Abuse is Everywhere

"Ireland unveils long-awaited report on Catholic child abuse"

Last weekend, Kim Michele Richardson was in town for the American Library Association (ALA) Conference where she got down to business talking to others about her book. I met Kimmi and her husband for dinner and we both brought up the recent article regarding 50-years of sexual abuse by the Irish Catholic schools and orphanages in Ireland. It’s astounding how far these horrific acts have traveled and gone ignored.

Kimmi’s book, The Unbreakable Child, describes her abuses in a Catholic orphanage in Kentucky, far from Ireland, but the terrifying and damaging memories are similar. Kimmi was one of many involved in the first successful lawsuit in U.S. history to receive monetary restitution for abuse. Their attorney, William F. McMurry led them in the fight and win.

The Unbreakable Child is a reminder, as is now declared in Ireland, that the Catholic Church needs to take a stand against these horrendous activities. I was raised Catholic, although I’m not a practicing one. These declarations in Ireland and in The Unbreakable Child are an embarrassment to Catholics, or any organized religion that feels they’re outside the law. There is no separation of Church and State when it comes to abuse, and anyone connected to a religious order isn’t exempt from prosecution.

What angers me the most though is that the Roman Catholic Church hasn’t taken ownership for these abuses. This isn’t to say all Catholic nuns and priests are sexual abusers, BUT the abuse came from this religion, therefore holding all past, present and future orders responsible in dealing with the situation. They should apologize for past and present abuses, take action against those performing such acts, take measures in avoiding future abuse, and open a line of communication with the abused. An acknowledgment and willingness to let the abused speak of their horrors could go a long way. I feel it is the responsibility of the Roman Catholic Church to take the lead and setup help lines for those seeking help to lend a hand to some who are broken.

Let me end this blog post by saying, and repeating after Kimmi, abuse isn’t a religious issue, it’s a human issue. ANYONE involved in abuse activity should be punished. I say with much sadness, as humans we need to reprogram ourselves to appreciate the true value of a human life. It seems violence and abuse is becoming more common than caring and love. It’s a learning process, but I already started with myself in showing and treating people with understanding and care, and I hope this train of thought spreads like wild fire.

I said...

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I finished reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and as a whole I loved it. It’s touching on so many levels, such as friendship, death, family and survival that brought me to tears in the end. As for the end, I expected more from such a heart wrenching story mixed with facts of horrific acts of mankind and characters that come to life. I wanted and expected an explanation of a better life for Liesel, but Mr. Zusak didn’t want to tie it up in a little red bow. But even though I didn’t appreciate the end, I fell in love with Mr. Zusak’s writing so it didn’t reduce the quality or the beauty of what he set out to do, which was reach people with his words and facts. I highly recommend this book.

Because of the subject matter and his talent for writing, I was surprised to find out this is for young adults. Set in Nazi Germany in 1939, the narrator, Death meets Liesel, the book thief for the first time on a train during the death of her brother. Her mother leaves her in the care of foster parents, Rosa and Hans Hubermann, who become two very important people in her life. Hans teaches Liesel the beauty and strength of words by learning how to read, and Rosa, a hard shell of a woman with inner softness teaches Liesel pride and love. Liesel’s best friend Rudy helps her get through some of her childhood, and Liesel recognizes the evil that dictates Germany by obtaining a close bond with Max Vandenburg, the Jew Papa and Mama hide in their basement. Death is intrigued by Liesel while at the same time expresses his thoughts about humans in general. But he has a job to do.

I started reading this book on the plane during my recent vacation to Germany, and because I’m a little over half German. It’s shocking to know Adolph Hitler was able to convince his people that Jews were a disease. This book opens your eyes to the power of words. Markus Zusak showed me the power of his words as he wrote, “I traveled the globe as always, handing souls to the conveyor belt of eternity.” And, “Imagine smiling after a slap in the face. Then think of doing it twenty-four hours a day. That was the business of hiding a Jew.”

Thank you, Markus Zusak for showing me some of the struggles of life, death and the power of words.

Freedom!

Happy Fourth of July, Everyone! I wish you all a safe and enjoyable celebration. Thank you to all the men and women and their families, past and present, who have fought for our freedom. Your courage and spirit lives on in our stars and stripes.

It was our country’s separation from Great Britain,
which brought fame to the Declaration document,
courageous free people proposed our own government
and spirited men sat down until it was written.

Forefathers established a land of independence
to prosper, away from religious persecution.
We needed brave souls to sign such a solution
maybe resulting in death, but worth transcendence.

Thirteen states declared their God given rights
Admit, “All men are created equal… by their Creator”
even they believed in a higher being much greater
than humans’ ongoing faults of lost lives through fights.

“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” to secure
allow “it is the right of the people to alter or abolish”
“Change for light and transient causes” will demolish
what these great men risked to challenge and endure.

Then King of Britain caused our great nation’s missions.
Failures for the good of the people, they listed his malice.
“Refused… to cause others to be elected;” sitting in palace
“Prevent the population of… states… raising the conditions”

”Warned them… of attempts… [no] jurisdiction over us”
As a result, our men found the King unfit to rule free lands.
Time to rule for the people, they declared their demands
for us to become as one and reach the goal of success.

“Representatives of the United States of America” swear
absolve “free and independent states” from the British Crown.
We seek our own judicial system covered by majority’s gown
“[p]ledge… our lives, our fortunes and… sacred honor” in prayer.

233-years later, we find ourselves another road of challenge
deviating from the mass to suffice a few needless complaints.
Some cry over stolen freedom while others deny all saints.
Still hope in bringing our Declaration back, we vote for change.

Now we plea to “provide new guards for [our] future security”
Find what had once been established in writing for what remains.
Snap ties that bring our forces down with negative campaigns
Relinquish what once we relied on to wash away impurity.

Let our minds speak again for the Freedom of our Population
“Whenever any form of government becomes destructive”
“Institute new… foundation on such principles” stay productive.
Come together again, united, to enjoy today’s celebration.

Thank you to the folks at the Writer's Block for giving me the confidence in posting this poem.