Dear Editor:

In 1914’s World War I, the spirit of Christmas was stronger than the spirit of a hateful war. In Maine’s war against impoverished children, the spirit of Christmas was again strong enough to stop the hateful attacks, as food, clothing, and toys were provided. It was a beautiful sight and feeling, but not enough to stop the hateful bullets from continuing their damage.

Failure to act or delay in issuance of food stamps as decreed by federal officials is equivalent to a cannon shooting its warming volley. The warning is for the people to pay attention to short and long-term implications when essential food is withheld from families – especially pregnant women and children under 21 years.

Many of us are unaware of the real cost of short and long-term implications of food access. Brain damage begins in the hungry womb, moves with the child through school and adult life. Research shows it can have a costly impact on the next generation. In other words, the delay and deny tactics in access to food is destroying the most precious resource in our country – our children.

Historically, during times of financial depression, food was provided without question – perhaps because the majority were poor. Today, when a minority live with below poverty incomes, we are denying and delaying access to the most critical item for the brain – food. This leads to permanent impairment and risk of adult diseases from cardiovascular, to mental illness. Studies show negative effects in child brain development causes delays in motor and cognitive development, attention deficit disorder, impaired school performance, lower IQ scores, memory deficiency, learning disabilities, reduced social skills, reduced language development, and problem-solving abilities – sound familiar?

Perhaps we should stop blaming schools and look more closely at our food access policies and implementation tactics. Perhaps Finland ranks high in education because they connected the dots to permanent brain damage that can pass on to future generations. Is food access delay and denial that leads to reduced brain capabilities in America what we really want?

Jarryl Larson

Edgecomb