Facebook, Censorship Or Compassion

Are we going a bit over board?

Hey folks,

Slippery Slope? Compassion? Or is this outright Censorship. I also know, I'm about to really annoy, if not outright Tick some of you off. But we REALLY need to talk about this.

OK, so all of a sudden, we seemed to have some kind of "rash" of Teen Suicides. Four within a four-week period last month has triggered some in the Mainstream Media to ignitionate coverage of the topic of Anti-Gay Bullying and Harassment and prompted renewed calls for Congress to pass Anti-Bullying Legislation.

Folks, truth is this.

A continued rise in teen suicide rates is concerning mental health professionals, educators, and youth workers. In the past 25 years, while the general incidence of suicide has decreased, the rate for those between 15 and 24 has tripled. It is generally considered to be the second or third most common cause of death among adolescents, even though it is seriously under reported. No one has advanced a good theory explaining why teens are taking their own lives in greater numbers, but it's important for everyone to be aware of the problem.

Some of them are Gay. Some of them are said to be a product of "Bullying." Schools have been sued. Adults other than the Parents of the Kids have been charged. Other kids have been charged. Now we have a movement on Facebook, to censor whatever they, or a Liberal Gay Activist Group, determines to be Anti-Gay Rhetoric. Or Bullying. According to AP - Facebook works to remove anti-gay hate speech Fri Oct 15, 4:04 pm ET

NEW YORK – Facebook is working with a gay-advocacy group to reduce the amount of hate speech and bullying on the online social hub.

Anti-gay bullying has been in the spotlight recently after the suicides of several gay teenagers, including Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi, garnered national attention. According to police, the 19-year-old jumped off the George Washington Bridge after his roommate secretly recorded him with another male student and distributed video online.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said it reached out to Facebook last week after Internet bullies flooded a page set up to honor teens who recently killed themselves in response to anti-gay hate.

The page, set up by a Facebook user, asks supporters to wear purple next Wednesday in memory of the teenagers. Purple represents "spirit" in the rainbow flag that's the symbol of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. On Friday afternoon, most of the comments on the page were from supporters.

Facebook said that its policies prohibit hateful content and that it has systems in place to take down such posts as soon as possible. But the company also said it wants its users to be able to express unpopular opinions and as such must strike a careful balance between removing harmful content and letting people speak freely.

"Facebook has taken an important first step in making social media a place where anti-gay violence is not allowed," said Jarrett Barrios, the president of GLAAD.

OK, so that all sound nice. But why are Gay Teens more important than Straight ones? What makes someone being "Bullied" more important than anyone else because of their Sexual Orientation? "Well Pete, Gay Teens are 300 times more likely to commit Suicide." Yeah I saw that number too. But it's not true.

Joel Best, professor and chair of sociology and criminal justice at the University of Delaware, untangled the knotty statistics behind the gay teen suicide rate in his book "Damned Lies and Statistics" (University of California Press, 2001).

Where did the number come from? "A chain of bad statistics," explains Best in the book.

Advocates began with the largely discredited assumption that one-tenth of the population is homosexual, derived from Alfred Kinsey's 1940s research. In fact more recent studies and polls find that around 1 percent to 3 percent of the population is homosexual. The advocates further assumed the proportion held true for teens (it may or may not), and out of about 4,500 annual teen suicides, figured that one-tenth (450) should involve gay or lesbian teens.

"Next, advocates drew upon various studies that suggested that homosexuals attempt suicide at a rate two to three times higher than heterosexuals," Best writes. He adds that multiplying 10 percent (the estimated proportion of homosexuals in the population) by 3 (a suicide rate estimated to be three times higher than heterosexuals), along with a mathematical miscalculation, led to an estimate that gays and lesbians accounted for 30 percent of suicides. (The miscalculation: Even if 10 percent of the population is homosexual, and their suicide rate is three times that of heterosexuals, homosexuals should account for only one-quarter — not one-third —of suicides)

This figure was rounded up to one-third. At each step of the calculation the numbers either had dubious validity or were selected from the extreme upper end of the estimates.

So what is the gay teen suicide rate? No one knows. "How could anyone hope to measure gay teen suicides accurately?" Best said. "Coroners, after all, do not record sexual orientation on death certificates."

Without accurate numbers on how many gay teens there are, any estimate about their suicide rate is little more than a guess.

So what is the answer? Why do we have this increase in Teen Suicides? What can we do to try to bring this number down? These are the things we SHOULD be talking about. Not advocating the Slippery Slope of Censorship.

Look, we all got, knew someone who was, or did the Bullying ourselves. I went through some. Chances are you did as well. Part of growing up. I didn't think about killing myself. You didn't kill yourself. So what has changed? Why is it a "Reasonable thought" to now have amongst our kids out there? Is it the chipping away of the sanctity of life? Is it the taking away, more and more of the Parent's Rights and Responsibility for their own Children. The Chipping away of the Family. Could it be the Moral Decline in this Country? Could it be the ever increasing Grey Area that is replacing what use to be Black and White, Right and Wrong?

