As I sit here in court and watch Jamie and Frank McCourt duke it out over support, lawyers fees, and the like, I am floored by the numbers. I mean - I knew they were rich, uber-rich even, but still the amount of money is absolutely mind-blowing.
They lived in seven lavish homes; they flew in private jets; and they had hair stylists come to their house every day (my thought: oh my Gosh!).
HE spent $80,000 recently on a Caribbean vacation. Of course they also tried poking fun Jamie saying that she uses one home in Holmby Hills exclusively for swimming, another is used to store furniture, while a third in Malibu for laundry only. Whether you believe Frank is a poor billionaire or that Jamie spends like a drunken sailor, watching this all play out in court is barely palatable compared to the bigger issues at stake in other courtrooms.
Dennis Wasser, Jamie’s divorce lawyer, began his argument in court with a Passover type question: Why is this case different from all other cases? He answered his own question by talking about all the zeros. First noting that the magnitude of the money - and the number of attorneys involved in the case - did make it different, he then added that it was in most other ways just like any other divorce case. That is, “the same rules apply,” he said.
Lots of zeros can make lots of difference. It will make a particularly big difference to the charities and organizations that the McCourts support. We heard all about perks and spousal support, but never heard about how their charities or social work would be affected (except for his two college projects: MIT and Georgetown). I wonder why?
Suprisingly, there is some good charity work in McCourt's history: Frank’s Grandfather started the Jimmy Fund Foundation (to fight cancer). Frank McCourt himself started ThinkCure – another cancer-fighting nonprofit. He is also a big contributor to the Dodger Dream Foundation (created to provide educational, athletic and recreational opportunities for the youth of the greater LA community). So what will happen to the funding of these organizations in all this mess? I guess that is not as important as NetJets and luxury suites.
Jamie asked for – get this! – about a million a month in temporary spousal support. Is she SERIOUS!? Some examples of monthly expenses: $25,000 monthly for spa treatments, $2,500 for weekly pedicures, and $10,000 for daily household expenses, including shopping trips to Rodeo Drive. The future court date was set for August 30 -- so I guess we’ll see what happens.
The court proceedings were interrupted by what would appear to be more serious issues like when a father found out he was being forbidden from seeing his daughter for five years and broke out in screams; and another time when LA County Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon received a request for a restraining order in a domestic-violence case.
Of course for most out there in the larger public the BIG issue -- which will have repercussions for Major League Baseball -- is whether Jamie is actually going to be a co-owner of the Dodgers, as she contends, or not. Bottom line is: I could do a lot more with the the close to 1 million that Jamie is requesting in support!
It happened again…! Another “missed opportunity” -- I can’t stand it anymore, it’s really quite unbelievable. It seems that a week doesn’t pass where there is a case that comes through my email, the airwaves, the news, or online where I hear about some major downfall in the criminal justice system.
I am not here to bash cops, prosecutors, judges, or anyone else who puts their lives out there to insure that we are safe. But for heaven’s sake - what is going on? Work in this field is not for the weak, the lazy, the dispassionate, or the uninterested. The failures and snafus that occur in the criminal justice arena are far too costly and too dangerous, and are occurring far too often.
So, what is it this week? This week it is the case of the little Deandre F. Green who was allegedly murdered by his mother’s live-in boyfriend, Hector Ernest Jr. A quick look at comments around the blogsphere shows people are asking, “Where was mom?” They are pointing the finger at her negligence, beyond ill caring of her child. But what about dad? We are not hearing much about him perhaps because he did the RIGHT THING. Dad, Deandre Franks, stepped up to the plate, did what he was supposed to do: called the police, went to station, made a report to the Hawthorne police (and Department of Children and Family Services). All these efforts seemed to have fallen on DEAF ears.
I cannot explain why dad was not believed or taken seriously. Frankly, there is no excuse that will make me - or the surviving family - rest. This is a case of serious physical abuse. Prior injuries were visible at the time of the little boys death. No one (who had the power or ability) did a darn thing about it prior to the DEATH of the child. This is atrocious.
Everyday people make reports to me about their abuse, both current and past. The first thing I do is to tell them to call the authorities — the police, Department of Children and Family Services, DA’s, everyone and anyone until someone does something. Giving this advice is risky business in this day and age. I am risking advising people to do what they are supposed to do only to find that the authorities don't hold up their end of the bargain. It seems that there are way more cases of the system dropping the ball than ever before. Or is it my imagination?
Every day we hear talking heads discuss what can we do to change the system -- what laws need to be passed to get the Gardeners and Garridos of the world off the street. While everyone seems to be rallying for tougher laws, I am saying lets just work with the freakin’ laws we have on the books already - and let's do that correctly. Is that so much to ask?
Gibbs gives the Pentagon's latest figures showing that nearly 3,000 women were sexually assaulted in 2008, up 9% from the year before; among women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, the number rose 25%. When you look at the entire universe of female veterans, close to a third say they were victims of rape or assault while they were serving — twice the rate in the civilian population. This is ASTOUNDING! Just so horrible. Why is no one talking about this!?
Kathryn Kerns from Arizona wrote into Time saying that the Gibbs piece should have been the cover story for March - and I agree. The Rape Abuse & Incest National Network estimates that 60% of sexual assaults against women are not reported in the general population. Compare this to the Pentagon's figures that between 80% to 90% of sexual assaults against female soldiers go unreported. These figures are appalling.
Gibbs offers her theories as to why this is happening: that military culture is intrinsically violent and hypermasculine, that the military is slow to identify potential risks among raw young recruits, that too many commanders would rather look the other way than acknowledge this kind of breakdown in their units, and that the issue has simply not been made a high enough priority.
Only 8% of the cases that are actually investigated end in prosecution, compared with 40% for civilians arrested for sex crimes. Astonishingly, about 80% of those servicemen convicted are still honorably discharged. This issue must be brought out into the light. We must blog about it, petition our leaders, rant about it, until something major changes.
As Gibbs so aptly put it: What does it say if the military can't or won't protect the people we ask to protect us? Perhaps it goes to a bigger issue we must address: that women, children, and sexual assault victims are disbelieved, distrusted, and re-victimized by the system.
Read Gibbs entire article here.
If you haven't listened to little 7-year-old Carlos from Norwalk, CA on his now infamous 9-1-1 phone call this week, I urge you to listen (click here for video). Carlos called 911 from a locked bathroom, with his 6-year-old sister, as armed robbers held his parents at gunpoint in his home. The boy told reporters at a news conference that he remained calm during the ordeal because his mother used to make him practice dialing 9-1-1 in case of emergencies. The intruders stormed the bathroom and reached the children, but since Carlos was on the phone with 9-1-1 and told them cops were coming the intruders fled.
