Welcome

Heartdance is a place to ponder the condition of children in the world.  

The Poem which sits at the forefront of this blog was inspired by the story of a young Urban child who  left on his own, was left to his own devices to grow up.   Tragically this 11 year old didn’t make it.   His story haunted my sleepless nights until I was able to finish No Such Child

I am not a professional poet.   But occasionally I am so affected by events which I learn of that I am compelled to write.   I would like to see, No Such Child used, if possible for the benefit of Children if the opportunity presents it self.

My actual profession is a music teacher.   I am faced with children of all ages and ethnic backgrounds on a daily basis from both affluent and economically challenged families.   Their future and potential are frequently on my daily thoughts and live in the dance of my heart.

No Such Child

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NO SUCH CHILD as OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN

1. of 4

There’s no such child as other people’s children.

Who’s that child any way?

I’m a grim tragedy on your television.

Why don’t I go away?

How can you ignore my ache so deep?

I remember you!

Born in America when your senses were asleep.

Aren’t you the father that I knew?

Blind man staring at the tears in my Heart,

Your conscience used to feel so clean.

Was it neglect  on someone else’s part?

Who’s ear was deaf  to my scream?

.

There’s no such child as other people’s children.

Who am I any way?

I’m a grim tragedy on your television.

I will not go away!

Please don’t ignore my pain so deep?

“I”   am your child too!

Born in America when your senses were asleep.

I am the child you grew

2.

I won’t let you become other people’s children.

America  is your home.

Don’t become a story on my television.

I can not leave you alone.

I feel the ache in your heart so deep.

I can not run away from you.

You were born to wake my heart from its sleep.

Meant to be in my life too.

My eyes can see the tears in your heart

Will they wash my conscience clean?

Now it’s time for me to do my part.

I can’t bear to leave when you scream.

.

I won’t let you become other peoples children.

My heart  is your home.

I’m going to keep you off the cover of the Newsweek.

I am going to bring you home.

I can’t ignore the ache in your heart so deep.

I’m going to stay in this with you.

You were born to wake my heart from its’ sleep.

Come live in my home too.

3.

Don’t let me become other people’s children.

Don’t leave me alone.

Keep me out of the daily headlines.

I just need to be known.

You can heal the ache in my heart so deep.

Please be an ear that’s true.

I was born to wake your love from it’s sleep.

Fill me with a song that’s new.

Now you can see the tears in my heart.

Let them wash your conscience clean.

I’m going to reach out.. and touch….. your heart.

I’m going to set your soul free.

.

I was not meant to be other people’s children.

I really need a home.     [America  is my home.] **Alternate line

You can keep me off of the television.

Love me as one of your own.

You can heal the ache in my heart so deep.

Just hold me close to you.

I was born to wake your love from it’s sleep.

Sing to me a song that’s new.

4.

There’s no such child as other people’s children.

Who’s  are they anyway?

Another grim tragedy on your television;

Can you hear what I have to say?

You can’t ignore the ache in my heart so deep.

Someone’s going to remind you.

Born in America while your soul was asleep.

Aren’t I the child you  knew?

Blind men staring, breaking Gods Heart,

What will make your conscience clean?

Wasn’t it neglect on someone else’s part?

Was God’s ear deaf  to my scream?

NO WAY ! ! !

I refuse to become other peoples children.

Who’s child am I anyway?

I’m closer to you than your television.

Who can take the pain away?

Love won’t ignore my ache so deep?

“I”   am God’s child too!

Born in America when your soul was a sleep.

I belong in His arms too.

©1995  – Heartdance

There’s No Such Child as Other People’s Children by Heartdance is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at heartdancing.wordpress.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://heartdancing.wordpress.com/permissions/.

Miles gets it at age 3

Here’s a preschooler from Iowa in the bread basket, who gets it and lives it.    I feel as though this family read the poem and came up with the right responce.

Meals-From-Miles

What would the world be like  if we could all find the wisdom of a child’s heart with in us?  Act on it.   Respond with the heart.

