Maureen

I was talking about this to my mom today.
I don't understand how people can do such things. I also read about a woman who hung her 10 month old baby in the closet. She also hung herself and her other 2 kids. The 10 month old was saved.

I think people like that need to fucking be burned. How can anyone hurt an innocent child? I'm scared of being a vet, because I would freak out if I caused pain to an animal, not to mention a human.

I would personally throw people who abuse children into the fire. If someone can hurt a little child, they do not deserve anything at all.

This got me upset. People suck. People are sick and disgusting.

I'm ashamed to be the same species.

Yeah, my heart pretty much breaks every single day because of all the horrible things going on, especially to children. I'll bring these issues up at dinner and my parents will get mad because I'm 'being negative'. What's sad is that all of these current events are taking place but because they bring sadness and are not "fun" people have no problem turning their back. That really bothers me. People who choose to be ignorant.

I watched Blood Diamond last night and yes I already understood there is a problem with most exportation of valuable items from third world countries, but it really instilled how brainwashed these children are. I can't stop thinking about what horrible lives these people have to endure and yet most people will watch a movie like that, consider it good entertainment, and be on their way like it really isn't even going on!

Sorry I'm just going on this entire rant, but really. If everyone who believes in moral values and especially the rights of children stands up and says THIS IS ENOUGH rather than leaving it to government establishments to regulate the problems, then changes will come about. But people are too selfish and too afraid to help those in need, its just easier to see a kid dying on the news and being like "oh, thats sad" rather than getting off your ass and doing something about it. People feel like sympathy is what helps the world, when really it just makes it worse. You should be empathetic, if you don't understand, then you should learn to understand. And then, some real changes will happen, and then kids will stop dying.

but hey, maybe i'm a dreamer.

Well, I understand about wanting to throw someone who did that into the fire, but then I'd hear on the news how someone was thrown into the fire and that would be cruel and tragic, too. See, I guess the core of this is what can I do? What can I do each day, if anything, that makes any of this better? How does a person get to the point where they are capable of this kind of action--or in the case of James--this kind of ambivalence of lack of feeling.

I know it's a cycle somewhere. They weren't born evil. It's not even about blame or retribution. Just wanting it to stop. Sorry this got you upset--felt so full of the same feeling that I felt compelled to share it. Thanks for commenting. Maybe as this community grows, there are some things we can do. Maybe it can be a truly powerful thing. I hope so.

oh! and you might find this article interesting. It's about how multilcultarism is affecting woman. judges are upholding taditional values of faith rather than law in court, allowing women to be degraded and abused.

http://comment.independent.co.uk/columnists_a_l/johann_hari/article2496657.ece

I think we should start a FULL revolution. I mean we are the music revolution, so why not take over the entire world? hah

Priscilla - I do think that this is a place where larger things can happen. I think music is a foundation for a lot of things--including change and revolution. We just need a starting point for action. Maybe this community can be that.

Whoa--I read that article, Priscilla. That embedded misogyny freaks me the fuck out. That's what I mean--what can I do?

What can any of us do? I often sit in my room and seriously contemplate what I could be doing to make a difference rather than just...sitting.

There are so many organizations to get involved in so its kind of overwhelming.

We should recognize just how much has been done in the past 50 years with regard to women's/ children's rights though. Child abuse/ domestic abuse was not spoke of 30 years ago, and look now at the laws in place against it (in North America). There has been a lot done so far, but I agree, it is far from done. Organizations are a great way to start, but there are a lot of other ways too. The fact that you are thinking about it is great, but as you say, sitting and thinking isn't enough. And neither is throwing money at it. This requires changing people's/ cultural thinking too. I have no solution either to this sadly, and I don't think anyone else alone does either, but I too am far too disturbed by these and many other stories as well. At this point any suggestions would be wellcomed.

Maureen, this is really a great blog. I think that some of us that feel deeply affected by these stories sometimes wonder if we are the only people in the universe that are still worried about these kinds of things. You have helped me feel a little more normal.

My father even told me once that I 'care too much' sometimes. (I think he said that because of the way some things effect me emotionally.)
But I think most people don't care enough... that they SHOULD care more.

Just today, my husband and I were eating at Subway and a lady was doing something stupid with her infant son and he fell to the floor. And you know what she did? She just picked him up and started bouncing him around!!!!!
And I said aloud "Aren't you going to take him to the hospital?!"
I mean she was visibly shaken and concerned, and I realize accidents happen- but i dont understand why you would take the risk of assuming the child is okay, when he could have broken bones, or a concussion or worse. And she wasnt in a hurry.
It made me SO fucking mad. it is so disgusting and disturbing to me.
priscilla that article is fucked too.

I feel the same way-guys... what can we do to make a difference??
feeling helpless and hopeless is no way to live.

Great post - as usual....

I find that some of this information is just useless to me. Until the world turns on its' ear, there are going to be horrible things going on somewhere....the "news media" makes money and keeps people addicted to it by plying us with it.... and if what I'm barraged with is so horrible that I can't function, then I'm no good to the world at all. I'm pretty tough when it comes to being faced with this stuff, but I know others, who are "sensitives", who are left in near fetal position if they get too much. The wisest of them simply don't participate - it's not that they don't care - it's knowing that there are other ways they can contribute to making this a better world.

I guess we all have our limits.

Thanks as always for the great post.