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- Go to Jorge Alberto, a child of the Estancia de Maria Orphanage in Guadalajara
If life were meant to be all sadness, then why flowers?
Having said that, let me expand and clarify my feelings about people who "spawn" (no aspersion on the babies) and do drugs as a lifestyle, especially meth or crack. They are not overcome by parenting, they are tempermentally incapable of it and the chemicals make them selfish to the point that I heard about one kid who was shot for changing the tv channel. Sometimes they try to clean up, but they need care, and cannot, cannot give it to dependents; maybe a puppy, but for goshsakes NOT a baby human!
No, crankhead and crackhead violence, victimization, degradation and neglect towards children is of the category I call true evil. So it is when there are no drugs involved. True evil is rare, but evil is as evil does.
posted by
majroj
on September 7, 2004 at 10:07 PM
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Ca88, maj, bb, Friar, Claire, I apologize for writing something tragic, but
the story ruined my week, maybe because I was closer to this one and so hopeful of change.
The good news is that Doug, a friend of my sister in Guadalajara, heard about this and her work at the Estancia and has decided to sponsor the renovation of the boys' bathroom there all by himself. I can only hope that this begins a change in adoption policies, in procedures and in quality of care and protection.
We know that this happens everywhere, Friar knows how the ignorance of parents and drugs and alcohol and even mental illness causes tragedies within his parishes, or within his neighborhoods and maj has surely seen it in his work, we all know that this happens. Parenting overwhelms when it is as majroj describes it, it overwhelms when we know what to do and have the education and means to do the right things by children.
I just wanted more people to say a prayer for little Jorge, for his foolish mother, for his twins siblings who are about to be born, and for his auntie and the officials iinvolved. It reminds me to pray for us all anonymously, that names attached to specific petitions should be opened to a more universal prayer for all children, all mothers, all officials in authority and to the neighbors who know about things and feel powerless.
It has changed my artwork this week. I made a crying angel storyteller holding a smaller crying angel. It was all that I could do. My smaller angels all tell people on banners to love and help one another this week. I had been making storytellers with momma dogs and their puppies all over some lady's lap the week before. It made me feel that my work was just silly and superficial for awhile there. Guess I needed that then.
Thanks for reading.
posted by
benzinha
on September 7, 2004 at 1:52 PM
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so very sad
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
posted by
Claire_Springle
on September 7, 2004 at 8:13 AM
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It is sad that this should happen...
I hear of cases worse than this in the place where I am assigned now.
posted by
Friar__Tuck
on September 7, 2004 at 2:47 AM
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It is little wonder you feel so saddened by this
What a tragedy of errors
posted by
beachbelle
on September 7, 2004 at 2:03 AM
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I am so sad that it is something like this that prompted you to post, Benzi
but it is good to have you back nonetheless....
prayers to all.
posted by
LadyKenobi
on September 6, 2004 at 9:05 PM
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That stuff happens in the USA too.
Not so much as before, I think, but still happens. So much goes on in neighborhoods where drugs, especialy methamphetamines, are endemic, and is not reported until the damage is done.
I have worked with females in jail, people contantly re-arrested for charges related to drugs, prostitution, driving intoxicated, and if they do their homework, child endangerment of every type and degree, including physical abuse. But they love having that little baby (when it's quite and attentive to THEM), and they cry because they miss the little ones they starve, beat, leave alone for days, and verbally abuse (or expose them to other people who will). They are usually just very weak people with no clue as to what they owe children, but people like that are dangerous.
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I wonder how the aunt feels?
posted by
majroj
on September 6, 2004 at 4:42 PM
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Benzinha - that is so desperately sad and even sadder when you think he is only one of so many mistreated children. I have no other words.....
posted by
Ca88andra
on September 6, 2004 at 3:29 PM
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