This post is dedicated to the memory and spirit of an angel from New Castle, Indiana. My heart goes out to the family of Kaitlynne Mae Jennings. This sweet baby's spirit has stirred my soul into action and I pray that my words bring action. Nothing can take away your pain and I grieve with you for your loss and the thousands of souls that continue to be silenced.
I write this post with a heavy heart and a renewed sense of purpose. I have come to the sad realization that the current state of our affairs and society has dictated the necessity of the words that follow. We have become a nation that no longer feels the need to turn a caring and concerned eye toward the plight of our most innocent of victims. This nation's growing crisis of child abuse has caused me to completely switch gears and change the focus of my efforts to a cause which is closer to my heart. The children who must endure the most horrifying of tortures, things that only our most disturbing nightmares reveal, must have a voice. These babes, these innocent souls deserve a fighting spirit, a staunch and resounding voice in the night of their terror to speak out and say, "Enough is ENOUGH!"
I'm mad, I'm angry...No, I'M PISSED OFF!! The anger that has swelled in me has been sparked by the knowledge that another worthless, piece of crap, child abuser will become a free man once his ridiculous sentence is over in less than a year. Justice for a little angel taken from this world will not be served since Jeremiah Hoots' plea bargain has been accepted and the "penalty" that this "person" will pay pales in comparison to the pain, anguish and despair that has devastated young Kaitlynne Mae Jennings' family.
How can we, as a community, as a nation, continue to stand by and watch as events such as described unfold? I think back to 1981 when the abduction of a little boy named Adam Walsh captivated the hearts and minds of a nation. We were compelled to watch, to look, hope and pray for the safe return of young Adam. The ENTIRE nation cared about this little boy. The ENTIRE nation wept when the child was found.
On October 14th, 1987 the plight of another child captivated the nation. Eighteen-month-old Jessica McClure slipped down an uncapped well opening in Midland, Texas, as viewers we held our collective breaths as we watched and waited. After a 58-hour struggle, little Jessica was finally pulled to safety on October 16th, 1987. We watched, we cried, we cheered when her little body emerged, strapped to a spinal board, her free little arm rubbing her eyes to keep out the brightness of the lights that awaited her.
Two very different stories, two very different endings. Their common factor is that they brought together a non-apathetic nation. We cared about what was happening. We prayed for the safe return for those children and in both cases, our prayers were met with tears. Tears of sadness, shock and disbelief for little Adam Walsh. Tears of joy, happiness and relief for young Jessica McClure.
An extremely disturbing shift has taken place in the past 30 plus years which has led to a fundamental change in the way that we as a nation see and react to the disconcerting nature of stories such as these. No longer do we "trouble" ourselves with such trifling events. We go about our daily lives, caught up in our own egocentric world, oblivious to the plight of these children who have no voice of their own. We have become a nation of desensitized, apathetic observers. We are content to watch from the sidelines as our most precious commodity, our youth, continues to be the punching bags of those we should deem unworthy of oxygen let alone the privilege and honor of being blessed with a child.
The statistics are staggering. In 2008, an estimated 772,000 (The 2009 estimated population of Indianapolis, Indiana was 785,597.) children were determined to be victims of child abuse or neglect. Of this number, an estimated 1,740 children died from child abuse or neglect. Why are these numbers acceptable? Why do we demand justice for someone who decides to smuggle drugs into the country but not for someone who has stolen the life of a child? What has happened to our collective morality? What has happened to our sense of righteousness?
The answer to these questions lies within the devolution of our society, values and morals. The desensitization of our nation has been fueled by a media that bombards its viewing audience with tragic stories on a daily basis; a film industry that has increasingly raised the stakes in its history of violent and horrific movies; a video gaming industry that is constantly trying to find bigger and better ways to erase civilization; a music industry that has systematically devalued life and love; an internet that allows unlimited access for users to find anything and everything to satisfy their deepest, darkest and most taboo desires; and a relaxed system of justice that coddles and slaps repeat offenders on the hand. How have we come this far? How have we gone this low?
As my conscious effort to become more aware of my actions, feelings and attitude toward events such as these, I vow to be the voice for these lost souls in whatever way that I am able. I will advocate for tougher laws, stricter jail sentences, and an abolition to the apathy this nation has adopted concerning these precious victims. It's been said that, "It takes a village to raise a child." I say it takes a nation to protect a child. The laws that are on the books are not strict enough. I urge all who read this to research your local and state laws.Write to your congressman and senators. Speak up and speak out! It's time to take a stand! It's time to speak for those who have been silenced.
