Sunday, May 09, 2004

Just a Thought

While tilling the earth today, in preparation for replanting some patches of grass that have suffered from too much attention from the Iz, I was thinking about the brouhaha over Abu Gharib.  It’s a good thing that the abuses at Abu Gharib came to light, and it’s an even better thing that those directly responsible are being relieved and made to stand to justice for the misdeeds.  But the thought that kept running through my mind was the temporariness of the outrage that is currently being expressed.  This temporariness is, I think, epitomized in the following.

"Letter to the Editor
Jane Bisbee
Indianapolis

Now that Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month is over, we must continue to work together as a community to prevent abuse and neglect before it happens.

Stopping child abuse isn’t just a task for one month—it’s the shared responsibility of all 6 million Hoosiers every day of the year.

When the attention from the last month fades, there won’t be vigils to remember the victims of abuse and neglect. But there will be thousands of children we can help before they become victims, if we commit as communities to preventing these crimes year-round.

If you know a parent who needs help, lend a hand. Become a Big Brother or Big Sister or a mentor to a child. Become a foster parent—call (800) 468-4228—or become a court-appointed special advocate—call (800) 542-0813.

But if you think a child is at risk, pick up the phone and call the Family and Social Services Administration’s statewide, toll-free, 24-hour child abuse hot line at (800) 800-5556. The health, safety and well-being of Indiana’s children should be—must be—a daily priority for us all."

Jane Bisbee

Deputy Director, Division of Family and Children, Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Indianapolis

I wonder how many individuals even knew it was Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month? I didn’t know.  The attention to the events at Abu Gharib will fade as quickly from individuals thoughts as child abuse.  And, if some celebrity outside of the porn industry came down with HIV, or flashed their breast on teevee, the outrage would fade even sooner.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/09 at 10:55 AM
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Frozen Stiffs

I’ve never really thought about it much, but, it stands to reason that in the far reaches of the north, like Alaska, internment of the dead must wait until the ground can be worked.  Here’s an interesting article on this titled “Spring Thaw Allows for Burials in Alaska."

Personally, I’m going to go for cremation, and hopefully my sons, or some of my brothers, will cast my ashes in a favored trout stream, preferably during a mayfly hatch, when the trout are on the feed.

Story linked via Google News.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/09 at 10:40 AM
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Broader Implications

"This court believes the constitutional right to have children is overcome when society must bear the financial and everyday burden of care."

The above was part of Monroe County Family Court Judge Marilyn O’Connor’s ruling in regards to a couple whose children are all in foster care.  Well, well, well.

“Judge orders couple not to have children."

Via Gene Expression.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/09 at 04:45 AM
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Kill Em or Photograph Em?

"Alas for a reasoned judgment delivered after the context has been clarified somewhat: I suppose that will have to wait until Brig.-Gen. Janis Karpinski’s memoirs are picked over by the New York Review of Books in the year 2015."

The above, is Colby Cosh’s concluding statement from a post titled “Arse gratia artis." The first four paragraphs of the post mention Mapplethorpe, Patton’s men, souvenirs from Japan, and of course, Abu Gharib.

Posted by John Venlet on 05/09 at 03:57 AM
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