When I heard about this boy I was blown away. I feel we should all take a moment to collectively praise this little hero for saving his family and being calm and smart enough to remember to call 9-1-1. But more importantly, we should be praising and making an example of this family's practice. The mother made him practice how to dial 9-1-1. Have you done this with your underage kids lately? Ever? I know we all think "it can't happen to us" ... But I'm telling you, scary things DO happen to people like us every day. Isn't it better to prepare your kids? Look at Carlos!
Captain Patrick Maxwell, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office, told The Early Show that Carlos did "a fantastic job … better than most adults." He added that the episode offers a valuable lesson for parents. "We'd really like parents out there to have this as a learning experience to teach your children how to use 9-1-1."
Of course I agree with Captain Maxwell. This has been my message for years! Use the news and other situations as teachable moments to educate your kids on how to keep themselves (and you) safe. If you haven't had the 9-1-1 conversation with your child yet, use CARLOS as an example! Tell your child how Carlos saved his family by staying calm and calling 9-1-1 when the bad men entered the house. It's not about scaring your child -- it's about empowering them to be a hero if (G-d forbid) the occasion ever arises!
Convicted sex offender John Albert Gardner III, 30, from Lake Elsinore, Calif., pleaded guilty in May 2000 to molesting a 13-year-old female neighbor. He was sentenced to only six years in prison, and served just five.
Are you kidding me?! A violent sex offender only served five years in prison? How is it that such a plea-bargain passed legal and judicial muster? To me, it shouldn't have. It was merely a wimpy sentence for a heinous crime.
In 2000, Gardner allegedly lured his victim to his home with an offer to watch a movie, and then he violently assaulted her. From the time he was released from prison (in September, 2005) until his parole ended (in 2008), he had to wear a GPS-tracking device. And that's it. No long-term consequences, no long-term monitoring ... just a weak, five-year sentence and a measly GPS. And oh, yeah: Registration as a sex offender -- which apparently is supposed to be some sort of consulation prize. (I'm not bashing sex registries, but when the likes of Gardner and Phillip Garrido commit sex crimes after registering, one must question the system's effectiveness.)
Gardner is now being held in prison without bail for the rape and murder of 17-year-old high-school student Chelsea King. She vanished last Thursday after going for a run near Lake Hodges at Rancho Bernardo Community Park in San Diego, a popular park for runners. This was a rape and murder that could have been avoided. The very people who were supposed to protect us and ensure justice had had an opportunity -- and wasted it.
Today, authorities believe that they have found Chelsea's body near Lake Hodges. What a tragedy! Now police are looking for a link between Gardner and another Calif. girl who's still missing -- 14-year-old Amber Dubois.
Authorities have also said that Gardner was involved in an attack in December 2009 on a 22-year-old woman in the same park where King disappeared. (Gardner allegedly tackled the woman to the ground; cops say she escaped after hitting Gardner in the face with her elbow.)
Back in 2000, an official court psychiatrist had deemed Gardner extremely likely to be a repeat offender. This psychiatrist argued for a thirty-year prison term. For reasons unknown to me, the prosecutor pled it down to just six years. This was truly a system malfunction.
Folks, it's time to wake up! Sexual assaults occur in frighteningly huge numbers. And if victims survive the assault, they get re-victimized on the witness stand. National sentencing disparities are unacceptable. The plea-bargaining that goes on is a huge issue -- trust me, I was a prosecutor for fifteen years, and I saw stuff like this happen every day!
I have a lot of ideas for improving the system. First, there should be mandatory sentencing schemes nationwide. And once in place, these laws need to be USED. Clearly, there also needs to be better supervision of registered sex offenders. Money and time should be spent training professionals in this field. (This should include all officials involved: law enforcement, prosecutors, advocates, therapists, judges, and probation and parole officers.) Studies show that providing training and resources prevents burnout and inspires and motivates people in this line of work.
As an alternative to jail and/or prison, there should be live-in lockdown facilities created specifically for working with, treating and studying sex offenders. As with drug rehabilitation, there should be facilities where we can take a low-level sex offender off the street, both to ensure the safety of the public and to treat the offender -- or at least learn from him or her.
There are so many changes that need to be implemented. We need to make better use of new technology to provide enhanced supervision of registered sex offenders. Registered sex offenders should be subject to lifetime counseling, as well -- not merely during the term of their parole or probation. Offenders should also be required to inform authorities of travel. (Gardner had supposedly been visiting his mother in Rancho Bernardo. He doesn't even live there.) For more of my ideas on how to reform our malfunctioning system, read my book, "It Happens Every Day: Inside the Life of a Sex Crimes D.A."
Gardner was not a low-level offender. He was a high-risk, violent offender, and he should have been put away for life. Period.
When an event like this occurs, it makes us question who's in charge. Who's protecting our kids? How can we keep our children safe? Sexual assault is disgusting -- we all can agree on that. And the murder of this young, innocent, darling, straight-A San Diego teen was truly horrific. Our hearts go out to Chelsea King's family and friends. But no amount of condolences can even come close to healing the pain her family must be feeling.
When will this type of preventable tragedy end?
I am proud to be a part of the International Human Trafficking Task Force (IHTTF) team!
Goal: To combat human trafficking and support existing government efforts across global jurisdictions. To increase the number of investigations, rescued victims and prosecutions of human traffickers.
Mission: Through the use of attorneys, private investigators, law enforcement, media, non profits and local actions the IHTTF will assist in the rescue, retraining, support of victims and disruption of traffickers though coordinated efforts between the community and government organizations across jurisdictions from local to global.
Human trafficking is a global crisis-there is more at stake than people realize. Fault does not just lie within those individuals who enslave or subjugate them. Fault lies within everybody who knowingly uses the products, goods, or services that are bought via the exploitation of others. Most of us don't realize how we drive the demand from human slavery. But, like any other commercial enterprise, the slave labor is driven by supply and demand. Both those who supply and demand can and should face legal consequences.
Human Trafficking is modern slavery: 27 million people are enslaved in the world today- this is more that when slavery was legal. Human Trafficking is the fastest growing and second largest crime in the world today. In the United States, it is estimated that 300,000 children are at risk for being exploited into commercial sex trade. Anyone held in service of another through force fraud or coercion is a victim of this crime. Any minor in commercial sex (prostitution, stripping, or pornography) is a victim of human trafficking. Prostituting a minor under 14 years of age carries a federal life sentence.
IHTTF Team
Logan Clarke
Allen Cardoza
Dottie Laster
Robin Sax
More Information:
http://ihttf.com/
 Some 138 million people have watched the first five days of the Vancouver games -- a 22 percent increase on average of viewership at the same stage of the last Winter Olympics in Torino in 2006. Why is this? Perhaps because everybody needs to be uplifted! Times are tough and watching the Olympics reminds us that there are things besides the recession, crime, war, and parking tickets to bring us down. But watching performances from the likes of Nathan Chen lifts us (ok, he's not a challenger yet - but he will be!).