Placing one group over another, be it with the "Best of Intentions" or not, is NEVER the answer. Hate Crimes, Hate Speech, Thought control. None of these things will EVER settle the issues nor deter the product. What will is discovering the source and fixing THAT. No one should be Bullied. Of course. But it matters not whom it is being Bullied, nor WHY they are being Bullied. It is the fact that THEY need to understand how to deal with it as long as it is possible. It is the fact that those found guilty of harassment of another, or worse yet, physical harm to another, for ANY REASON, needs to be held accountable. Not more so, or less so, depending on what some think.

I truly hope that Facebook walks this very fine line, understanding that crossing it, and violating our First Amendment, in the name of compassion is not the answer. It's time that we here in America, stop catering to Minority Groups with special interests, and start asking and answering the REAL and Tough questions. We need to protect Kids from ANY and ALL walks of life, Races, Religions, Sex, and Sexual Orientation matters not. We need to treat each other with respect, and look out for what is best for ALL. We need to treat everyone equally, and have Laws that do the same. Stop this nonsense of placing this or that group, over all others, and let's truly come together as one.
Peter

Sources:
Mental Health Matters - Teen Suicide
AP - Facebook works to remove anti-gay hate speech
Live Science - Is There a Gay Teen Suicide Epidemic?

Thoughts Vs Actions, Nature Vs Chemical

Does Suicide accidentally happen?

Hey folks,

Did you accidentally kill yourself today? Did you wake up this morning and say, "What a great day." Then accidentally hang yourself, jump off a Bridge, or step in front of a Tran? Maybe you accidentally shot yourself in the head, or maybe accidentally took a whole bottle of pills?

A while back, I just bought this car. Myself and my, at the time, Girlfriend were going to take it to a professional Car wash and Detailing place. She was driving hers, so we could drop off mine. When we got to the intersection, this County Worker, blew through a Red light and my Girlfriend crashed into the side of the Van. Totalled my Girlfriend's vehicle and caused her some injuries. THAT, although some would argue was his fault for running the Red light, THAT is an accident.

Did you get up this morning and accidentally eat breakfast? Accidentally, it's Sunday, go to Church, or Work? Did you just find yourself, without thought, driving around looking at yard sales?

Of course not. Whatever we do, we do, because we first think about it. Some things we must do, others we want to do, but we do not accidentally do ANYTHING, without thought. Accidents happen. But what we CHOOSE to do is what we do.

I was listening to a local Radio AM Show when I heard the Local News come on and talk about this new study, that claims some of the Newer Epilepsy Drugs raise the risk of THOUGHTS of suicide. One of the Doctors, most likely funded BY Big Drug, actually said this.

"The study shows that some of these newer drugs may cause in increase in THOUGHTS of Suicide, but they do not prove, that they cause a higher risk of Suicide itself."

What? Really? Seriously? Did a Doctor REALLY just make such an asinine statement? Well, I knew I had to look into this. I couldn't find this actual quote, but I did find a WEALTH of information on this topic. So lets look into this a bit in today's Health and Science Segment. Note to my repost friends, sorry, this is going to go WAY Long.

So to put into prospective of what I'm referring to, according to Health Day - Not All Epilepsy Drugs Raise Suicide Risk: Study By Madonna Behen – Mon Jul 26, 11:48 pm ET

MONDAY, July 26 (HealthDay News) --Since 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has required that all epilepsy drugs bear a warning label about an increased risk of suicidal behaviors, but German doctors report that only certain medications may increase the risk of self-harm.

However, some epilepsy researchers are skeptical of the findings and say the paper raises more questions than it answers.

The study of more than 44,000 epilepsy patients in the United Kingdom revealed that those who took relatively new antiepileptic drugs with a higher risk of causing depression, such as levetiracetam (Keppra), topiramate (Topamax) and vigabatrin (Sabril), were three times more likely to harm themselves or attempt suicide than those who weren't taking any epilepsy medications.

The researchers found that patients who took conventional epilepsy medications, such as divalproex (Depakote, Depakote ER, Depakene) or phenytoin (Dilantin), or newer drugs with a low risk of depression, such as gabapentin (Neurontin) or lamotrigine (Lamictal), faced no increased risk of self-harm of suicidal behavior.

"These potential adverse effects should be considered in the selection of antiepileptics and during monitoring of the effects of these medications in epilepsy patients," said study author Dr. Frank Andersohn, of the Medical Center in Berlin. "Patients with epilepsy who are currently taking an antiepileptic drug that might increase the risk of depression and/or suicidal behavior should, however, not abruptly stop or change their medication but should discuss this issue with their physician."

