Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Morning Edition - 1/18/06

Amazing Progress; Broken Scale
The new gym regimen is on track – well, for the end of week one. Last night I jumped on the scale at the end of my workout and was pleasantly surprised to find that it read approximately 15 less pounds than when I began less than 10 days ago. Yes, I’m aware that this is an enormous and ridiculous amount of weight to lose in one week, but I’m judging this reading like one of those surveys – plus or minus five pounds. In any event, my beginning weight was 177 pounds – save the comments please! My new weight – drum roll please! – 162 pounds! Not to worry, I like you am just as skeptical about the HUGE drop, but I’ll be doing another weigh-in tonight on a different scale to see what the reading is. Yes, I’ll even report that number back to you. All said, I am back to my three mile haul-ass miles in 30 minutes and have greater stamina – this in only one week. Even if the scale is off, the body is showing signs of conforming. For those who have adopted the “Beautiful Body for Summer 2006” program with me, please feel free to share your progress, workout stories and setbacks in the “Comments” area. For those die-hard workout mavens in our blog family, please feel free to jump in and give us tips, advice, etc. as we go along.

The Baby, the Bathwater and Death
Nixzmary Brown, 7, was found dead last Wednesday night. Authorities believe her stepfather Caesar Rodriguez had banged her head against a bathtub faucet causing her death. Prosecutors gave a chilling detail that alleges Rodriguez beat Brown for attempting to take a yogurt from the refrigerator. Brown weighed 36 pounds at the time of her death. What’s most troubling about this alleged case of abuse, neglect and murder is that there were countless signs that preempted Brown’s death. Her mom lived with the child. Teachers, social workers and neighbors allege the child showed signs of malnourishment, black eyes and missed countless school days. The New York State Child Welfare agency had been called in to intervene countless times and even attempted to enter the apartment in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn shortly before the child was reported dead. Now, authorities are asking why the agency charged with the child’s welfare didn’t take steps – like obtaining a warrant to enter the apartment – to save the child’s life. Nixzaliz Santiago, the child’s mother is charged with manslaughter, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child. Caesar Rodriguez is charged with murder and endangering the welfare of a child. Neither has entered a plea. The City of New York is calling for a full investigation to determine the actions of the Child Welfare Agency.

Reporting from Baghdad
A group calling themselves the Brigades of Vengeance kidnapped American journalist Jill Carroll, a Christian Science Monitor reporter in Iraq since 2003. Their demand is clear – free all female Iraqi prisoners within 72 hours or she dies. To date, 36 reporters have been kidnapped since the start of the war and six have been killed – viciously. The U.S. has a policy of not negotiating with terrorist groups. Carroll is from Michigan.

On Blast
Child abusers – those convicted of sex abuse against minors specifically – presently serve time for their felony convictions and are required to register as sex offenders within their communities. Until recently, after a specified period of time their names could come off this list. Lawmakers are now in the process of changing that law so that sex offenders remain on these registries for life. No other felony conviction requires a person to be placed on a list and carry this “Scarlet letter” for life. Is it fair to have sex offenders be the only convicted felons to be required to register with their communities? Should we require other felons – drug felons, rapists, etc. – to also be put on such a registry? What type of rehabilitation and/or future can society expect for people who feel “marked” for life? Tell it like it is…

Keep passin’ the open windows…

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a good subject. I agree with the other two post...once an offender, always an offender. They can never be rehabilitated. They should be marked for life by being kept in jail for life.

Anonymous said...

Hell To the NO. Sex offenders should not be branded for life, repeat offenders YES. A sex offender could be a 17yr. old having consensual sex with a 16yr. old. Everyone makes mistakes in life and EVERYone deserves a second chance. Should we castrate teens, women or men for not being good parents? Should we take ALL of a person's children, for life, because they encounter personal problems in their own life? All of the previous have life-long ramifications. I think the that damage we do to our own should be dealt with most severely but, it that the case?