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/joannetubbs/mealsfrommiles

Learn more about International Rescue Committee.

http://www.rescue.org/blog/meals-miles?nocache=1#comment-7290

Emma McCune Lived the Music

Read Emmanuel Jal’s story as a child soldier in Sudan and hear what happens when you live what the poem on this site asks everyone to do.

When 10,000 children where being recruted to fight a war in Sudan, Emma McCune came to Africa as a young aid worker who worked with street children.   When the war started she risked her life to rescue 250 child soldiers.   She looked into the eyes of fearsome monsters created by the war and saw the eyes of frightened children.   One of those children was a young Emmanuel Jal who became inspired by the stories of Gandhi, MLK and Mandela while getting the education that Emma made possible when she adopted him.

Today he is a founder of Gua-Africa which means Peace.    It currently serves the educational needs of children at risk in Kenya and Sudan.    http://www.gua-africa.org 

None of this would have happened if Emma didn’t develop a passion for loving   ’Other people’s children’.    She was one of those people who could couldn’t just watch the tragic story on the TV.    She had to learn more and put those lessons into action with her life.

Emma McCune took the great risk to live what the words in my poem asks the listener to do.   She found the courage to go  to Africa and began adopting child soldiers like Emmanuel and created a home for them.    She recognized the courage that it took for a child like Jal to survive and found a new purpose for that courage. 

What would the world be like if every child growing up in the world aspired to be an Emma McCune?      It sure made an impression on Emmanuel.   Now he continues in her foot steps with his music.

“It will be exactly 1 year to the date on December  2nd since Jal started his challenging fast; the artist is eating one meal a day in an attempt to raise funds for Gua Africa, or more specifically for the charity’s school building project in Leer, South Sudan.”

http://www.emmanueljal.com/#journal/desc/1/1/10.

Now growing in stature as a man, Emmanual demonstrates for all of us a far greater purpose and use for his courage.

Emmanuel Jal - War Child turned Rapper from Africa Gathering on Vimeo.

Famous Kenyan Rapper Emmanuel Jal came to talk and Rap at Africa Gathering in London. He told part of his amazing life story, which you can see in this video

Melting Cold Hearts in a Blizzard

Recently Shane Claiborne blogged on The Simple Way Community website after holding vigil and morning for a youth who became yet another victim of gun violence on the 3200  block of Potter Street  in Kensington, Philadelphia, PA  in Feb. 4th 2010.   Simple Way is a New Monastic Christian Community which does admirable work in the neighborhood where they have chosen to abide with the poor.    In the spirit of The Simple Way they did more than just morn.   They showed up at the door step of the business which provided the weapon and sought out a humane response from its owner in pray and letters of petition.

Melting Ice and Ugliness – Shane Claiborne

Something sort of mystical and magical happened after a 19 year old kid named Papito was killed on our block a few weeks ago.  As our neighborhood ached and grieved and cried with his family, we began to create a memorial for Papito where he died, a familiar ritual in the inner city.  Those who knew and loved him brought photos and flowers.  Kids on our block brought stuffed animals or whatever they had and laid them on the sidewalk memorial.  And everyone brought candles.  But here’s where the magic happened.  It was the next day that the east coast was to be hammered with one of the worst snowstorms since we’ve kept records.  As the snow showered down, I thought the little candles, sheltered only beneath a little shanty of soggy cardboard, would not stand a chance in the blizzard.  But on they burned. Hour after hour, even through the night they burned.  And the warmth of the fire melted down the snow as it fell.  Flake by flake melted from the warmth of the fire.  The next morning I went out to find the candles still burning, on a little patch of wet sidewalk like an oasis of warmth glowing in the middle of 2 feet of snow encroaching on all sides. 

