05/05/2007

Standing alone but together on Mother's Day

By Gretchen Murray
Local columnist
gmurray@
record-eagle.com

Read Gretchen's past columns here

As a woman's role evolves from mother to grandmother, she gets the feeling that her arms have grown longer. Like tree branches stretching higher and wider, her extended reach allows her to better gather in her ever-increasing brood of children and grandchildren.

Today, a grandmother's reach can extend farther than ever before. She's more apt to be tuned in to the "big picture” of the world, savvy to living conditions of its people, and not hesitant to advocate for change. And she's not about to sit idle while children suffer the effects of hunger, thirst, sickness and war. In fact — she's willing to take a stand.

This year, a group of women from Ohio are calling for women to participate in the movement, "Stand Up for Children of the World” on Mother's Day.

On May 13, women in 39 nations as well as 49 states plan to stand in silence for five minutes in support of peace and security for all the world's children. At 1 p.m. that day, women will be in parks, school yards, public gathering places or anywhere they deem appropriate. Like a stadium full of fans, these women plan to send a wave around the world as they assemble in each of the 24 time zones.

In northern Michigan, Beverly Toomey of Frankfort will be standing in the Benzonia Township Park on Route 31 along with other members of Christ Community Church-North.

A retired social worker and former faculty member at Ohio State University, Toomey is familiar with the project.

"Some of the employees at The Women's Place at Ohio State began the movement,” she said.

According to Toomey, the independent movement is not sanctioned by Ohio State. Instead the women based the idea on Sharon Mehdi's children's book, "The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering: A Story for Anyone Who Thinks She Can't Save the World.”

Mehdi's book demonstrates the strength of numbers in social causes and offers the hope that big things can happen if people stand together. According to the Web site, www.standingwomen.org, the women are standing for the world's children, grandchildren and for the seven generations beyond them.

They dream of a world where all children have safe drinking water, clean air, enough food and a warm, safe, loving place to call home — a world free of violence.

Susan Michener of Empire believes each child deserves those rights. She will stand at the intersection of Routes 22 and 72 near the old landmark schoolhouse to honor her nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

"I spent my life teaching, and I think children are mighty important,” she said. "If no one else joins me, I'll stand alone.”

Toomey has been distributing fliers around Frankfort that explain the event and asking others to join her. It's not church sanctioned, but the demonstration encompasses some of her spiritual beliefs.

"The idea of being a Christian is to do something for others,” she said. "If people will stand together they can make changes.”