Carnival Woes

I have enjoyed the past Carnivals of Homeschooling. I have anticipated Tuesday, hoping I would be chosen and hoping someone would write something that I needed just at that moment. For the past few weeks I have danced around the Carnival because I was so busy enjoying Spring and all that encompasses on a farm. Today, because I woke up with the roosters, I was set to learn. After clicking the familiar links of friends and known sites, I ventured a few clicks on interesting topics. I knew I was in dangerous territory. As soon as a homeschool blogger address showed itself, I would click stop loading (I wonder if they got the click. Does anyone know when the click logs?). I missed a great deal of the Carnival. I think the remaining five or six homeschool bloggers bombarded the Carnival. I call for all Boycotters to submit something for next week!

Boycotts are precarious at this time. The first weeks you get attention and everyone feels empowered and self righteous. Later, you have a trickle down effect where more people are interested and participating. Then, melancholy arrives. At this point, you are faced with many decisions. Fewer people are paying attention, so some participants fall by the wayside and click or buy. The truth is that this is when the boycott is made or broken. The effects are only real if everyone is strong in his or her continued support for as long as it takes to put a stop to the behavior.

The little boy is still dead. The Pearls are still hawking their books. Homeschool blogger and The Old Schoolhouse are still supporting the Pearls. There are still parents who believe that wielding a rod is positive discipline.

Where is Joan Baez singing "Amazing Grace" when you need her. Keep the faith that child abuse can end. Keep the faith that the churches of America will stop supporting, providing cover, and nurturing abuse. I am determined that Sean Paddock's death will not be meaningless. Are you?