The Olympics also remind us that mere mortals can be truly great! Olympians have to work for years towards one moment of glory ... They have to train tirelessly and be intensely focused. I admire this kind of determination and hard work in a fellow human being (regardless of country tides). But most importantly, we all admire those who have a dream -- those people among us who are passionate and committed enough to follow their own star and dare to envision being the best in the world.
This is a good time for us all to think about the things in our life that deserve more hard work and more attention. whether is is your child, a project a work, or yourself.... The Winter Olympics only come around every four years. Ask yourself: what do you want to achieve in four years from now? Take time to reflect, and then reward yourself by watching some fabulous sports competition.
*See Schedule Here*
My response to a discussion on Parent Hacks:
Protecting children begins with every parent in every home. Two types of safety education work well for parents and children and can easily be added to their family’s safety plans: pre-planned discussions and spontaneous opportunities to teach. The first focuses on a particular issue and reinforces it over a period of time, say over a couple weeks to a month. For example, an appropriate safety lesson for a family with young children (ages five and younger) is to help them memorize key telephone numbers, such as Mom’s cell, the home phone, and grandparents’ or caregivers’ numbers. Without making it obvious that it’s a safety lesson, teaching a child a telephone number can be made into a song or a game and can be easily practiced. There is no magic age to begin safety discussions.
It's always easier to talk about "other people" or strangers but the numbers show that 92% of all sexual exploitation of children is perpetuated by someone whom the victim knows. That being said, parents need to give kids the vocabulary by having discussions so they know the words to say should they need to disclose. I have a gizzilion tips on what words/conversations that parents can have. But the best ones are the ones that naturally flow in regular day life. For example, while getting a toddler or youngster dressed in for a swim can be a good opportunity to discuss parts of the body that the bathing suit covers and parts that are not covered and why the parts under a bathing suit are "private."
The key to keeping such talks from being scary is for parents to assume that body/personal safety discussions are not scary. Just because we, as adults, have myriad worries, we needn’t convey our fears to our children. However, there are things kids must know before they dive into the world of independent adults. Just start the discussion. It’s never too early to begin to give children information that can help them stay safe. Treat personal safety like any other parenting lesson—find appropriate times, don’t tackle too much at a time, and consider the child’s personal development and understanding. And above all, do not use fear or scare tactics to educate children. This can often backfire. Empowering, not scaring, children is what allows them to handle the situation, while fear tends to make them freeze and may actually disable them if they need to act in an emergency. The only thing that should scare you is not teaching or talking to your children about personal safety.
As trite and overused as the expression seems knowledge truly is power. I am not suggesting that parents need to tell kids about the gruesome details of every case in the news or drill their kids with statistics. But youngsters need to have a solid understanding of how they can defend themselves in age-appropriate ways. For example, children should know whom to approach if lost in a store (another mommy) or what to scream if someone is trying to abduct them (“You are not my dad! Call 911!)
I was outside the courtroom for most of the day on Monday to cover the Conrad Murray "event". I’m sure none of you out there need to be told who Conrad Murray is -- Michael Jackson’s doctor who was charged with involuntary manslaughter! It was so interesting for me to be reporting on the case, instead of being in the courtroom – as I have actually spent time a lot of time that particular court when I was a prosecutor. It was quite a scene that day! It looked more like the scene of a pop concert than a court hearing.
So what is going to happen? I wish I had a crystal ball or was able to read tealeaves. Is this going to be another 'trial of the century'? It could be. But besides the frenzy that comes along with anything MJ related - this is fascinating case. I mean a really interesting case on its own. It brings up issues of celebrity (but where the victim is the celebrity), issues of how we deal with drugs and drug addiction, and the issue of doctor accountability.
My inside sources have said to me "get ready to see a fight.” In other words: Dr. Murray loves his job and his license is important to him and he is not going to plead to anything that puts his medical practice in jeopardy. So, if the good doc is going to fight why aren't we seeing 2nd degree murder charges? Isn't there enough to show malice (remember malice is not defined as intent to kill)? Since the ethical basis to charge manslaughter exists, why not let a jury decide when they get mandatorily instructed on the lesser crime?
So, I'm curious people.... What do you think? What about the charges? Does involuntary manslaughter make sense to you? Should Murray as a doctor have known better then to administer that amount of Propofol to Jackson? I know the Jackson family is upset. But what would you do if you were on the jury? Email me, blog, or join the Justice Interrupted chat room where Brian Oxman - Jackson family lawyer - will join us live from ITALY as we dissect, squabble, and analyze this case.
As we head into a Valentines Day weekend, remember to be kind to each other, stay safe, and enjoy your family, friends, and loved ones!
In the words made famous by a well known Los Angeles defendant, I'd like to ask: "Cant we all just get along" ...!? But it seems to be the case today in rainy Los Angeles on this Friday, February 5 2010, that we cannot just get along.
As I write to you, I have just finished reading the fifth TMZ update to the Conrad Murray debacle surrounding his surrender - originally scheduled for 1:30pm today (now it looks like charges will be filed on Monday). Many people would like to think that the feuding between the DA's office and LAPD in this case is an aberration. But unfortunately, from my experiences as a prosecutor in LA, feuds surrounding the investigation and following of cases are commonplace. The cops don't want to be told by the attorney how to run a case and the attorney feels they somehow know how to do it better.
Frankly, there is a place for all involved -- this is supposed to be a team effort. There are important roles and point to be taken on both sides. The current frenzy only makes LA as a whole look unprofessional, petty and even egotistical. Of course, the news pundits know that this MJ fever makes for great TV, but it does not allow for justice in the long run.
Perhaps everyone should just take a breath and remember Rodney's words: "Can't we all just get along." LA should make a decision to begin this process now - the world is watching, let's deliver.
Taken directly from Ideas for Change website:
There Is No Excuse and Never An Invitation To Rape
Our vision is a world without violence. Where no child is abused, no wife battered, no friend raped. A world without terror, without threats, without wounds from intentional actions. Where the strong provide for the vulnerable, where the vulnerable become empowered, and where every kind of family is safe and secure.
Sexual assault is an ongoing health, social, human rights and criminal justice issue with real consequences for just about everyone. In America, one in six women and one in thirty-three men are raped in their lifetimes. Victims of assault are 3 times more likely to suffer from depression, 6 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol, 26 times more likely to abuse drugs, 4 times more likely to contemplate suicide. Victims of intimate partner violence pay more than 18.5 million visits to mental health care providers a year. Especially vulnerable are teens, 20% of female high school students are identified as having been hurt physically or sexually by a date or intimate partner.
