soapbox

Because of the current events of the day I’m tempted to go on a rant about the justice system or how we glorify and make famous people for common, awful, everyday things. I find it particularly interesting how just yesterday everyone was posting about and praising this country for what it is and what we as a people have fought for.  I could talk about how many people want to get self righteous and angry about this, but are able to act as though EVERYDAY babies and children aren’t starving, homeless, abused, molested, neglected, and suffering right down the street from us.  What about the kids on my caseload who literally don’t have toilet paper or trash bags? Or have had family members molest them over and over without punishment? What about the small town police officers who let abusers off “this time” because they’re old high school buddies? Or the teenagers who kick the air out of their dog because they get the air kicked out of them by their parents? Where is the anger and indignation about these kids? Who, by the way, are still alive! When do we get to be angry that there is no justice for them either? Why do we get to make her a celebrity just because this case was more interesting than the ones in Swain County or BFE Georgia? Is her baby any more dead than the one who froze to death in a trailer? Are we that comfortable in our air conditioned living rooms that we think we have any idea what the pain is for the family members in that court room? What kind of society do we have when this is front page news, yet I see  children and teenagers who don’t make it to school because they’ve been up all night listening to mom and dad fight and all we say is, “ they’re just truant, it’s nothing big?”

I guess I’m more than just tempted to rant. This is a big deal, and that baby is gone because people were not caring for her like she deserved. Who’s to blame? I have no idea and I doubt anyone besides the guilty party(ies) will ever fully understand what happened.  But I cannot see the anger carrying people through to positive action. I see hate and aggression and ignorance. But not change. That takes more work and more effort than just words. That would take people leaving their couches and going to a food bank. Becoming foster parents. Donating to back to school programs and domestic violence shelters. Becoming a mentor.  Tutoring kids to read and go on job interviews. Not turning our heads when we see bruises and breaks and behaviors that suggest abuse and rape. Following up with survivors. Blaming the perpetrator, NOT the victim. And doing the right thing instead of the easy thing.