The next week we held a prayer vigil at the local gun shop, praying for an end to violence… and specifically asking and praying that the owner of “The Shooter Shop” would agree to a voluntary “Code of Conduct” drafted by Mayors from all over the country who agree that these ten simple steps would prevent deaths like Papito’s.  So on February 13, we walked in silence with friends and neighbors from the candle memorial where Papito died three blocks to The Shooter Shop down the street.  And we carried candles.  It was there that I remembered the candles gentle warmth as it faced the coldness of a winter storm.

cont.    @

http://www.thesimpleway.org/about/archive/melting-ice-and-ugliness

I think you will be surprised by what happens next.

Meanwhile light a candle and write a heart melting letter to this gun shop owner.     Sample letter.

http://www.thesimpleway.org/resources/content/melting-ice-and-ugliness/sample-gunshop-letter/

Keep the candels burning.

Children’s Defence Fund – Action pages

If you are moved and would like to make a difference concider the action pages of the Children’s Defence Fund. If you are an artist or musician look for events where you can make a contribution and donate your ability to communicate with the public.

In my mind Marian Wright Edelman has always been a national treasure right next to MLK.

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No such Child – Adaption for Global Famine

Listen to the dialogue between the child and the adult viewer.   Poverty = Violence

 

NO SUCH CHILD as OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN

 

  

1. 

There’s no such child as other people’s children.

Who’s that child any way?     

I’m a grim tragedy on your television.

Why don’t I go away?

How can you ignore my ache so deep?

I remember you!

Born in the world when your senses were asleep.

Aren’t you the father that I knew?

Blind man staring at the tears in my Heart,

Your conscience used to feel so clean.

Was it neglect  on someone else’s part?

Who’s ear was deaf  to my scream?

There’s no such child as other people’s children.

Who am I any way?

I’m a grim tragedy on your television.

I will not go away!

Please don’t ignore my pain so deep?

“I”   am your child too!

Born in the world when your senses were asleep.

I am the child you grew

2.

I won’t let you become other people’s children.

[Africa]  is your home.

Don’t become a story on my television.

I can not leave you alone.

I feel the ache in your heart so deep.

I can not run away from you.

You were born to wake my heart from its sleep.

Meant to be in my life too.

My eyes can see the tears in your heart

Will they wash my conscience clean?

Now it’s time for me to do my part.

I can’t bear to leave when you scream.

I won’t let you become other people’s children.

My heart  is your home.

I’m going to keep you off the cover of the Newsweek.

I am going to bring you home.

I can’t ignore the ache in your heart so deep.

I’m going to stay in this with you.

You were born to wake my heart from its’ sleep.

Come live in my home too.

3.

Don’t let me become other people’s children.

Don’t leave me alone.

Keep me out of the daily headlines.

I just need to be known.

You can heal the ache in my heart so deep.

Please be an ear that’s true.

I was born to wake your love from it’s sleep.

Fill me with a song that’s new.

Now you can see the tears in my heart.

Let them wash your conscience clean.

I’m going to reach out.. and touch….. your heart.

I’m going to set your soul free.

I was not meant to be other people’s children.

I really need a home.

You can keep me off of the television.

Love me as one of your own.

You can heal the ache in my heart so deep.

Just hold me close to you.

I was born to wake your love from it’s sleep.

Sing to me a song that’s new.

4.

There’s no such child as other people’s children.

Who’s  are they anyway?

Another grim tragedy on your television;

Can you hear what I have to say?

You can’t ignore the ache in my heart so deep.

Someone’s going to remind you.

Born in the world while your soul was asleep.

Aren’t I the child you  knew?

Blind men staring, breaking Gods Heart,

What will make your conscience clean?

Wasn’t it neglect on someone else’s part?

Was God’s ear deaf  to my scream?       

       ! ! ! NO WAY ! ! !

There’s no such child as other people’s children.

Who’s are they anyway?

I’m closer to you than your television.

Who can take the pain away?

Love won’t ignore my ache so deep?

“I”   am God’s child too!

Born in the world when your soul was a sleep.

I belong in His arms too.     

 

 See permissions page about using the poem.