So just because you may be having Suicidal thoughts, keep taking it? Just, you know, if you do not kill yourself, make an appointment with your Doctor in two weeks. Or whenever he has time to see you.

Some argue that this study is inconclusive.

An accompanying editorial notes several weaknesses of the study. For one thing, the results were based on a very small number of cases. Also, those taking the newer drugs with the higher risk of depression may have been more likely to have chronic and severe epilepsy, and these patients are known to have a higher risk of suicide, noted the editorial authors.

Just like what has always amazed me. Some anti-depression drugs cause increased Suicidal thoughts. Ain't that sweet. I'm depressed. I take this drug, now I'm depressed and WANT to kill myself. WHY TAKE THE DRUG!?!?!?!

People under the age of 25 who take antidepressants have a higher risk of suicide, but adults older than that do not run the same risk according to a new Food & Drug Administration (FDA) analysis. In October 2004, the U.S. FDA directed the manufacturers of all antidepressant medications to add a "black box" warning that describes the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children and adolescents. This "black box" warning is the strongest prescription drug labeling that the government can order.

Looks look at one such drug. Shall we?

Strattera is indicated for the treatment of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children aged 6 and older, Teens, and Adults. Forget increased Suicidal thoughts for a second. Let's say you are completely happy, well, then you would not be taking the drug, or would you be, I don't know, oh, look at the Puppy. What, Oh yeah. So let's forget Suicidal Thoughts for a second. You are putting man-made chemicals into your body that is Natural. Look at the ACTUAL warnings.

Do Not Use Strattera If

•you have or had suicide thoughts or actions
•you have heart problems, heart defects, irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, or low blood pressure
•you have mental problems, psychosis, mania, bipolar illness, or depression
•you have liver problems
•you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
•you have an eye problem called narrow angle glaucoma
•do not combine with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor

Manufacturer's Safety Notice

•Strattera can exacerbate mood swings; important to note if you have Bipolar disorder
Common Reactions to Strattera in children and teenagers
•Mood swings
•Tiredness
•Dizziness
•Nausea or vomiting
•Decreased appetite
•Upset stomach
Common side effects to Strattera in adults
•Sexual dysfunction (decreased libido, ejaculatory problems, impotence)
•Constipation
•Dry mouth
•Nausea
•Decreased appetite
•Dizziness
•Insomnia (trouble sleeping)
•Menstrual cramps
•Problems passing urine
Serious Reactions to Strattera
•Suicidal thoughts and actions in children and teenagers. Watch for the following signs in your child or teenager during STRATTERA treatment:
•anxiety
•agitation
•panic attacks
•trouble sleeping
•irritability
•hostility
•aggressiveness
•impulsivity
•restlessness
•mania
•depression
•suicide thoughts
•NEW Mental (psychiatric) problems in children and teenagers:
•New psychotic symptoms (such as hearing voices, believing things that are not true, being suspicious) or new manic symptoms
•Severe liver damage
•Heart-related problems:
•sudden death in patients who have heart problems or heart defects
•stroke and heart attack in adults
•increased blood pressure and heart rate
•Serious allergic reactions (call your doctor if you see swelling, hives, or experience other allergic reactions)
•Slowing of growth (height and weight) in children
•Problems passing urine including:
•Trouble starting or keeping a urine stream
•Cannot fully empty the bladder

But hey, you may be able to concentrate better. Right? I've told this story a few times before. It has ALWAYS stuck in my head. A friend of mine, a Little Red Head girl, was always drugged by her Mother. Myself and a mutual friend always wondered exactly what she was given her. I remember one day, sitting at the Kitchen table, this little 15 year old girl, sat there starring out into space. Completely unresponsive. Seriously, you could do whatever you wanted to her and she would just sit there.

Well, she came over with my Niece and another girl and the all ended up having a sleepover at "Uncle Pete's" house. Well, that little Red Head Girl did NOT take ANY Medications that day, night, and the following day. You know what? She was a normal, 15 year old girl. A normal kid. Nothing wrong with her at all. They played games, watched TV, and were still up when I got up the next morning. Then once back with her Mother? Yup. Zombie Land Time again.

My point is this.

Prescription drugs are any supplement that contains chemicals or unnatural substances which alters our brain chemistry, hormones, or mentality. There are some prescriptions that work because the drugs involved fool our brain into thinking the opposite of what we are experiencing. The point of this is to trick our brain into not sending communication to our nerves-this allows us to think that everything is fine when it may not be. When all else fails this is usually the type of drug we are prescribed when the doctors do not know what to do.

Prescription drugs most often contain chemicals and hormones. To break down the effects on the body and how dangerous it can be, the following can help you better understand:

Natural and herbal remedies are derived from living plant life. If you every have taken a vitamin supplement you might have noticed the taste just before swallowing, it tastes like ground plants, leaves etc, that is because it is. There are no chemicals involved.

