Children of Lesser Expectations

Remember when Barack Obama said that Trayvon Martin could have been his son. I was reminded of this when I read that the First Lady had condemned the abduction of those Nigerian schoolgirls: “In these girls, Barack and I see our own daughters,” Michelle Obama said.

Mrs. Obama continued:

Like millions of people across the globe, my husband and I are outraged and heartbroken over the kidnapping of more than 200 Nigerian girls from their school dormitory in the middle of the night. This unconscionable act was committed by a terrorist group determined to keep these girls from getting an education — grown men attempting to snuff out the aspirations of young girls.

Like millions of people across the globe, I too am outraged and heartbroken over these missing girls.

Like millions of people across the globe, I am outraged and heartbroken that the United States is committing acts of barbarism throughout the world with boots on the ground, traditional air attacks, and drone warfare against men, women, children, and civilizations.

Like millions of people across the globe, I am outraged and heartbroken that grown men and women are driven by power and greed to snuff out the aspirations of our fellow human beings.

Like millions of people across the globe, I am outraged that President Obama has a Kill List.

I am outraged that Michelle Obama is outraged and heartbroken over those Nigerian girls but NEVER speaks to the violence of war that her husband, the commander-in chief of the country that’s considered by most of the world to be the greatest threat to peace, is perpetuating and expanding.

I am outraged that Michelle Obama posted that photo of her melancholy expression on Twitter, holding a piece of paper with “#BringBackOurGirls” written on it, when girls killed by US Empire can’t be brought back. When children can’t be brought back because they’ve been incinerated. Explore this site for updated drone casualties in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia.

I am outraged and heartbroken that my country’s domestic and foreign policies are responsible for shattered lives, hopelessness, poverty, hunger, poor health, and death. I. Am. Outraged. And. Heartbroken.

Missy Beattie has written for National Public Radio and Nashville Life Magazine. She was an instructor of memoirs writing at Johns Hopkins’ OSHA Lifelong Learning Institute in Baltimore. Email: missybeat@gmail.com

 

 

Missy Beattie has written for National Public Radio and Nashville Life Magazine. She was an instructor of memoirs writing at Johns Hopkins’ Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in BaltimoreEmail: missybeat@gmail.com