The word bastard may be used to connote the absence of any known biological father in a Child's life, however i am yet to hear the female version of the word. Suffice to say, there is no word in the English dictionary which denotes the absence of a Mother in a child's life. This goes a long way to emphasis the invaluable role mothers play in the life and survival of Children and by extension the human race. A father is dispensable, but a mother is almost impossible to dispose of.
Today the world celebrates the Mothers of the human race. It is important that this date should not be taken for granted or appreciated merely on the surface. People should invest some time today to reflect on the sacrifices and efforts their mothers made in order to ensure their well being since Childhood.
Indeed today is not just about our Mothers, it is also about our wives, sisters, girlfriends, nieces, Aunts, sisters-in-law and by extension every female out there. This date is not just a mere ritual to eulogise the efforts of the women folk in our families and societies, it should also serve a twin purpose for everyone to consider the roles which women have been accorded in the society and how this has affected our world.
Feminists and Women rights activists, may have continually clamoured for more rights for the Female gender. The real question however is that which we ask ourselves in our closets, questions like, what is democracy if government is being dominated by a single gender? What are human rights, if some cultures approves brutality against an erring wife? Of what importance is the concept of government if it cannot protect women from the growing trend of rape and sexual abuse?
Violence against women is a crime against the human race. A punch to her stomach can shut the door for a dozen foetus to ever fester there. A word of abuse can kill her ego and confidence. Can you imagine a child raised by a Woman without pride and self-esteem?
As we celebrate our mothers today, we should never loose the consciousness that every little girl and young lady out there is a mother in the making. If we accord them the same care, love and respect we show our own Mums, then the world would have been a far better and peaceful place to live in.
The Mother's day celebration for this year should not just be the usual ritual of purchasing gifts and rendering heart wrenching eulogies, it should also be accompanied by a change of attitude and mentality.
Written by Onyeoziri Favour
(Writter, poet and blogger)
Email: favouronyeoziri@gmail.com
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