Natural herbal remedies do not alter hormone balance, change chemical levels in the brain or trick your body. Why? Because the herbs contain certain properties that are meant to regulate functions the body to promote healing and health. They are not synthetic or man made, they are simply from the earth and are here to help with problems that we face.

Herbal supplements are a healthy alternative to prescription drugs. People have been using herbs and plants as medicine since the dawn of time. Prescription drugs are a fairly new concept in terms of the last century. Issues of infertility, emotional disorders, organ trouble, brain function, pain, arthritis, among countless others have all been experienced since creation. These health issues are not new. For thousands of years these problems have been fixed and cured by natural remedies.

I've told you about Doctor Dr. Stuart Shipe who has: Doctor of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine, Han Tang School of Acupuncture, B.A. Degree in Professional Health Studies, B.S. Degree in Pharmacy. He is a Licenced and registered Pharmacist, Herbalist, Acupuncturist, and Doctor of Eastern Medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine is a holistic system of healing which has diagnosed, treated, and prevented illness for more than 3,000 years.

I'm sure that you can find a Doctor like Stuart Shipe, in this growing field here in America, in your area. Logic dictates that making a TEA with natural Herbs is far better than putting man-made chemicals in you body that do more harm than good. But that's just my opinion. Feel free to have your own.

As for the increased thoughts of, yet not actual action of? Well, that pretty much speaks for itself. Does it not? Be well my friends.
Peter

Sources:
Health Day - Not All Epilepsy Drugs Raise Suicide Risk
Emax Health - Antidepressants Increase Suicidal Thoughts in People Under 25
Strattera Side Effects
Prescription Drugs Vs Natural Remedies

11 Year Old Suicide Revisited

Standing by my original position.

Hey folks,

This past Sunday, I talked about Celina Okwuone. She is the eleven year old that found life to horrifying to live, hanging herself with a belt, in her bedroom closet. I told you how this was a horrific and sad,, well here you go. I said this.

I'm sorry, but this is just patently absurd to me. Sad, horrifying, and something NEEDS to be done. Look at this sweet little girl.

Celina Okwuone

Why are we now in mourning over this little girl? Why did I have to wish HER God speed with Gary Coleman? Well, according to her Parents, it was because she was bullied. Yes folks. They blame the other kids. Just wait, they will try to sue the School. Maybe it's just society itself. I have a question. WHAT ABOUT THEM?!?! When are they going to start blaming who is REALLY at fault here. THEM!

I talked about the News article in the Local News Outlet, and how the Parents were blaming everyone BUT themselves. I also asked this question.

OK. First thing, she is ELEVEN. Second, and the first question I would ask if I was a Detective investigating this, "Why"? I'm not kidding. I put Josh to sleep at night, once in a blue moon, I MAY peek in on him. Most of the time, I see him again when he gets up in the morning. So WHY at 11:30 pm, did they find it necessary to "force themselves into her room?" What was the reason they wanted to see her AFTER she kissed them and went to sleep?

Everyone seems to be ignoring this little point. I asked where her parents were? Why did she at age nine, have unlimited an unmonitored access to the Internet and a Cell Phone. Assuming that the Parents had no idea. Then we learned from the Parents, that the bullying went on for TWO YEARS. Why did her Parents not do more in those two years. Move? Change Schools? Take the toys, the access to her by the bullies, away? Do SOMETHING more than complain and demand someone ELSE fix the problem. The Police investigation found that no laws were broken. The school yard bullying held no legal part in her death. I asked why the Parents seemed to have failed to lay a solid foundation. Teach her about self esteem Why, did she feel the need to fit in so desperately bad that it cause her unimaginable pain and suffering that she felt the only way out was through Suicide?

I wrapped it up with this.

Alright, I feel sick to my stomach now. If anything happen to Josh to drive him to the point of Suicide, the very FIRST person I would blame is ME. I AM the Parent. He IS MY Child and MY responsibility. Not the Police. Not the School system. Not OTHER Parents of OTHER kids. ME and Josh. These Parents looking to blame everyone else is just absurd. Suing the School, blaming the Police, and taking in their 15 minutes of Fame over the loss of this Sweet Little Girl is sickening to me. Time for someone to truly start asking "Why?".
Peter

Well, some of you have taken a bit of a different position. Over at Facebook, I had this exchange.

Debbie Baldwin
Have you ever had a child who was bullied at school, have you ever spoke to the principal and teachers numerous time to no avail regarding these issues? I have,My child didnt commit suicide but school bullying is real.
Sunday at 1:27pm ·

Peter Carlock
No Josh is 4 going on 5. if he is bullied, I deal with it the best I can. I'll do everything I can. If he becomes a Bully, I will put him in his place. I understand, and am well aware that bullying is real. We all go through some kind of stupid things growing up. But as you said, your kid did not commit suicide. This poor little girl was Eleven. Sorry, but I still blame the parents for letting it get to the point where she felt no other option existed.

