Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Seventeen Children



Seventeen children died due to abuse and neglect last year in Dallas County. 

Didn’t someone else know about these children – know that they were in terrible danger?  Why didn’t their relatives intervene?  What about a teacher, a neighbor, a pizza delivery guy?

Surely someone knew.  In a world where we have instant access to the World Wide Web in our pockets, news bombarding us 24 hours a day, instant updates, live feeds, Skype, and more – why couldn’t someone save these children?

The author Toni Morrison devised a test many years ago that I use in assessing people.  Watch people and notice this:

Do their eyes light up when their child (or any child) walks into a room?

I would venture to guess that these 17 children faced dark eyes just prior to their deaths.  But I also bet that multitudes of other dark, blank, sad, and dead eyes looked away.

P.S.  You are required by law to report suspected child abuse.  In Texas, use this secure website:  https://www.txabusehotline.org or call 1-800-252-5400.  If you are not sure if the situation is abuse, please call the hotline and the staff will discuss the matter with you.  You may remain anonymous if you choose. 

2 comments:

  1. I don't think people can be reminded of this enough. Three years ago I told a young woman of her of a family member's drug use because she entrusted that adult with the care of her school-aged son. Many think that my action was interfering, but she had a right to know.
    What she does with the information is her responsibility. I completed what i was indebted to do as an adult.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You certainly did the right thing, Cricket. Information is power, even when we don't want to hear it. Thank you for helping the child!

    ReplyDelete