 

Would You Convict?:

Would You Convict?: Seventeen Cases that Challenged the Law

By Paul H. Robinson

Published by NYU Press, 1999

ISBN 0814775314, 9780814775318

329 pages

Martyrs for our Safety

Growing up Gang: The Short Violent Life of Robert Sandifer

p. 206

http://books.google.com/books?id=Cv4jvFuMrQEC&pg=PA206&lpg=PA206&dq=Robert+Sandifer&source=bl&ots=XRGoqTy_1q&sig=hm-FmP_KLl3qmxVGF5D37g8dc70&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=8&ct=result#PPA210,M1

Time – When Kids Go Bad

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,981478,00.html?iid=perma_share

 

When Kids Go Bad

By Richard Lacayo;Richard Behar/New York, Nina Burleigh/Washington, Scott Norvell/Atlanta and James Willwerth/Los Angeles Monday, Sep. 19, 1994

TIME Magazine Cover

TIME Magazine — U.S. Edition — September 19, 1994 Vol. 144 No. 12.

This edition included Yummies photo on the front cover.

Story from Time -Murder In Miniature

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,981460-1,00.html?iid=perma_share  

Murder In Miniature

By Nancy R. Gibbs;Julie Grace and Jon D. Hull/Chicago

Will we keep reading these stories in the future?

An 11 year old gang banger – notes

These are my notes and links to date on ‘Yummy’.   My only disapointment is that you will not be very impressed in the face of juvenile violence that has occurred since this date.    At the time it was pretty shocking.

 

On August 28, 1994, Shavon Dean was caught in a gang crossfire, and allegedly killed by Robert Sandifer (a.k.a. Yummy, 11 years old) who himself was later murdered by his own gang members. Shavon is survived by her mother Deborah and two brothers.

 

In September of 1994, fellow gang members in Chicago executed Robert Sandifer, Jr. At the time, police were looking for Sandifer in connection with the shooting death of a fourteen-year-old girl. At the time of his death, Robert Sandifer was eleven years old. (Sadler 16) These stories fuel the public perception that gang violence is increasing. Recent scientific studies show that this is indeed true. Department of Justice statistics for the period between 1985 and 1994 report an increase of 150 percent for juveniles arrested for murder; 103 percent for gun violations; 97 percent for aggravated assault; and 57 percent for robbery. Although the majority of gang members arrested were male, female delinquency is also on the rise. (Sadler, 1997) Still, other voices question the perception of increased juvenile violence and also the statistics. In Images and Reality: Juvenile Crime, Youth Violence, and Public Policy, the authors contend that ‘‘arrest statistics represent the number of juveniles arrested for violent crime—not the number of violent crimes committed by young people.’’(Sadler, 1997) However, recent scientific studies such as the Rochester study support the contention that gang violence is on the rise.       http://www.exampleessays.com/viewpaper/20469.html

 

OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR COHEN

Senator COHEN. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I will try
and be brief because I think you touched upon most of the issues
that I wanted to mention in my opening statement, and I will just
submit it for the record. I think the problem that we are looking
at is that violent crimes are being committed by people who are
younger and younger, and the crimes themselves are extraor-
dinarily more violent at that age. I think it is a staggering phe-
nomenon that is taking place.

I was chilled by that story of the Chicago youth, Robert ‘Tummy”
Sandifer, who at the age of 11 had killed a young girl, and wound-
ed another young boy by spraying a crowd with a semiautomatic
weapon. Then a few days later he was shot in the head to be si-
lenced by gang members for fear that he was drawing too much at-
tention to their activities.

I think it is unfortunate, but he matches a profile which is all
too prevalent today. He was bom to a teenage mother who was ad-
dicted to crack. His father is now in jail. He was beaten and
burned as a baby to the point where the social agencies had to re-
move him from the custody of his mother, and he averaged one fel-
ony per month over the last 18 months of his life, 23 felonies, 5
misdemeanors in total. There was one Cook County policeman who
said what you have here is a kid who was made into a sociopath
by the time he was 3 years old.