Debbie Baldwin
My opinion is this, schools too often look the other way because they dont understand how bad the bullying is. When your child is tormented because of their race, their weight, the clothes they wear, the color of their eyes...their whole being then its a problem. But they tend to push it aside. I was told along with my daughter that maybe if she ... was friendlier ...get real already. How can you be friendlier to the ones who are tormenting you. Kids keep diaries and we dont always know it. I have to say that no 11 yr old of mine would have a cell phone though. I guess we will agree to disagree on this one.
Sunday at 1:48pm ·

Sara Konen
I 'm disable and I am almost 52 and i was push around in school. I think it will never end and that is very sad. It starts at home.
Sunday at 6:31pm ·

Peter Carlock
Yes it does. We are all Captains of our own Ships through this fantastic voyage called life. We all reach the age of accountability, and recognition. We arrive at the people we are through a VAST number of influences. However, when the Parents lay a solid foundation at home, the Child has a better chance of enduring the negatives, and has a higher percentage of holding the values and strengths of their Parents. Without that foundation, outside influences WILL have a more profound effect.
Sunday at 11:47pm ·

Debbie Baldwin
Outside influences could be a number of things. When it involves destroying a child's persona by constant negativity from others then no amount of positive parental influences may help. A young child is very vulnerable to negativity because they dont have the skills or knowledge to protect themselves. Our self worth is constantly being formed ... See Morethrough life and school is a big part of their life just as work is a big part of our life so things that happen their affect them very much so and are out of the hands of the parents. We expect the adults who are at school to be in control and they dont always do what is right for every students, sometimes they take the easy rode. I know all of this for a fact because I was a teachers assistant for 9 yrs and I know how the admin handled many situations.
Yesterday at 1:46am

I just do not accept this though. I have a problem with this statement. "When it involves destroying a child's persona by constant negativity from others then no amount of positive parental influences may help." I just do not agree. Not to get too preachy here, but it is even Biblical. You have to teach your children the way to go. Right and Wrong. Good and Evil. You must show them the way to go. Who they are and can become. You have to show them unconditional love. I know, this is hindered with Nannies, Day Care, ETC. Now a days, the kid is dropped off somewhere or given to someone else to RAISE and TEACH Morals and Ethics. They are going to LEARN something. By someone.

The PARENTS have to start early. Laying the foundation. They have to be responsible for teaching their children that they are more important than anything that someone who doesn't know them says about or even to them. If taught right, they will be able to see these stupid kids being kids things, for what they are. Nonsense.

Then I got this posted here.

Anonymous said...
I can't believe how incredibly judgemental the person who wrote this is. You know very little about the facts, just what you read in the papers. My children go to St Anastasia School and there have been huge problems with bullying for years. People have taken their kids out of the school because of this. Last year, a group of parents who were so fed up with the administrations lack of action, went to Fr. George who is the pastor of St Anasatasia Church to complain. I am sure the parents are blaming themselves but I also know that the school has a responsibility to create a safe environment. MANY parents have had the same experience that the Okwuones have had in that they have gone to the school many times about this and the school has done nothing. I wonder, dear writer, about your motivations in writing this. Either you are an employee of the school (trust me, they are covering up more dirt than a government agency) or an insensitive and judgemental person. Yes, the parents have some repsonibility and maybe even a bigger portion to know everything going on in their daughter's life, but the school has some responsibilty too, especially when so many have complained of this before. Many parents at St A's believe something like this was bound to happen. We saw it coming, there were warning signs everywhere in that bullying was on the rise there.
9:47 AM

OK. That is one of my points. "My children go to St Anastasia School and there have been huge problems with bullying for years. People have taken their kids out of the school because of this." Good for them. Why are yours still there? If this school is so horrible, WHY is it still open?

Bullying has been around forever. Truly. Most kids go through it and grow up just find. Bullying is with us all through school, Collage {Hazing, ETC.} Military, and even on some jobs. As Sara said, I do not see it changing anytime soon. So our kids have to be able to deal with it in appropriate ways.

"I wonder, dear writer, about your motivations in writing this. Either you are an employee of the school (trust me, they are covering up more dirt than a government agency) or an insensitive and judgemental person."

No I'm not employed by the School. I DO understand the compassion aspect of this. I REALLY do. I can not imagine losing a child. If this had been a Murder, Accident, Medical thing, or whatever, I would be the first in line to call for the comforting of the Parents. I would be keeping them in my heart and Prayers. I still am. But, this is NOT a Murder, Accident, Medical thing, or anything else. This IS a Suicide by an ELEVEN YEAR OLD BABY GIRL. You even admit this."Yes, the parents have some responsibility and maybe even a bigger portion to know everything going on in their daughter's life," YES THEY DO. If things were this horrific, WHY did they not know? But it seems they DID know. They failed to do anything about it. Oh they complained. But what did they DO!