Peace Over Violence proposes wide-scale, national public education designed to raise awareness, demystify attitudes and change social norms that tolerate sexual violence and allow rape to persist. Prevention messages will be relayed through classrooms, living rooms, and boardrooms. Social and broadcast media as well as grassroots campaigns will stimulate conversation and spread the message of the possibilities of prevention to women and men, boys and girls.
For the past 11 years, Peace Over Violence has mounted a public awareness campaign, “Denim Day,” to protest against rape. The original Denim Day event was held to call attention to a 1992 Italian Supreme Court verdict that overturned a rape conviction stating: “because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape but consensual sex.” Last year, one million individuals participated in Denim Day Campaign activities by wearing jeans, taking part in rallies, talking about sexual assault with their friends and families and getting educated about how to stop rape. Participating schools, businesses, organizations and individuals registered on www.denimdayusa.org and received Denim Day action kits, including posters, flyers, myth/fact sheets, buttons, temporary tattoos, and suggestions for how to organize a rape prevention education campaign in their community.
As part of Ideas for Change, we can make a significant impact by taking the message of Denim Day to a national stage where the White House and federal lawmakers can collaborate with corporations, schools, community organizations and the media to prevent rape. Vote Here!
More Information:
I am guilty of doing it (we all are) but it is now time for us to stop. It is a new year and we can do this! We can do better! Oprah suggested it – and I think we should listen to her (after all, it’s what Americans do best). Monday night my sister Heather called and begged me to sign Oprah's No Phone Zone Pledge – which I reluctantly have done and believe you should too.
I will freely admit that I am a text-messager/email-aholic. I even carry BOTH a Crackberry AND an I-Phone with me. It is very hard for me to resist the urge to read and even *gasp here* respond do text messages while I’m in the car. Granted, I generally only do it at red lights but sometimes my thumb doesn't finish fast enough before the light turns green. But you and I know I need to knock it off. It's time, really. And I am urging you to do the same. Here's the deal: if I can do it so can you! Texting/emailing while behind the wheel leads to distraction (duh!), and driver distraction/inattention is the leading cause of car accidents in this country.
Ok, I know that you know this but read these tidbits: EVERY DAY last year over 800,000 people in the U.S. were texting, making calls, or using a cell phone while driving. Distracted driving killed nearly 6,000 Americans last year. But texting/emailing is especially bad. In a study by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute they found that of all cell phone related tasks - including talking, dialing, or reaching for the phone - texting and emailing while driving are the MOST dangerous activities.
I heard a statistic the other day that texting while driving impairs you in the same way that driving with a few beers in you would. Yes, Oprah said it: texting is equivalent to drinking about 4 beers and DRIVING! Crazy! We all know to never drink and drive, so why do we text and drive? Convenience? Maybe. Addicted to connection? Maybe. Worth it? NO. Keep this greeting in perspective I am NOT expecting you to stop talking on your cell in the car (hands free, of course) but I do believe the time has come for all of us to stop with the texting and emailing while we drive. I will do it, and you should too. Together let's SAVE LIVES and make the roads safer.
In California, earthquake preparedness is a must! We are sitting on a major fault – so we prepare. We all remember the Northridge quake in 1994 – which was a 6.8 magnitude – and caused enormous damage in the Southland. I know you feel, as I do, incredible sympathy for the humanitarian catastrophe that has happened in Haiti (see below for ways you can help). This tragic event has me thinking about safety and preparedness.
It strikes me as so interesting that earthquake safety drills are given to our kindergartners (in fact children of all ages through high-school), as a regular practice. Why? Because we know an earthquake is bound to happen so we want our kids to be educated and ready. But why don’t we prepare our kids to be wary of sexual abuse? It is a fact that child sexual assault happens – why are we afraid or reluctant to prepare our kids to be savvy and safe? Is it because a drill (stop, drop and roll) where you flee under your desk is less upsetting then talking about scary predators? It’s the same concept: prepare them!
The key to keeping such talks from being scary is for parents to assume that body/personal safety discussions are not scary! Just because we, as adults, are terrified of what we know about “the world out there,” we don’t have to convey our fears to our children.
I am not suggesting that parents need to tell their kids the gruesome details of every case in the news, or pound statistics into their heads. But youngsters need to have a solid understanding of specific safety skills appropriate to their age and their own personal level of understanding.
When it’s time to discuss sexual abuse, the best way to combat the fear associated with such talks is to just start the discussion! It’s never too early to begin giving children information that can help them stay safe. Treat personal safety like any other parenting lesson: find appropriate times, don’t tackle too many lessons at a time, and consider the child’s own level of development and understanding.
Have the conversation!
What is the media’s role in the criminal justice system? Do trial and case coverage help the system or jeopardize the integrity of the process? While there are hundreds of examples and arguments for both sides, there is a general consensus that media is necessary for the criminal justice system to operate efficiently and effectively.
In my personal view, there is no better way to bring about change and educate society then through the medium of mass communications. But mass communication has changed dramatically in the last several years. As a result of the boom in social networking and exponential growth of digital media, grass roots advocacy has taken on a whole new meaning as well.
I am proud to be participating in this new age media boom -- I am partnering with the one-and-only Stacy Dittirich to relaunch our popular radio show, Justice Interrupted. As crime victim advocates, we are utilizing the power of the media to bring miscarriages of justice the attention they deserve. We harness the power of media to bring the little-known cases and crime victims the attention they deserve. Since we cover cases that generally do not get much attention by the traditional media, we hope you will help us spread the word by subscribing to our site (we have an RSS feed up, see below) and tuning into our weekly radio show.
Stacy and I are in the process of creating an incredible new website interface that will be live by this time next week. Preview it at www.justiceinterrupted.com. While the site is not completely live yet, if you visit the link you’ll see an exciting preview of what’s to come.
On any given day, there are as many as 100,000 active missing persons cases in the United States, more than 600 rapes, 30 murders, more than 13,000 acts of domestic violence against women. While the big media outlets (CNN, NBC, ABC, etc.) are good at bringing us the high profile cases – and we watch them with enthusiasm – we still cannot possibly hear about all the important cases that are waiting for justice. That’s where Stacy and I come in: our Justice Interrupted show has already been credited with the denial of parole for a multiple murderer and the return of an abducted child. We are excited to continue our mission to bring attention to cases where justice has been interrupted. Please join our cause!
If you’re interested in receiving updates on Justice Interrupted, subscribe using this link
Questions? Email me at robin@robinsax.com
You can take action to prevent child prostitution by sending a letter to Choice Hotels CEO Steve Joyce, telling him to sign the ECPAT Code of Conduct and commit to preventing child sex tourism in Choice Hotel hotels.
