world. Perhaps Martin Luther King, Jr., Speech in St. Louis, Missouri, March 22, A. Courageous people do not fear their responses to past challenges can help 1965 us find our way today. forgiving, for the sake of peace. Q. 5. The survival and wellbeing of the world’s children is the shared responsibility Nelson Mandela in an interview with Anthony Sampson, of all humanity. Can babies help bind us published in “The Observer” (Sunday, May 1, 1994). together? A. If you want to make peace Q. 1. What is going on? A. There can be no keener with your enemy, you have to A. I refuse to accept the view that revelation of a society’s soul work with your enemy. Then he mankind is so tragically bound to than the way in which it treats its becomes your partner.

the starless midnight of racism children. Nelson Mandela, , 1995

and war that the bright daybreak Nelson Mandela from the launch of the Nelson Mandela A. Darkness cannot drive out of peace and brotherhood Children’s Fund, Mahlamba Ndlopfu, , , 8 can never become a reality... I May 1995 darkness; only light can do that. believe that unarmed truth and Q. 6. One of the most destructive results Hate cannot drive out hate; only unconditional love will have the of relentless terror is that it can inure us to love can do that. its effects. Fear and hopelessness so readily final word. Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential lead to paralysis and silence. Can our voices Writings and Speeches, James M. Washington (Editor), 1986 Martin Luther King, Jr., Acceptance Speech on the occasion of help restore hope? the award of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, December 10, 1964 Q. 10. Will we succeed? A. Our lives begin to end the day Q. 2. Where does it start? we become silent about things A. It always seems impossible A. No one is born hating another that matter. until it’s done. Nelson Mandela, speech at Harvard University, 1998 person because of the color of Martin Luther King Jr., in I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches his skin, or his background or his That Changed the World, James M. Washington (Editor), 1986 religion. People must learn to Q. 7. What can we do when our most hate, and if they can learn to hate, fundamental beliefs and values are they can be taught to love, for trampled? What can we say when we speak Brazeltontouchpoints.org out? love comes more naturally to the Childrensdefense.org human heart than its opposite. A. We pledge ourselves to Savethechildren.org Nelson Mandela, The Long Walk to Freedom, 1994 liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, Unicef.org Q. 3. Can reflection help lead to healing and peace? deprivation, suffering, gender and WAIMH.org other discrimination. A. We must develop and maintain Nelson Mandela, Inaugural speech, Pretoria, May 11, 1994 the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is (It seems reasonable to think that Mandela devoid of the power to love. There may have been speaking here for all people about all people.) is some good in the worst of us

8 PERSPECTIVES IN INFANT MENTAL HEALTH SUMMER 2014