This just disturbs me.

"but the school has some responsibility too, especially when so many have complained of this before. Many parents at St A's believe something like this was bound to happen. We saw it coming, there were warning signs everywhere in that bullying was on the rise there."

THEN WHY ARE YOU STILL SENDING YOUR KIDS THERE!!! I'm sorry, but If I felt that somewhere that I was sending Josh to, for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, that is IN CHARGE of TEACHING him things he needs to know for the future, is a DANGER to him, I would STOP! I'm sorry Anonymous, but I just do not get it. Someone tells me, "if you send your boy to XWZ, there is a good chance that the Lions will eat him," I'm NOT sending Josh. But as for the regular growing up stuff, I will teach him where the line is to defend himself, and what to do if he is bullied in degrees. Name Calling, ignore it. Pushing? Punching, Kicking? If he ever came home and send he was in trouble because he punched, or kicked the teeth down the throat of someone bullying him or another, I'll take him out to dinner and we will CELEBRATE. If someone is so terrifying to him or someone else, then he tells me, and WE go to the school and speak with the Teachers, AND the Parents of the little monster. IF I feel that there is nothing that can be done about it at the one location, I will then MOVE him out of harms way. I do not care about the COST. I do not care about the convenience. My number one job is to PROTECT my Child. Screw everything else.

However, in ALL this, I will also teach Joshua why he is important. I will let him discover who he is. I will guide him in the beginning stages of his journey. I will let him fly. But you better bet that Daddy Hawk is near by. Watching.
Peter

Dennis Hopper, Gary Coleman, and Celina Okwuone

What a list we have.

Hey folks,

Happy Sunday to you. Welcome to the Big Sunday edition of the OPNTalk Blog. I am Peter Carlock. Your Provocateur of thought, and this IS your gateway to Truth, Logic, and Reason, in the insanity that surrounds us. Your simplification of the complicated. Seriously, what a list we have. Dennis Hopper, Gary Coleman, and Celina Okwuone. God speed to all, may their families and loved ones have the peace and comfort they need in this time.

Gary Coleman. Many will remember Gary Coleman for his role on Different Strokes and many have been shocked by his untimely death at age 42. Coleman died after going into a coma after a fall, which may have caused or was the cause of a brain hemorrhage.

Dennis Hopper. Dennis Hopper, whose portrayals of drug-addled, often deranged misfits in the landmark films “Easy Rider,” “Apocalypse Now” and “Blue Velvet” drew on his early out-of-control experiences as part of a new generation of Hollywood rebel, died at his home in Venice, Calif., on Saturday, of prostate Cancer. He was 74.

Celina Okwuone. Celina Okwuone committed Suicide in her bedroom closet after finding life too difficult to live. She was ELEVEN years old. More on her in just a few minutes.

Coming right up today?

Family blames 11-year-old girl's suicide on cruel kids
Iran Happy, Israel To Blame, Israel Says Screw You
HAIs and Prevention
DLA For Sunday 053010
IWA For Sunday 053010

Yes we ARE going to talk about Celina Okwuone in more detail in just a second, and many of you may not like the position that I'm about to take. However, this does not change the FACTS in this case. I blame the Parents.

Here is something else going on. Turns out that thousands protested in Phoenix.

Under a broiling desert sun, tens of thousands of protesters on Saturday slowly marched five miles to the state Capitol to rally against Arizona's controversial new immigration law.

According to the AP - Thousands in Phoenix protest Arizona's immigration law

There was no official crowd estimate, but the march was by far the biggest demonstration since Gov. Jan Brewer signed SB 1070 into law on April 23. The law makes it a state crime to lack immigration papers and requires police to determine the status of people they stop and suspect are in the country illegally.

How many WERE Illegal? How many actually READ the Law? The MAJORITY in this country are FOR this Law. Many are about to have a Buycott in Arizona. Good for them.

Going to fill my cup. Today's Coffee of the Day is Brother's Gourmet Coffee, Chocolate Swirl. You can enjoy this great coffee as well from your local Grocer, Bookstore, and or, buy it HERE. Don't forget, you can also follow me on Twitter - peteropntalk, Facebook- Peter Carlock, Tom Sullivan Radio Listener's Club, and as always, you can Email me at opntalk@gmail.com.

Be right back.
Peter

Family blames 11-year-old girl's suicide on cruel kids

WHERE WERE THE PARENTS?!?!

Hey folks,

I'm sorry, but this is just patently absurd to me. Sad, horrifying, and something NEEDS to be done. Look at this sweet little girl.

