Take a Hint
So this guy's wife died, he got overwhelmed with all his kids, and he brought them to a hospital knowing they'd be taken care of due to this "safe haven" law.
Let's go over that one more time. He took his kids somewhere they'd be safe. He knew of a law that helps people, and he used it to get help for his family. He did not abuse his kids. He did not just walk out of the house to never return. He took care of his family the best way he knew how.
Here's my problem with this: politicians now want to change the law so only babies can be dropped off at hospitals, not children. Apparently the law was meant to only be for babies, and in all other states is only for babies, but somehow the wording for the law in this state (Nebraska) was changed to children.
And people are using that wording to drop off children they don't feel they can take care of properly. What's the fucking problem with this? I happen to think these parents are doing exactly the right thing. If you can't do it, let someone else try.
I remember reading once about how Girl's Gone Child was trying to get speech therapy for her son and how it took ages and ages, and then the speech therapists rarely showed up and ultimately, she just gave up on it. In the article I linked to above, the guy in charge of the Department of Children and Family Services criticized the father saying there are resources to help him. Yeah. Sure. How many kids have died while in the custody of DCF?
Yesterday a guy caused a bomb scare in the Financial District, upset that he was (put down your drink now!) rejected from being a contestant on Price Is Right (hey, I warned you). He handed a receptionist a note that said "I need help." To which you might want to reply, "No shit!"
TAKE A HINT! These people are taking drastic measures as ways of screaming for help. What's being done? Scrambling to change laws that will make things more difficult for parents (which naturally will trickle down to their children) and arresting people. I'm sure that bomb scare dude was arrested, and I agree and understand that. You can't go scaring people that you're going to kill them. I'm sure the bomb scare dude's public defender will plead temporary insanity or something and try to get it down to a lower charge. Dude will pay a fine, do some time, and get out.
But what about his note? What about the fact that he did this as a cry for help? I think the note speaks volumes. (In case you don't click on links, I will point out he didn't really have a bomb.) It should be listened to. Somebody should help this guy. Not "you can go to jail or go to a state run mental hospital" but actual, real help. Like he asked for. Begged for.
Mark my words, people. It's only going to get worse. Take a hint from what's going on here. We need more help, more services. Not less.
Let's go over that one more time. He took his kids somewhere they'd be safe. He knew of a law that helps people, and he used it to get help for his family. He did not abuse his kids. He did not just walk out of the house to never return. He took care of his family the best way he knew how.
Here's my problem with this: politicians now want to change the law so only babies can be dropped off at hospitals, not children. Apparently the law was meant to only be for babies, and in all other states is only for babies, but somehow the wording for the law in this state (Nebraska) was changed to children.
And people are using that wording to drop off children they don't feel they can take care of properly. What's the fucking problem with this? I happen to think these parents are doing exactly the right thing. If you can't do it, let someone else try.
I remember reading once about how Girl's Gone Child was trying to get speech therapy for her son and how it took ages and ages, and then the speech therapists rarely showed up and ultimately, she just gave up on it. In the article I linked to above, the guy in charge of the Department of Children and Family Services criticized the father saying there are resources to help him. Yeah. Sure. How many kids have died while in the custody of DCF?
Yesterday a guy caused a bomb scare in the Financial District, upset that he was (put down your drink now!) rejected from being a contestant on Price Is Right (hey, I warned you). He handed a receptionist a note that said "I need help." To which you might want to reply, "No shit!"
TAKE A HINT! These people are taking drastic measures as ways of screaming for help. What's being done? Scrambling to change laws that will make things more difficult for parents (which naturally will trickle down to their children) and arresting people. I'm sure that bomb scare dude was arrested, and I agree and understand that. You can't go scaring people that you're going to kill them. I'm sure the bomb scare dude's public defender will plead temporary insanity or something and try to get it down to a lower charge. Dude will pay a fine, do some time, and get out.
But what about his note? What about the fact that he did this as a cry for help? I think the note speaks volumes. (In case you don't click on links, I will point out he didn't really have a bomb.) It should be listened to. Somebody should help this guy. Not "you can go to jail or go to a state run mental hospital" but actual, real help. Like he asked for. Begged for.
Mark my words, people. It's only going to get worse. Take a hint from what's going on here. We need more help, more services. Not less.
Labels: City Livin, I'm Hurt, People watching, Personally, Playing in SF
posted by Green at 10/14/2008 09:15:00 AM
1 Comments:
I think you are spot on. People feel more and more helpless and there is nothing out there to really HELP make things better. It is all band aids that just cover up a problem, and in the meantime everything the band aid is covering up is just rotting underneath.
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