I urge you to sign the petition HERE:
We are nearing that time of year when people seem to be winding down a little bit at work and focusing on holiday fun and family madness. Some of us (the lucky ones) get days off during this period to celebrate and rest up for the New Year. But there is no rest for those of us in the world of advocacy-- there are always cases or issues that need a big mouth to call them out. But in an effort to spend little more time at home I am taking a very brief hiatus from Sax Facts (two weeks off). I will return with guns-blazing the first week of January!
I thought I would do a short round-up of a few news pieces from this week for you… a sample buffet of ideas, if you will (to match our upcoming holiday feasts), so sit back, take a sip of egg nog and let's review the week:
Little Girl Whose Braid Was Cut Off By Teacher: at first I was blown away when I saw the image of the little girl whose braid was cut off – but that was mostly because I couldn’t figure out what I was looking at on the screen. The teacher was clearly at fault for assaulting and humiliating the child with a scissors in front of her classmates. However, I couldn’t get my head around the outrage coming in during the coverage. Parents were expressing their absolute disgust over the act and calling for the resignation of the teacher. I can’t help but wonder why parents jump to protect the child in this case, but in cases of sexual assault by teachers on students the parents in some schools go right for protecting the teacher. For more of my thoughts on this, read my Huffington Post article this week (link).
Tiger’s Incessant Coverage: there really isn’t too much more to say about this (I mean ‘common, hasn’t it all been said already!). But I will add my two cents to the pile. I was driving along the other day and I saw a sign that read “Jet Blue has more coverage then TMZ.” That is how I know TMZ has made it big – they are being satirized in a major airline’s ad campaign. I think that is why this Tiger scandal is reigning in the media… we are in the age of TMZ domination. That’s what the people want, so that’s what the media provides. And unfortunately Tiger is TMZ gold.
Antidotes for Good Holiday Cheer: I heard a great interview on HLN this week with a young clergyman who said we should “Spend Less and Give More.” He went on to share a great example of a son who gave his father a bag of coffee beans as a holiday gift with a note that said ‘You can only drink this coffee with me while we reminisce on the past, catch-up on the present, and dream about the future’… Sweet! The example seeks to draw our attention to the blind and meaningless consumerism going on today in America and how Christmas and Hanukkah, etc. should be about celebrating with family and appreciating each other. I completely agree! Unfortunately, in order for our economy to continue to rebound (and to validate Bernanake’s status as Time’s Person of the Year) we do have to spend money on stuff!!
Are you secretly (or overtly) obsessed with the Tiger Woods scandal? Or are you sick of it? Do you think it’s ridiculous or relevant? Whatever you may feel personally about the coverage, it is an issue worth examining from a cultural perspective as well as from that of a parent. I really wonder about the state of our country (and media culture) when we are in a historic health care debate in Congress, conducting two wars, and all you see on TV commentary shows for the last few days is discussions about Tiger’s “transgressions” (I guess that what can call affairs nowadays).
We have all seen a lot of commentary about the impact this will have on the game of golf, and on his endorsements. We have also seen quite a bit about the events of that fateful evening-- the police report, the many mistresses, the voice messages, text messages, and the speculations of why he is not admitting anything in public, etc., etc. None of this really matters, does it? But the one thing I have NOT heard about is the impact of this scandal on children—his, mine, yours, and everyone else’s.
How many young kids (of all colors and creeds) looked up to Tiger as a hero? Hundreds? Thousands? And it was not because he had a beautiful wife, and not even really because he had a lot of money. The kids looked up to Tiger because he is one of the BEST athletes in the world in his specialty—golf. He was the definition of a “hero.” Once you reach the top echelons of any sport worldwide, you inevitably have a following of young people who admire you for your status as an archetypal great. So when great men fall as hard as Tiger did (in the adult world), it also shatters a small part of the innocent admiration our children feel towards these human heroes.
Coincidentally, it was my daughter’s current event date on November 30 and she wanted to share the news of his accident. And even at the young age of seven, her first question was, “Mommy, why was he driving at 2:25 AM?” I chose to emphasize that people can drive at all hours of the night--which would have worked if Tiger’s story wasn’t on the news nonstop. Joy Behar said last night on her show that “Tiger is not out of the woods yet” … Well neither are WE. While the media continues to obsess about Tiger’s many sexual exploits, we have to address the aspect of the fallen hero to our kids. When great men fall, we all feel the earth shake a little. If your kids are old enough to have found a hero in Tiger, they are old enough to hear from you why it will all be OK.
Hopefully the coverage will end soon!
I know many people don’t read the paper as much as they used to, particularly my favorite part, the California section of the Los Angeles Times. But you should! By way of update, Monday there was a truly inspiring story about a Hamilton High School office administrator (Miss G) who was laid off by LA Unified School District and then brought back though an organization of student activists (link).
I was so inspired by these young kids who found their voices and collectively took action to save the job of a school official they were all close to. The students said they felt “Miss G really cared about them” and that it was “unfair” she should be fired. Not willing to accept Miss G’s layoff, they came up with a plan to show their dissatisfaction at the district’s decision. They had meetings, utilized social media and respectfully protested at school and then went to the School Board where they presented a succinct, inspiring argument as to why she should be rehired. And guess what? They were heard and their argument was successful.
Back in September President Obama gave a back-to-school speech in Arlington where he asked students to be committed. He said: “Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.” Well, these students answered the call and accomplished what they set out to do.
I am writing this not merely to say “go kids go.” I am writing this because what they did was truly remarkable. They got LAUSD, one of the most bureaucratic, political entities, to listen. They argued fairness, kindness, and appealed to reason. The kids didn’t buy the district’s answer laying-off Miss G was a good solution to a school budget crisis – not when Miss G had not only always done good work but also genuinely cared about students, education, and the school. They tactically argued that her low seniority status was not a good measure to use as a basis for the layoff. And their voices were heard! Steve Zimmer of the LA School Board broke protocol by commending the students in their presentation to the Board. Then, Miss G returned to Hamilton High!
This story illustrates an opportunity - a teachable moment if you will. So, please share this story with YOUR children. Encourage your kids to find their voices and highlight how their voices can be heard. Kids need to know that they have a place, space, and voice in not only their world, but our world too! Let them know that kids can make change and be the source of admiration amongst us crotchety grown-ups. Tell them that when you are dedicated to a good cause, you can make good things happen. Give your kids a reason to believe that THEIR voices will be heard by you, as well.
Having authentic dialogue with your kids - using these kinds of news stories -reminds them that their opinions matter. You can provide positive reinforcement and a reason for your kid to care enough to express themselves (to you, and to the world)!
“Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.” ~W.J. Cameron
I share the above quote with you for two reasons: First, I want us all to take a moment to truly appreciate the things we have, not just by saying “Thanks” but by taking action. You can show gratitude with a kind word, a charitable donation, or a change of mind/heart. During this special holiday, we all could stand to be a little more selfless and a little less hectic. And a little more “doing.”
I chose W.J. Cameron specifically to quote because he was a pretty notorious red-headed gentleman. Red-heads are supposed to be hot-headed, right? Well, apparently this trait isn’t limited to read-heads.
Have you heard about the tragic beating of a young child because of his hair color? Read the story here
I absolutely cannot believe that kids would be “inspired” by a cartoon character to beat up on a classmate -- just because he had red hair. Apparently, a 12-year-old boy was beaten up on the campus of A.E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas by as many as 14 of his classmates! The students who participated in the attack were allegedly motivated by a Facebook message telling them that November 20th was “Kick a Ginger Day.” (A ‘ginger’ is a label that was used in a South Park episode for people with red hair, freckles and fair skin). This episode aired in 2005 to satirize racial intolerance – but the 12-year-olds evidently didn’t understand the satire and took it literally.
I want to echo the comments of several HLN experts who said very clearly that it is not the “fault” of the TV cartoon, but rather the fault of the parents for not explaining the different between TV satire and real life. There is always going to be violence and intolerance portrayed in the media (online, on TV, in videos, and in the movies). It is the job of every parent to help their kids distinguish between a “joke” and real-life hateful/unacceptable behavior. So this weekend, while you are taking time to be thankful, perhaps you can use this example around the family dinner table to talk about tolerance with your kids!
Finally, I received another one of those gratitude lists via email called “Why I Am Thankful”, and I thought it was apropos (and actually worth sharing):
I am thankful for the teenager who is complaining about doing dishes, because it means she is at home.
I am thankful for the taxes I pay, because it means that I am employed.
I am thankful for the mess to clean up after a party, because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
I am thankful for the clothes that fit a little too snugly, because it means I have enough to eat.
I am thankful for all the complaining I hear in the media, because it means I have freedom of speech.
I am thankful for the huge heating bill, because it means I am warm.
I am thankful for the pile of laundry and ironing because it means I have clean clothes to wear.
I am thankful for the parking spot at the far end of the lot, because it means I am capable of walking.
I am thankful for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means I am able to get up.
I am thankful for too much email because it means I have friends and colleagues who are thinking of me!
Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!
It Happens Everyday. It really does. I am not just saying it because it’s the title of my book, I am saying it because it is so. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t get a word of a new a case of abuse. Many of you are thinking of course you hear about it everyday you are a DA. Well, actually I am not anymore (always will be at heart but not in profession) yet I still am inundated with stories and cases of abuse.
For whatever reason in the last few months my worlds of sex crimes and legal commentating has merged as several high profile cases made there way to the news. But even as much as it is “out there” from a news place it is amazes how many people are still too “icked” out to even talk about it.
Who am I talking about when I say people have a hard time stomaching sexual assault. I am referring to a very specific group---the media. Not all media, but a lot of it. I probably sit in two meetings a week talking to different producers, production companies, networks, etc. with the people who have the ability to choose programming only to be found that this topic is just to darn tough. I am not saying I disagree and I understand it feels tough to find a sponsor who wants to put their brand on this issue but someone has to!
Last week I was on Dr. Phil. It was so refreshing to hear him say it like it is he said something to the effect of this is difficult television, not television that everyone wants to hear but it is responsible television. Amen, Phil! Thank goodness you have the cajones to use your space, your platform, your stage to give light to such an important issue. And not just for a segment, not just for the high profile cases, but for a whole show highlighting real cases, real people.
As a society, we can talk about all kinds of crimes-murderers, gangs, and domestic violence with no problem. We don’t think twice about preparing kids about what to do in a fire, earthquake, or tornado. We observe and discuss the media and over-sexualization of teenagers. We go to the movies and laugh at slapstick, dark, and inappropriate humor and even go to horror and thriller movies with sick enjoyment. We watch CSI, Law and Order with ease and barely flinch at the Dr. 90210.
Yet despite all of this people are constantly telling me they are scared to talk to their kids or even each other about protecting us and our children from sexual abuse. But, it’s time. Just like the time was about 10 years ago to make breast cancer a focus of national concern amongst women and men, it is time for people to feel just as comfortable talking about keeping our bodies safe as it is to wear pink, admit we have fought and beat cancer, and stand strong together.
In order victims—children and adults alike to become survivors they need to have a place to speak and the place begins with recognizing that there is an epidemic of sexual abuse in our society. And even if you don’t buy into the statistics put out by organizations or even the government, I can tell you from my own case load, working in the trenches of Los Angeles County that sexual assault is rampant. It is rampant amongst whites, blacks, Hispanics, men, women, children, and crosses all socio-economic boundaries. And while the preference is to think that the sexual abuse occurs in dark alleys by random strangers the fact is that at least 85% (if not more) is perpetrated by someone the victim knows.
So as much as people want to bury their heads in the sand it is time to recognize there is an issue and start talking about it. As soon as we have the conversations with each other and our kids, we will be able to do more to prevent it as well as help allow victims to come forward so they can make their way towards healing and survival.
As most of you already know, John Allen Muhammad, 48, was executed this past Tuesday night for terrorizing the D.C. area for three weeks in 2002 with sniper attacks that left 10 people dead.
In 2003, a Virginia jury sentenced him to death for one of the murders, specifically that of Dean Harold Meyers. The victim was killed while pumping gas at station in Manassas, Virginia. Muhammad’s defense lawyers argued that he was not mentally competent to stand trial, but the courts disagreed and he was found guilty.
Muhammad hunted people going about their daily chores, but why he chose his victims, including a middle school kid on his way to class, and how many victims there were still remains a mystery. Muhammad was silent as he was executed, leaving the victims who survived and the survivors of those frustrated. They had hoped for some insight as to why and how he plotted the killings, as had the public at large. They would not get their wish.
But overriding this disappointment is the good news: in this case, justice has been served!
Muhammad changed his name from John Allen Williams after converting to Islam. He had been in and out of the military since he graduated from high school in Louisiana and entered the National Guard. He joined the Army in 1985 and was a Gulf War veteran. Although he did not take special sniper training, he did earn an “expert” rating in the M-16 rifle (the military equivalent of the .223-caliber Bushmaster rifle used in the shootings).
The U.S. Supreme Court turned down Muhammad’s final appeal on Monday evening and Governor Timothy Kaine denied clemency Tuesday afternoon. Muhammad was executed that night, much to the relief of those who felt that justice often moves too slowly.
I am so impressed by the expediency of justice in this case. It was only six years from conviction (2003) to execution (2009). The way this case went through the system is impressive. No matter what you think about the death penalty itself, no one can deny that it is a sad case all around. The deaths, the loss for the families of the victims, are truly heartbreaking – it’s the worst part of being human when we see senseless killings occurring and are unable to stop them.