We are seeing this situation replicated on an extraordinary basis.
This increasing trend of younger and younger people committing
more and more violent crimes seems to me to present this country
with a staggering challenge. And it is not only a question of locking
them up. Mr. Bilchik and I have had at least a brief opportunity
to discuss this. We have got to find ways to intervene at a very
early age in order to prevent people like Yummy from heading in-
exorably toward a life of violent crime.

I must say I have been disappointed, Mr. Chairman, that the
President has waited so long to come forward with this appoint-
ment. I think it is an excellent appointment, but we have been call-

ing for this appointment for some time now. Mr. John Wilson who
has done an outstanding job in the interim, and I want to take this
opportunity to commend him for the work that he has done.

But, again, this is a serious problem we have not fully addressed
yet, and I want to commend Senator Kohl for his leadership and
I look forward to working with him in the coming year.    

 

 

 Prepared Statement of Senator William S. Cohen

Mr. Bilchik, as you are well aware, violent crime among our juvenile population
has become one of our most pressing national problems. Children coming out of bro-
ken homes and living in neighborhoods riddled with crime are becoming hardened
felons at younger and younger ages. Gangs that dominate many of these neighbor-
hoods recruit even the youngest of children to sell drugs, steal cars, and even com-
mit murder. Our juvenile courts are overwhelmed by not only the burgeoning num-
ber of cases, but the severity of the behavioral and emotional problems facing juve-
niles that enter the system. Mr. Bilchik, if confirmed, as I expect you will be, you
face a daunting task.

Studies show that the problem of juverule crime has worsened since federal inter-
vention began with the enactment of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Preven-
tion Act of 1974. In the ten-year period between 1982 and 1991, the juvenile arrest
rate for violent offenses almost aoubled. The number of homicides by children 10
to 14 years-old has increased by 50 percent. Where a majority of cases in New York
City’s family courts were misdemeanors eight years ago, today more than 90 percent
are felonies.

Like the rest of the nation, I was chilled by the story of the Chicago youth, Robert
“Yummy” Sandifer, who at age 11 killed a young girl and wounded a young boy
when he sprayed semiautomatic gun fire into a crowd of children playing football.
Three days later he was shot in the head by fellow gang members after threatening
to tvim himself in to the police.

Unfortunately, Yummy Sandifer matches the profile of so many of today’s trou-
bled youths. He was bom to a teenage mother addicted to crack and a father who
is now in jail. Yummy was beaten and burned as a baby and eventually was re-
moved from his mother’s custody due to her abuse and neglect. He averaged one
felony per month over the last 18 months of his life; 23 felonies and 5 misdemeanors
in total. As one Cook County public guardian said, “what you have here is a kid
who was made into a sociopath by the time he was three years old.” 

http://www.archive.org/stream/confirmationhear06unit/confirmationhear06unit_djvu.txt

 

   Bomb and Arson Crimes Among American Gang Members 

 

 

 

 

Obviously, some gangs will kill their own members if necessary to enforce internal discipline. This has been illustrated in the Hollywood movies about gangs, such as American Me and turns up in a large variety of forms across all ethnic groups represented in the American gang member population. This was illustrated in Chicago’s Black Disciples gang in the summer of 1994 when 11-year-old Robert “Yummy” Sandifer was executed by his own gang for bringing unnecessary “heat” on the gang (see cover story of Time Magazine, September 19, 1994). The survey asked “Has your gang ever killed one of its own members?”. This is a measure of organizational sophistication in terms of maintaining obedience of the membership of the gang. It is shown in Table 1 to be a factor that significantly differentiates bomb/arson gang activity. Some 43.2 percent of those who indicated their gang has not killed its own members did report bomb/arson gang activity, but this rises to 70.6 percent in those gangs that do kill their own members.   http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/html/cd_rom/solution_gang_crime/pubs/BombandArsonCrimesAmongAmericanGangMembers.pdf