Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 January 2002 — Page 26

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2002 ■ PAGEC8

Helping children feel safe

1 A' \

I 4 i v '<&

-MW

' •* } ‘ ^ f'f'

(NAPSA) — In light of recent worid events, now more than ever our country is concerned about the mental and emotional health of pur children. Parents everywhere are seeking advice on how to reassure children that they are safe and protected from harm. To address this question, Ronald McDonald House Charities, one of the world’s leading charities dedicated to directly improving die health and well-being of children, sought counsel from renowned pediatrician and child development expert Dr. T. Berry Brazelton. This following information provides tips for identifying children’s concerns by age group, and the symptoms that may occur. Dr. Brazelton recommends these initial fapns to

Members of the IUPUI Black Student Union attend the 32nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner held earlier this week at the Indiana Roof Ball Room.

JL I

w 14 fl, i ' *

Minnijean Brown-Trickey, who was the keynote speaker at the IUPUI MLK Dinner, was a member of the Little Rock Nine. The group of African American studenta crossed the segregated threshold of Little Rock Central High School in 1957. All photos/J. Buntln

call to|fb£ mended for advice specific to your child. (1) Listen to your child and discuss their fears — when he or she is ready. Acknowledge the reality of the terror and express that their feelings are justified. Share enough about what happened, and why, for them to feel reassured that they, and the people who care for them, are safe and can still be counted on. (2) Tell our children what we do know to be true in terms they can understand, and with no more detail than they ask for. In the absence of information, children are bound to fill in the gaps with their own fantasies and worst fears. (3) Get back into the swing of things. Maintain a normal routine as much as possible. Routines are important, and they reassure your child that things are under control. (4) Set limits on exposure to images that can be traumatizing. Forexample, manage the time your child is allowed to watch television or play video games that involve violence. (5) Resist labeling other cultures, peoples and religions. Emphasize to your children that there are only a small number of bad people in every culture and that not all people in a given culture are evil. (6) Adult talk is just that, so make sure to leave those conversations for times when you know you are alone and your children couldn't be listening. It isn’t helpful, though, to hide your feelings — letting a child know that you have strong feelings which you can manage sets an example for them. Parents are the models for their children and they will be watching and listening for your reactions. How you respond and handle your anger and fears in front of your child will impact their mental well-being. (7) Take care of you because children pick op on their parents' emotional and mental stale. Parents and professionals are at risk of “secondary traumatization’' as they respond to children's reac-

Rev. Ivan Douglas received an award from Gov. O'Bannon at the MLK State-Capital event and later gave a rousing speech that brought MLK Day Into perspective for program participants.

• .'I s *

Rodnie Bryant & The Christian Community Maas Choir, featuring Ball State University’s Krash Crew Contemporary Dancers, brought down the house near the conclusion of the MLK State-Capital Celebration.

W*jM

‘ ’V 4m

► 1 ?

wsP 1 ' j~7

JKT

Rev. Derek King, nephew of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., spoke at a recent breakfast His meseage, “The enemy wants to destroy the youth of today!” Mt home to many of the young men that

Amml

Jim Davis Sr. and grandson Jarrett Weather attended the Men and Boys DresKisst sponsored by the N.C.N.E. / Community Resurrection Partnership Inc. and the Weetslde Communities Minisinas $ which focueed on insir v lomncm

Accepting gay family members

!r.

The “Three By Faith Trio” rocked the crowd at the State-Capital Building earlier this week.

•c

.'i ■I V £

;♦

It neverceases toamaze me when I hear someone say, “If my child is gay. I’ll disown him/her.” Whenever I hear this statement, I wonder how a parent could just stop loving his/her child. Usually, this statement comes from someone who believes homosexuality

is a sin.

As aChristian I also have beliefs about homosexuality. But as someone who was taught there is no sin greater than any other, I don ’ t know how we can decide which sins are all right to commit. And God forgives us for all our sins, not some over others. I also believe that if we, who are not perfect, commit sins on a daily basis then how can we decide what’s forgivable and what’s not. In essence we’re saying we know more than God. And anyone who’s been to any kind of church knows that belief is a sin. For whatever reasons homosexuality exists, many people in the Black community want to sepa- 1A rate it into a category of unforgiv-

able sin.

But I’ve yet to find a family that hasn’t been touched by homosexuality. It may not be in the immediate family, it may be on down the line, or it could have been a couple of generations back. It doesn’t

matter.

I recently found out a beloved uncle was gay. This uncle died a few years ago, and I loved him to pieces. As a child, I have fond memories of him and his “friend.” I never thought anything about my uncle not being married or not having any children — even as a teen-ager. I just loved him. Did his family members forsake him because of the life he led? No. We loved him for the person he was. Even though no one ever spoke about my uncle’s sexual orientation, everyone knew. And they still loved him. It’s easy to love people when they’re doing what you believe is right. To me love is not a button you can turn on and off. It’s something that grows and grows. My uncle’s being gay did not change the fact he was a kind and generous per-

son.

Was my uncle the only gay person in my family? I know he’s not. My uncle was someone’s child. I don't know how his parents reacted or if they even knew. But parents usually know. Owning up to the truth is another story. But I do know that if they missed out on the opportunity to know and love my uncle and his friend then they missed the opportunity to know two wonderful people. I can’t imagine anyone not wanting to know him. Over and over God, who is our heavenly father, shows us his loye and forgives us for our many sins. A family member shouldn't be disowned because of sin. Instead show them the kind of loveChrist commanded of us. Your beliefs don’t have to be compromised to love that person anyway. After all. God loves you anyway.

Comments or questions can be directed to Oseye Boyd at wwwjiewsroom9indyrtcorder.com.

ii ) :1

{Hull