In Muhammad’s case, we have an excellent example of how such cases can quickly move through the justice system! We can actually resolve a death sentence case of this magnitude without giving up anyone’s legal rights. Six years is a reasonable period for a case to run, and for true justice to be provided. The sniper had every legal right available to him, and used them. The ultimate resolution--the death penalty--was handed down with sureness and relative speed, just as it should be.
Every day, online safety comes up in some form, whether it’s questioning the benefits of technology or contemplating the worst fate possible for mankind. There is a continuing debate about how technology helps or hurts crime, so we can’t help but be aware of what goes on in the land of the world-wide web.
A CNN report explored this issue this week in the article, Social Networks and Kids: How young is too young? (link) As many of you already know, this is my area of specialty and my passion. Whatever we may think, the good, the bad, the productive, the addictive—internet technology is here to stay!
We all know how important it is to take precautions to keep our kids safe online (and if you don’t know, I’m telling you now)! As our President said to a group of students, “Be careful what you post on Facebook”… So, what precautions are you taking for yourself, as well as your children? Identity theft, among other hazards, is a very real and scary online problem, so don’t give your credit card numbers (or any other personal information) to any sites unless you’re 100% sure they’re legitimate.
Many of you will be cruising online this month for special holiday deals—(and cheers to you for helping fortify our economy)! Now, have any of you heard of Cyber Monday? I hadn’t--just a sign that Hallmark doesn’t make cards for that holiday!
Anyway, this is what I learned: the “official definition of Cyber Monday is:
“…..the Monday immediately following Black Friday, the ceremonial kick-off of the holiday online shopping season in the United States between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Whereas Black Friday is associated with traditional brick-and-mortar stores, "Cyber Monday" symbolizes a busy day for online retailers. The premise was that consumers would return to their offices after the Black Friday weekend, making purchases online that they were not able to make in stores. Although that idea has not survived the test of time, Cyber Monday has evolved into a significant marketing event, sponsored by the National Retail Federation's Shop.org division, in which online retailers offer low prices and promotions.”
I just wanted to educate you about this new “holiday” and remind you all to exercise safety when you’re shopping online. I also wanted to note how cyber-culture has made its way into our traditional holiday shopping sprees. This is a clear indicator to me that we are moving more and more towards becoming an online community, and that, as in any developing community, we need to include additional safety measures as the demand grows.
On the lighter side, Cyber Monday is offering really good deals online -- most of you know that my other passion, besides kids’ safety, is fashion and deals/finds! Here is your link to some great online deals: http://www.cybermonday.com/
Happy Shopping and be safe!
Let me just say it - I hate Halloween. I didn’t always hate it, but I do now. Ok, I never really loved the holiday to begin with... but over time dislike turned to hate. I think it stems from when I was a student at UC Santa Barbara (back in the day). Don’t get me wrong, I loved my days at ‘SB - but I hated specifically what the costumes did to the kids on campus. Perhaps, I am little bah-humbug in that I hate the New Years holiday too... It’s just that big holidays like that always seem to bring out the worst in people. There are so many crazy expectations and everyone sets-up the day to be so “important.”
But, Halloween also has added the element of disguise that I really can't stand. I have always fancied myself of somewhat of a trendsetter -- but who knew that I would be thinking 10 years ago what everyone is writing about now: the disgustingness of Halloween costumes. People are obsessed with how kids as young as four-years-old are dressing up in overly sexualized, scantily clad outfits (think short skirt Britney Spears, short top Hannah Monana, low cut Barbie, or za-za gypsy costumes). Not to mention the inappropriate dress of adults who go for that look. These outfits are at best promiscuous and at worst down right offensive (for any age, but especially the younger ones).
The thing that I crack-up about is that people are writing about this like it’s a new phenomenon. Duh, people - this is not new!! This is just the “women’s rights” version of what men have been doing for years. For years, men have worn masks, capes, or other disguises and have used their cloaking as an excuse to act-out and go wild.
It is this acting out business (now both by men and women) that has made me truly hate Halloween. For whatever reason, it seems to give people a license for one night to act in ways that they normally wouldn’t every act. I am against any institutionalized day that gives permission to people for behaviors that, under “normal” circumstances, would not be acceptable.
Whatever the excuse or justification may be, I hate what costumes do to people. Sorry – no Happy Halloweenie message from me people! I’m just being real here!
On a serious note: be safe out there tomorrow with your kids and with yourself.
For more of my thoughts on costumes (and Marge Simpson - ooo! preview) visit: http://womenincrimeink.blogspot.com/
For those of you who didn’t know what I am talking about maybe you have been smoking too much of what LA is trying to ban (but more of that in the next few weeks). But, let me refresh your recollection, last Thursday there was a little six year boy, Falcon Heene, who for all intents and purposes was treated as though he was a trapped boy inside a giant alien balloon thing (that his father built) which was mysteriously un-tethered and flew up into the air.
The whole nation was captivated for two hours, with people praying and calling into various major Prime Time stations with tremendous concern. Top newsmen and women were racing to get the latest “Breaking” updates on the story, including CNN and HLN – notably, Fox News was not covering the balloon chase. I watched as CNN got together in the Situation Room and put up the “Smart Board” to try to find where the kid could have fallen out -- setting up a tracking parameter for the miles the balloon had covered, and bringing in helium experts to assess how far the balloon could travel and what kind of injuries the boy could sustain upon impact, etc. etc. It was very serious, so serious in fact that one might think it was a PARODY of the news, not actual news.
Although I was, of course, concerned for the boy – especially if he was really in that little compartment – I was shocked that so many news stations (almost all of them!) were covering this loose balloon chase with SO MUCH intensity. I mean it was surreal I felt like we were watching a giant chef Boyardee cap sweeping the skies.
Those of you who know me, know that I use humor (albeit dark and sometimes jaded humor) as a way to find levity and enjoyment in life. It is not to uncommon for those of us in the dark world of crime to poke fun at things that we shouldn’t, laugh at inappropriate jokes, or find a way to giggle at something socially incorrect.
So, while Operation Balloon Hoax was going on I was in the middle of posting an article to my Facebook page when one of my “friends” popped up saying, “Robin, stop working and start praying.” And as the child advocate I am, I immediately felt guilty for working during this national tragedy.
Then the balloon came down, phew I was relieved. I could go back to work again without the guilt of my Facebook “friends.” But “uh-oh” where was the kid? Back to panic mode. As the talking heads were trying to figure out where Falcon was I was shocked that the whole world was mesmerized (and still is) by the giant balloon –that was built to do exactly what it was supposed to do—FLY.
What is wrong with this picture? So much and so much more as each day unfolds.
