Early this morning while I and most of the people in America were sleeping, a rare occurrence took place in the state of Utah. A killer was killed by firing squad. His daughter spoke about his agreement with the death penalty. He agreed that he should have this punishment. His disagreement was that it took so long to take place. Perhaps his lawyers prolonged the process by using appeals. For whatever reasons that it was delayed, he felt it should have happened sooner not years later. Perhaps it should have been after his first murder, but at that time he killed his second victim, while trying to escape. So, he certainly did not have that attitude after his first crime.
The story I saw about him stated that he had a troubled upbringing. Now, I do not know what kind of an upbringing he had. Unless he had been born with a criminal mind, a natural psychopath, then there is blame elsewhere. But who or what is to blame? The answer may be so convoluted that no one thing or person brought him to this end.
Can this sort of thing be prevented in the future. Yes and no, irresponsible people will continue to bear children. There will always be people with no plan or preparation on how to provide a stable and loving home.
Can others play a part in providing a stable and loving environment for children who need it. Of course, they do it all the time. Most parents are doing a great job of rearing children. Many organizations and civic minded persons use their time and money to help children grow into healthy reliable citizens. Could such efforts be redoubled. Yes. Could others be alert for opportunities to play such a role. Yes. I know of many who do just that and I feel sure that you do too.
Our government plays a part in helping families when they are in trouble. Perhaps on a local level there is a helpful idea yet to come forth. Many adults who have retired, use their time to act as mentors for young children. The schools are happy to have adults participate in mentoring situations. Students at risk are identified and flagged for help. Since all children enter the schools at an early age there is plenty of opportunity to be a part of the solution. If you feel so inclined to help you will be welcomed. You can even say that I sent you.! But, if we all are alert to ways in which we can affirm children, that is a step forward.
While we lament a wasted life we are not helpless to steer others in a different direction.
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children. Show all posts
Friday, June 18, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Tongue Twisters
At some point most children learn to say or at least hear the Nursery Rhyme "Jack Sprat". In case you have forgotten, it goes like this:
Jack Sprat could eat no fat,
His wife could eat no lean.
So, between the two of them,
They licked the platter clean.
Silly words seem to entertain children. There must be something in our psyche which needs to be released in humor. Whether it originates initially because something in our mind needs to reduce stress or the neurons in our brain get a "hiccup", I do not know. Perhaps it is just that being with children makes us want to be childish.
When I was very young my older sister's husband would regale us with silly rhymes and foolish sayings. He did this when we were passengers in his car. Once while driving past some people who were walking down a country road, he leaned his head out the window and sang, " I feel like HELLLLLLLping some poor soul". It had the intended effect as we would double up in laughter.
An incident occurred when I was around five years old which must have been a "hiccup" in my neurons as it certainly was not intended. I was at our barn with my father and he sent me into the house with a message for my mother. He needed a little bill book in which he kept records. No doubt I had been told to rush into the house with the message. I was told years later that this is what I said " Mother, mother, daddy needs the bull bick, the bull bick" It took some deciphering to figure out what my father needed.
Another example of my "hiccups" was in reference to Ronald Reagen's favorite snack which he kept on his desk in the oval office. I called them "belly jeans". Well, yesterday it happened again. This is how it came down. I was standing in the church fellowship hall having hot coffee and a cookie. I was talking to my good friend Lou. I do not see her often and we had to soon leave to be in the sanctuary on time. We were blocking the way of her husband as he wanted to pass and had hot coffee in his hands. I stepped back thinking he was clear and he kept coming, I kept stepping back. He said "Are you afraid I'm going to hit you". I said "No, I didn't want to spill the "cot hoffee" on you.
I really wish I knew what causes me to twist my words like that. Thankfully it does not happen often, actually years apart. There have been other examples, I just cannot think of them right now. There may be a name for this strange language glitch. If anyone out there knows how to explain this I would really like to know. It can be embarrassing to have the gears slip in my head and come up with silly words. Since I have been doing this for almost 80 years, and it does not happen on a daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly basis, it must not be harmful to my health !!
Jack Sprat could eat no fat,
His wife could eat no lean.
So, between the two of them,
They licked the platter clean.
Silly words seem to entertain children. There must be something in our psyche which needs to be released in humor. Whether it originates initially because something in our mind needs to reduce stress or the neurons in our brain get a "hiccup", I do not know. Perhaps it is just that being with children makes us want to be childish.
When I was very young my older sister's husband would regale us with silly rhymes and foolish sayings. He did this when we were passengers in his car. Once while driving past some people who were walking down a country road, he leaned his head out the window and sang, " I feel like HELLLLLLLping some poor soul". It had the intended effect as we would double up in laughter.
An incident occurred when I was around five years old which must have been a "hiccup" in my neurons as it certainly was not intended. I was at our barn with my father and he sent me into the house with a message for my mother. He needed a little bill book in which he kept records. No doubt I had been told to rush into the house with the message. I was told years later that this is what I said " Mother, mother, daddy needs the bull bick, the bull bick" It took some deciphering to figure out what my father needed.
Another example of my "hiccups" was in reference to Ronald Reagen's favorite snack which he kept on his desk in the oval office. I called them "belly jeans". Well, yesterday it happened again. This is how it came down. I was standing in the church fellowship hall having hot coffee and a cookie. I was talking to my good friend Lou. I do not see her often and we had to soon leave to be in the sanctuary on time. We were blocking the way of her husband as he wanted to pass and had hot coffee in his hands. I stepped back thinking he was clear and he kept coming, I kept stepping back. He said "Are you afraid I'm going to hit you". I said "No, I didn't want to spill the "cot hoffee" on you.
I really wish I knew what causes me to twist my words like that. Thankfully it does not happen often, actually years apart. There have been other examples, I just cannot think of them right now. There may be a name for this strange language glitch. If anyone out there knows how to explain this I would really like to know. It can be embarrassing to have the gears slip in my head and come up with silly words. Since I have been doing this for almost 80 years, and it does not happen on a daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly basis, it must not be harmful to my health !!
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