These pictures are NEVER black and white. Every situation need to be looked at on its on merit. I would hate for a member of my family/friends to miss out on raising their kids because of a mishap, bump, in their personal life. Life in prison happens to the poor, not the wealthy so, be careful of what your asking. You just might be condemning a family member or friend.

ENOUGH OF THAT...

Just Me.

Anonymous said...

Just Me,

You sure are quick to defend a crazy person. Is everything okay over there? What about the life of a child that has been offended? What if it was your child? Would you feel the same way?

Unknown said...

Yes Caspar, the question, like the issue, is very serious. I agree with Just Me in that the net is cast far too wide when designating or classifying sex offenders – even child sex offenders specifically. As was already mentioned, teens interact and engage each other sexually and older teens may find themselves in life-long misery following a conviction for having any sexual interaction with their peers – this includes an 18-year old who engages a 17-year old. Moreover, although I agree that some sex offenders have deep seated issues that may never be cured or overcome, it is unfair to say that all sex offenders will never change and can never be rehabilitated. I do believe a requirement to have all sex offenders remain in some type of rehabilitative program that includes long-term, and in some cases, life-long counseling, rather than requiring them to register in their communities and be identified as sex offenders for life serves a better community-safety purpose. My reasoning is simple, the average Joe doesn’t check the available sex offender registry anyway. Therefore, most families that feel so strongly about having this information available to them, don’t take the time to check these registries periodically. This lack of information leaves families and subsequently, entire communities, unprotected. Second, it is difficult at best, to expect someone who feels they will forever carry a label to make a move to change their behavior and abstain from it – why bother? You’ll always be classified as a sex offender, right? There are other crimes that merit convicted felons to be placed on national registries – ie. murder, rape, drug dealing, etc. Why make distinctions? Are we not afraid of our family members suffering at the hands of a rapist? Do we care if a convicted murderer moves into the neighborhood? Let’s be realistic. If we’re going to allow convicted felons to return to our communities, we’re going to have to do our best to rehabilitate them. Your vigilance for your family – your children specifically – should be ever-present – whether there is a registry or not. Admittedly, I don’t have children, but I do have family members and friends who mean the world to me. I’m as concerned at having them be safe, but I’m also concerned that fairness, equality and justice prevails for all. For the record: I know from first-hand experience the repercussions and damage caused by sex offenders, so mine isn’t a trivial and liberal bleeding heart tirade.

Unknown said...

There’s also the consideration that some sex offenses – especially against children – merit life-long imprisonment. When rehabilitation is not an option or consideration – be it because of repeated offenses, inability to conform, etc. – it’s time to think of the community at large and serve-out life-in-prison sentences. These coupled with castration, heavy medication and/or a death penalty sentences can be considered. How’s that for addressing both sides of the coin?
::::: Having a slight flashback::::

Anonymous said...

If you're affraid to sign your name, your opinion carries NO weight.

As I've stated Mr./Mrs. Anonymous...

Everyone deserves a second chance. Children are disrespected by their own loved ones ie. family/friends/in laws. These are the people that I feel should receive the harshes punishment because these are the people that we trust the most. Should they be put to death? As stated, there is NO blanket that will cover this entire subject so, when spouting off at the MOUF, try seeing the situation from different vantage points because you may be asking people to view from a different vantage point one day.

Now SHush, child

Just Me....

Anonymous said...

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU COCOA....THE "SEX OFFENDER" TITLE IS TOO BROAD AND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT LABEL TO SEVERE FOR US TO BE SO ABSOLUTE ABOUT JUDGEMENT. CASPAR I FREELY ADMIT I HAVE NO CHILDREN OF MY OWN, AND I UNDERSTAND THE OUTRAGE OF YOU AND OTHER PARENTS AT SEX OFFENDERS, BUT WE HAVE TO STEP BACK AND JUDGE EACH SITUATION INDIVIDUALLY.