Celina Okwuone

Why are we now in mourning over this little girl? Why did I have to wish HER God speed with Gary Coleman? Well, according to her Parents, it was because she was bullied. Yes folks. They blame the other kids. Just wait, they will try to sue the School. Maybe it's just society itself. I have a question. WHAT ABOUT THEM?!?! When are they going to start blaming who is REALLY at fault here. THEM!

According to the Palm Beach Post - Family blames 11-year-old girl's suicide on cruel kids

Eleven-year-old Celina Okwuone kissed her parents good night last week and then hanged herself in her bedroom closet, driven to despair by the cruelty of her fifth-grade classmates, her family said Thursday.

By the time her parents forced their way into her room, at about 11:30 p.m. on May 20, it was too late. The bright little girl who liked bubbly pop songs, serial novels and TV musicals dangled lifelessly from a belt tied to a metal shelf.

OK. First thing, she is ELEVEN. Second, and the first question I would ask if I was a Detective investigating this, "Why"? I'm not kidding. I put Josh to sleep at night, once in a blue moon, I MAY peek in on him. Most of the time, I see him again when he gets up in the morning. So WHY at 11:30 pm, did they find it necessary to "force themselves into her room?" What was the reason they wanted to see her AFTER she kissed them and went to sleep?

She left behind a series of dark and disturbing diary entries and, on her cellphone, a string of text messages from children who jeered at her weight or her taste in music or labeled her "ugly," "blacky" or "b----."

The Parents never checked that? They must have known about the Diary. They never read it? Why?

Dr. Celestine Okwuone, a physician with staff privileges at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute, and his wife, Ileana, described their daughter as a sensitive and vibrant child who wanted nothing more than to fit in.

What did they teach her about self esteem? Why, did she feel the need to fit in so desperately bad that it cause her unimaginable pain and suffering that she felt the only way out was through Suicide? Where is the foundation that these Parents laid for her? She was ELEVEN YEARS OLD!!

Instead, the parents said in a statement Thursday, Celina endured the ridicule and scorn of other students at St. Anastasia Catholic School in Fort Pierce until it became too much for her.

Kids being kids. We all go through these types of things in school.

The statement was circulated just after Port St. Lucie police announced that bullying, as defined by Florida statutes, played no part in the girl's death. Florida law defines bullying as "systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students."

OK, so what DID?

"We know that harm was done, whether it can be proven in a court of law or not," the parents said. "We called our daughter Celina our supernova, our shining star. She was vibrant and active and so wanting to be liked."

Just trying to pass the blame here. They did not know anything THIS drastic was wrong with THEIR Child? Were they too busy to deal with it? WHY, did THEY allow this to get to this point. WHERE were THEY?

Flipping through Celina's diary, detectives found a sketch of a hanged figure visited by the Grim Reaper and a poem Celina wrote about ending her life, police spokesman Tom Nichols said. Heaven, one entry suggested, would be a better place for her than Earth.

Celina also told at least two friends of a desire to hang herself, Nichols said. But after reading her diary and the text messages and interviewing her family, friends, neighbors, teachers and fellow students, investigators concluded that no laws were broken.

"A thorough investigation did not indicate any evidence of bullying," said Nichols, who described the text messages as "cruel" but not criminal.

The Parents would have seen all this, had they cared to snoop. Nothing wrong with Snooping in an ELEVEN YEAR OLD'S Diary. Did the Friends say anything? To whom? WHERE WERE THE PARENTS?!?!

Celina's parents said they were "disturbed by the police department's findings," adding that the suicide might have been prevented.

It's getting difficult for me to finish this thing. I want both these Parents brought up on charges for neglect. To say the least. Yes. This may have been prevented. Not by the Police, not by the school, but by YOU! The PARENTS.

"What happened last Thursday in school, and then that night over the phone, with text messages, and online - also what led up to that night over the past two years was nothing short of bullying," they said, noting they had brought concerns repeatedly to Celina's teachers and principal. "Nothing can ever bring our daughter back, but we can make changes. Parents need to speak up, not fear that talking will make it worse."

Again folks. at 9, she had Internet Access, a Cell Phone, and most likely none of the was monitored by the Parents. Two years? They knew about this for two years? Why not, if it were REAL, move. Why not change her school? If it was so egregious, then THEY should have done more than just complain. Two years? Then this should have NOT surprised them. Right. THEY allowed this to go on for two years. THEY are to blame.

But no. Of course they want to sue the School. They want someone to paid for THEIR neglect.

In a statement issued last week on St. Anastasia's behalf, the Diocese of Palm Beach said the school was mourning for Celina. "We ask for continued prayers for the student's family as well as the entire community during this difficult time of loss," the statement said.

Celina's parents called on the school to "take a more active approach to bad behavior" before describing their life as a "living hell."