Now that we know the boy is fine, I think it’s ok for me to say what a lot of us were thinking during the whole “saga”: What The Heck!?!? [And/or add in your own “!?!?” questions…you guys all know I am “f” word fan but I am trying to clean up my act]. Are you kidding me!? There is no other pressing news going on right now? Do you know how many kids go missing, are starving, are in danger of death, in this nation everyday? But they don’t go floating up in a weird silver flying machines – maybe they should, maybe then we’d pay more attention.
But I really don’t want to rant about the dangers and disasters faced by kids daily in this country (not in this post at least); nor do I want to make fun of Falcon Heene (maybe his dad) who although did not go flying through the air is probably facing something equally scary now that the nation’s eyes are upon him and his family.
I just want to say that the whole flying-chef-hat incident was hilarious as it was being covered. THERE, I said it! I actually laughed. NO, I’m not a horrible, insensitive, beyatch. I am just being honest and open. There were some laughable moments. And while it may not be okay to talk about them in the moment or even a few moments after the moment, I have to say that my style works for me. Laughing keeps me sane. Laughing keeps me from jumping of a bridge. And if Id didn’t laugh I would spend all my day crying at the sick, evil, and sadness in our society.
And while there is no happy ending at the end of the flying chef balloon case for the Heene family, it certainly reminded me that sometimes the joke is not in the people who intended it but the real joke is on those of us who are watching and reporting this.
I mean did you see that man on the ground racing after the chef-hat balloon as it was coming down to the ground. Why did he do a baseball dive onto the dirt ground? Why did Wolf Blitzer need an aerodynamic specialist to map out the trajectory of the balloon fall? (I know that at the time they didn’t think it was a hoax but STILL…..how many other cases that need it get that kind of attention?????)
Since it seems the Heene’s actually did perpetrate the incident for a “show”, I definitely have a word or two that I would like to share with the family (and the public) about EXPLOITATION. This is not just about exploiting a child but it is also about abusing police resources and wasting public energy. But, again, that is an article for another day.
And while the Heene parents are surely not laughing as they are awaiting which of the potential charges are coming their way, the instant popularity of the balloon boy saga really did get me laughing (albeit with guilt). But really, is it okay to ever laugh at crime? Clearly, there is a time for everything and that means a time to laugh, smile, and giggle no matter how dark things are. So, I give you permission. If a smile or laugh makes YOU feel better, go for it. There is humor in everything and sometimes it’s just plain OKAY to use it. Know that others may not find your jokes funny but know that humor can be your friend. So, ladies and gentleman, if you ever need to smile think of the flying Chef Boyardee hat and Wolf Blitzer in the “situation room.” OY!!!
I want to give a caveat right away: I am really not that political. Those of you who know me understand that although I am a former prosecutor, I can come down on issues in a way you wouldn’t expect. And I usually don’t weigh in strongly on current political events. But the Obama Peace Prize ordeal caught my attention.
Some background: The Peace Prize has been awarded 90 times to 120 Nobel Laureates between 1901 and 2009 – 97 times to individuals and 23 times to organizations. The receipts are as varied as humanity itself: from Yasser Arafat (a Palestinian leader who participated in Peace talks with Yitzhak Rabin, but also committed terror acts against Israelis), to Elie Wiesel (a Romanian Jew who was deported to a German concentration camp during WWII, survived the Holocaust, and went on to publish several books and speak out on human rights). Some of the most well known recipients of the Peace Prize are Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., Woodrow Wilson, Al Gore, and now Barack Obama.
Most of us when we think of the NOBEL PEACE PRIZE we assume (and rightfully so) that it includes a component of MERIT.
So what about it? In the case of the most famous recipients, the accomplishments speak for themselves: Martin Luther King didn’t just talk of civil rights, dream of it, he actually marched, rallied, inspired, and accomplished tangible changes in this country. Mother Teresa didn’t just wish for sick people to be healed, she went out in the world and nursed the ill to health – offering tangible “hands-on” help. Woodrow Wilson was a President forced to join in war, who then went on to bring about the convention on League of Nations – arguably a seminal international covenant. And Al Gore brought us “An Inconvenient Truth”, a campaign that truly changed the international conversation on global warming. What exactly has Obama done to earn this HUMONGOUS honor? Somebody please tell me.
I’m not making any policy comments on Obama, his administration’s plans, or his rhetoric. Trust me, I voted for him and am happy that I did! But geez Louise…isn’t bestowing this honor a bit premature? I mean how about giving the dude a chance to actually accomplish something. Trust me-- I love how he talks about bringing nations together, restoring America’s place in the world, and getting us out of war… but has he actually done any of those things yet? I thought the Nobel Prize was for incredible accomplishments in peace, not just honorable aspirations for peace!
This piece of news bothers me not just as a citizen but bothers me as yet another example of inconsistent modeling and messaging to our kids. What does bestowing this prize say to we our kids? I am disappointed that Obama won the prize NOW. “Now” being the key word. That’s not to say that he might have EARNED it later. I just worry that kids around the country (and around the world) are getting the wrong message: you can win a prize just based on your intentions, your “celebrity factor” or because there is no one else better. What about putting in the hard work? What about recognizing the less known people who pour the hearts and souls in their work and actually accomplish what they set out to do?
In an elementary school in Hempstead, NY (renamed Barak Obama Elementary after his election) kids weighed in on Obama winning the prize:
“I was proud, because Barack Obama did a good job,” said fifth-grader Ashley, 9. “He was definitely for peace - he wanted countries at war to come together. He knows that teenagers are getting hurt.” Another fifth-grader, at the school Tiara, 10, said her uncle is serving in the Army, either in Iraq or Afghanistan. “I was excited because he's my inspiration,” she said of Obama. “He earned it, because he wants peace in Iraq for our soldiers.”
The language of these students concerns me – as I’m sure it reflects the thoughts of children in schools all across the country … that is, he “earned it” just because he wants it. I don’t give my daughter her allowance just because she wants her room to be cleaned. I give her the reward when she actually gets the work done. (Not so often by the way.)
What was the hurry? Why couldn’t the prize have been awarded in a few years, after Obama spent a few years in office? I really don’t understand it. It seems that most of the past Peace Prize honorees have been given recognition for a lifetime of work, or participation in a truly memorable/significant event in history.
Pablo Triana made an excellent point, summarizing the issue, in his recent Huffington Post blog:
…this Nobel may be transformed into a Trojan Horse: an excuse to forever demean the award as merely a propaganda affair… It seems to me that by rushing things a bit too much, those Northern Europeans have shut themselves in the foot. Read more
I know what some of you are thinking: but Obama will bring a better, more peaceful world…! Ok! But, as a prosecutor, I just want him to prove it and DO IT!
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