And Let the Debate Begin

Thanks to a case of the stomach bug that's passing through Abilene the last few days, my wife and I are finding the Senate debate about H.R. 2419 more than interesting. It began yesterday with summaries of the bill, better known as the 2007 Farm Bill, kudos to all who participated, and words of appreciation and respect to all on both sides of the isle who have made this a bipartisan bill. Beyond the technicalities of the titles and the billions of dollars in each area, and implications of the bill and its massive scope, eventually, eventually, one senator spoke with passion about the impact of the bill on family farms and farming.

Naturally, for an educator, the posters, graphs, and charts were interesting. Too bad they couldn't use power point. On the other hand, as a listener-and-gatherer-of-stories kind of a professional, the segment on daily life on the farm by the senator from North Dakota was compelling. To those of us who live in cities, large or small, removed from the country-side, we need to be reminded of life in the country, and the display of labor and love by the 2% of our population who feed the 98% of us.

On the other hand, given the purposes of this blog, and the interests that fuel the flames of those of us who write on these cyber-pages, there was a glaring omission. Yes, I get it that the funding for the socially disadvantaged farmers is minuscule by comparison to funding in other titles, but my hope in our people is that eventually there will be meaningful debate and deliberative action on behalf of the disadvantaged farmers of our land, the African American farmer, the American Indian farmer, the women farmers, and others. And, I hope and pray that those who once farmed, who are still holding on to their land, will be able to farm again, and, I pray for those in rural areas who have never farmed will be provided that opportunity.

There was a shout out for the struggles of those who have lost their land to foreclosures due to inadequate responses to disaster, thus, the need for a more expeditious process with regard to disaster relief and funding. On the other hand, some of us have heard story after story, agonizing story after agonizing story, painful story after painful story, of Black farmers and their spouses and children watching as local officials come to repossess property and to place signs of foreclosure on family land. It is indeed a family farm issue; it is also a Black farmer issue. It is especially a Black farmer issue.

So, by the time the debate comes to and end, and hopefully the debate on procedural matters will end today, I am hoping and praying for more than just a small shout out to the struggles of African American farmers. They deserve more. In my opinion, we are obligated to make way for more than our history has provided.