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Message in a bottle
Posted on May 20, 2010 by Kat French in real life, story & craft
img courtesy denzati on sxc
My son doesn’t have a birth certificate..
He was born in Japan, so he has a “Consular Report of Birth” instead. When he was born, the nurse at the military hospital told me “If you ever lose it, you have to request a replacement from the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.” I once lost my own birth certificate, and remember what a hassle it was just getting a replacement from Frankfort, Kentucky. So needless to say, my son’s birth report is one piece of paper I have zealously kept track of over the years.
He also has an awesome bald-headed baby passport from this era of his life. Which I am saving till he manages to snag a girlfriend, for our first “show and tell.” [Insert evil mom laugh here.]
I was reading a magazine on a flight recently, and saw an advertisement for a program at the University of Minnesota’s Human Rights Program. It mentioned that in the Sudan, lack of proper birth registrations contributes to child trafficking and enslavement. A child without a birth certificate doesn’t officially “exist”–making it difficult to take legal action to protect his or her rights.
A simple thing that most Americans take for granted, like a birth certificate, can help protect the safety and freedom of children in places where a paper trail can be a lifeline.
In a week where I have heard a great deal of complaint and cynicism, this little tale is a glimmer that even “government, bureaucracy, and useless paperwork” can be transformed into something redemptive and lifesaving. It was a welcome bit of optimism, bobbing it’s way to me across the waves.
What about you? What stories have made you smile this week?
3 Responses so far.
Who is That Darn Kat?
Jesus Freak. Web Geek. Writing Fool. Psychology Nerd. Drama Queen. Coffee Addict. Tea Lover. Comic Fangirl. Movie Nut. Book Worm. Navel Gazer.
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Hi, I’m Kat French: gen-x wife, mom, writer, web nerd & follower of Christ.
[...] French: In Message in a Bottle, Kat writes about birth certificates, proof of birth, and general fun times with paperwork. If [...]
On a somewhat related note, India is conducting a census and also fingerprinting every citizen. While most people’s initial response is one of concern for privacy and potential abuse, poorer Indians are applauding the effort. The documentation will be used to issue state ID cards. You see, due to lack of birth records Indians have a very difficult time proving their identity so they can apply for government services. Getting the necessary documentation often involves dealing with shady characters and large sums of money the poor people don’t have. Their poverty becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
And in happier news, a friend said she was contacted by a sculptor who has an exhibition coming up soon. The sculptor had taken a tour given by my friend and said the descriptions and information provided by my friend inspired her to head down a different artistic path. The tour was about four years ago.
It made me stop and think about how the interactions you may have as “just part of the job” can effect other people, potentially for a lifetime.
.-= Charles Robinson´s last blog ..Tip for VMWare Workstation on Windows 7 Enterprise =-.
I love your story about the sculptor and your friend. Especially that it took four years for the seeds she planted to come back to her.
We are so accustomed to “instant results” (and I recognize that a lot of people in my field, marketing and advertising, have contributed to that) we no longer have a realistic understanding of how meaningful change happens, or how long it can take. So we give up or get discouraged.
Thanks, Charles. That was a really encouraging tale.