20101205

24 hours of unremitting rants: Facebook cartoon profile pictures

OK, i just read the news about how cartoon characters as Facebook profile pics will raise awareness about child abuse.
Read more about the goal here

Excuse me, but, well, i don't think so.

There is someone i know, a user on Facebook whom i used to live with, and she will attest that there was a child who was being abused right under our noses and we had no idea.  No idea at all.  This little girl was beaten to death on Christmas eve in the town home we all shared for months until she and i broke up and moved on, prior to the final incident.

My input? Pay attention to your surroundings and maybe don't be scared to say something.  Offend your friends, neighbors, or in our case, roommates, if you think there is something evil happening.  And no i am not a Christian but i do believe in Evil.  Corporal James Clark and i had a discussion about this at range 407A.

I'm not so sure finding out what TV show you liked as a kid may result in anything more than some people feeling good about themselves.  Have you ever felt responsible for a child's death?  Have you ever watched a person's life disintegrate after they take their child off life support on Christmas morning?  I know a bunch about the former and my old girlfriend/roommate knows about both the former and the latter.  What i can tell you, what i am clearly asking you, is to evaluate any situation which alarms you and involves someones safety.

My dad claims that he was abused pretty hardcore as a kid, and i know that i was abused, in an indirect fashion.  My dad slapped the shit out of my mom at least twice that i can remember.  That is simply what i can recall.  The verbal 'abuse' my dad laid on my mom is what shaped me more than anything else.  Also, the man who was my godfather is an accused child molester who has been in hiding for almost 20 years.  I have no recollection of any abuse to me and he never had time alone with my only brother, but i do recall my mother, father, and grandmother sitting me down and asking me if there was anything i could recall in 'uncle' Bill's behavior that hurt me.  I can't recall anything and do not feel as though i have buried anything.

My buddy was raped by two men when he was at school overseas, as a child.  Another pal was raped by a man when he rode his bicycle to the shop to purchase what he hoped was a rookie card from a famous MLB outfielder.

Neither of these chaps pressed charges or made the information available to their parents, yet they found enough strength to tell me.

If there were a stipulation that Facebook founder Mark Z. was going to donate a $hitload of coin to child abuse awareness research, or something, if everyone on the site changed their pic to a cartoon character, i would be less indignant.  And i know you changed your picture because you believe it will help, but please think about what i have said and reevaluate the effectiveness of what you did.  I like the fact that it makes you feel good, and that you care enough to have read the news and made the switch.

But in truth, you likely have changed nothing but your belief in yourself.

And for the record, my favorite animated character was Raphael from the TMNT.


Eternally though, my favorite character who is a drawing is Batman.

2 comments:

  1. That must have been difficult to write. I agree with you, which is why I didn't change mine. I teach alternative ed. in the city, so I hear a lot about how my students grew up, and I have to make a report at least twice a year. One of my son's teachers was excessively rough with him, and thankfully he told us. I happened to catch her a week later and if I hadn't been surrounded by small children I might have killed her. I don't understand people who feel the need to hurt children, but they most definitely are completely evil. Jess

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  2. Teachers are trusted with more than they are compensated for and are rarely punished for the wrongs they may do.

    Protecting the teachers is disguised as protecting the institution which receives tax funds. They are rarely the same thing.

    Best,
    W

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