"We love you," the parents said. "We will miss you forever until our hearts no longer beat. Please, God, let no other child suffer like our little girl."

Alright, I feel sick to my stomach now. If anything happen to Josh to drive him to the point of Suicide, the very FIRST person I would blame is ME. I AM the Parent. He IS MY Child and MY responsibility. Not the Police. Not the School system. Not OTHER Parents of OTHER kids. ME and Josh. These Parents looking to blame everyone else is just absurd. Suing the School, blaming the Police, and taking in their 15 minutes of Fame over the loss of this Sweet Little Girl is sickening to me. Time for someone to truly start asking "Why?".
Peter

Sources:
Palm Beach Post - Family blames 11-year-old girl's suicide on cruel kids

Blame The Parents

Everyone wants to pass the blame around, NO ONE wants to blame the parents.

Hey folks,

What do Joshua Markiewicz, Jessica Logan, Megan Meier, and Abraham Biggs Jr. all have in common? Suicide. They all took their own lives. In ALL these cases, the Parents want to blame someone else.

Abraham Biggs Jr. killed himself on live feed via the Internet by taking pills. His Father blamed the Internet and asked for stricter regulations. Yet he had NO IDEA his Son was even ON LINE??? I'm not kidding. He was not aware of his Son's Online presence.

Remember Megan Meier? The 13 year old that took her life after finding out that she was not talking to a boy she thought was real? Lori Drew, 49, was convicted in November on three counts accessing computers without authorization. Prosecutors said Drew created a fake profile on the MySpace.com social networking site to terrorize Megan Meier. The Mother blames Drew, the Internet, ETC. Yet she did not know what her daughter was doing on line, nor did she know that any of this was happening.

Jessica Logan? She sent nude photos of herself to her Boyfriend, then they broke up and he sent the photos to other kids. Here is a Stat for you.

Twenty percent of teens responding to a recent survey by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy said they’ve sent or posted nude pictures of themselves.

Now of course the Male in me wants to ask, where were these girls when I was in school? But then again, there were no cell phones, nor did 90 percent of the girls look like they do today. 10 year olds just did not have double D breasts and dress like they are posing already with most on display.

But the reality is, if you take, allow to be taken, or pass out nude photos to people, there is a chance others will see them. So who does her Mom, Cynthia, blame? The SCHOOL.

But now, Cynthia is fighting back with tech safety groups on Capitol Hill to avoid cases like her daughter’s. She’s advocating The School and Family Education About the Internet (SAFE Internet) Act, which would support existing and new Internet safety education programs for children, parents and educators.

"I’m following in her (Jessica's) footsteps," Cynthia testified Wednesday. "I think she would have wanted me to do this. That’s the only thing that keeps me going."

Cynthia appeared on The Early Show Thursday to talk about her daughter’s case and her efforts to end abusive "sexting" and "cyberbullying" with Parry Aftab, executive director of "Wired Safety." Aftab said such abuses can amount to using the images as weapons.

Where were YOU during all this Cynthia? You did not have a clue did you?

What about Joshua Markiewicz? Joshua {GREAT NAME} used a belt to hang himself at home after he was suspended from school. Why was he suspended? Well, they do not say. Who does the Mother blame? Yup. The school. She even filed a lawsuit

BRENTWOOD, N.H. -The New Hampshire Supreme Court says a local school district can't be blamed for the death of a middle school student who hanged himself after problems at school.

The court upheld a previous Superior Court ruling that dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Raymond, N.H., district, finding the district, a special education teacher and guidance counselor were not legally responsible for seventh-grader Joshua Markiewicz's death in January 2005.

The 13-year-old at Iber Holmes Gove Middle School used a belt to hang himself at home after he was suspended from school.

His mother, Heidi Mikell of Deerfield, accused the district and its employees of branding her son as a troublemaker and driving him to kill himself.

WAS he? Again, I ask, WHERE is the Blame for the PARENTS? I'm sorry folks, but if you have known me more than a year, you are most likely annoyed at me when there is something bothering you. I KNOW it. I pry. I will not leave you alone until you tell me whats wrong.

Family? I KNOW when my Joshua is doing something he should not be. As a matter of fact, I know were he is at all times. My Niece. My Adopted Daughter, and even their FRIENDS. I KNOW when something is up, and I ASK what it is.

After they tell me, I help if I can. Or I warn them of the consequences. They then chose to or not to. I know what is going on online. I can cancel the phone in two seconds, I will, if I ever find out this type of thing is going on.

I'm sorry Parents. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for your lids. Not the schools. Not the Government. YOU.
Peter

Sources:
AOL News - NH Supreme Court rejects student suicide lawsuit
AOL News - Mom Fighting to End Cyber Abuse
OPNTalk - Misplaced Anger and False Call For Censorship