(no subject)

[technoir]

So yeah, every once in a while I forget and believe humanity has improved. Maybe it has but every once in a while the vener that hides the stupid and dark places people still go slips.

Idiots.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4608943.stm

Three people have been convicted over the abuse of a girl, eight
Hundreds of central African children living in the UK may have suffered abuse or even been killed after being accused of witchcraft, charities say.

The warning follows the conviction of three people over the torture of an eight-year-old girl.
Four London charities, working with people from central Africa, told BBC News this was not an isolated case.

The children may have been returned to their home countries for "deliverance services" or other punishments.

Comments

[newsedition.livejournal.com]

You know, I'm not really a big fan of the death penalty, but maybe euthanizing crazy fucks like this so they don't infect the rest of the world would be a good idea.

[technoir.livejournal.com]

yeah there by making us like them.

[twelveoaks.livejournal.com]

Not to be callous (quite the opposite) but don't be shocked. Nothing about child abuse (in its many forms) is new and there is nothing to indicate that it has gone away. If the story really upsets us (as it should!) just saying "oh this is so horrible," doesn't really help. Write a letter to your congresspersons encouraging them to get more funding for child protection law enforcement (yes, I know this happened in the UK, but we have our share here) or give some money or volunteer time to a national or international child welfare & safety organization.

Sometimes I think that by letting ourselves be stunned into helpless angst over a problem we also give ourselves permission to do nothing about it. Also, you don't have to go to London to find things like this going on.

A few good links:
http://www.capweb.net/ Capweb - great resource on contacting political officials
UNICEF The United Nations Children's Fund - UNICEF - works for children's rights, their survival, development and protection
Prevent Child Abuse America ..."promoting legislation, policies and programs that help to prevent child abuse and neglect, support healthy childhood development, and strengthen families." I don't know as much about this organization, but I have heard good things

[technoir.livejournal.com]

my point is not that i was stunned. Cause well I am not. I am not even surprised. More to the point I am disappointed that I am not more surprised. I wish I could be surprised by this. I find my self wondering why in all our supposed enlightenment are we still so filled with barbarism. I am not a cynic who believes the world worthless. I am an Idealist who wishes the world would prove it's measure, but know it never will. Also for the record the laws in place were not inadequate to this. As soon as the crime was detected they were arrested and prosecuted. No it was the people who dont measure up.

[twelveoaks.livejournal.com]

The fact that bad people continue to exist does not mean that we as a society should stop trying. As Burke said: All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.