Soccer Mom: Unplugged

Lots of talk the past few days about a brutal rape that took place in St. Paul.  The general consensus is that those who happened upon the scene and did nothing should be held accountable and that their inaction is reprehensible.  Shades of Edmund Burke...  All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing, right?

What comes to mind as I consider these horrifying happenings is a violent crime that unfolded before my eyes as a child and has been seared in my memory ever since. 

My mom worked nights. My dad worked days.  And there was a short period of time when my younger brother and I were left in the care of my oldest sister while waiting on the arrival of the school bus.  My sister was 19 and I was 7 that morning when I missed the bus and had to wait for mom to get home from work, drive me to grade school and check me in "tardy". 

My other teenaged siblings were waiting at the bus stop just across the street from our front porch where I sat waiting for mom, backpack loaded and lunch in hand.  At about the time the high school bus approached the stop and teenagers started filing onto the bus, a tall, black man with a set of num chucks (no clue how to spell that) strode quickly to the stop from the opposite direction.  My brothers and sister got onto the bus and the last student, a lineman for the footbal team raised his foot to step into the bus.  The man grabbed the boy by the scruff of his letterman jacket and threw him to the ground.  He proceded to beat him mercilessly until he lost consciousness.  My sister ran inside and called the police, yelling at my little brother and I to 'go inside'.  My brother followed her into the house but I couldn't move.  I was paralyzed with fear and viewed the whole incident. 

From inside the bus, my brother beat on the doors to get out and help his teammate but the bus driver, knowing her responsibility to the other students refused to open the doors.  It was nightmarish.  All of us, filled with a desire to do something, none of us, knowing what to do.  The man ran off after he realized how many witnesses had seen his crime and how close to death his victim was.  The bus driver stayed at the scene with the other students locked safely inside the bus until the police and EMS arrived.  I stayed on the porch with my sister, perhaps 30 yards from the scene, until we were sure that my older siblings on the bus were safely on their way to school.

After the scene was cleared,  all I could think about were the victim's school books and papers scattered across the neighbor's yard.  My sister sent me over to gather all his things.  I distinctly remember shaking as I walked to the bus stop/ crime scene and the eerie post crime silence that convinced me the attacker was going to come back as soon as I stepped anywhere near the spot where his victim stood. 

It was a long time before the phobia of being in the front yard passed.  And even into adulthood, I spook easily when people unexpectedly enter my personal space.  But that day I learned that there are smart and safe ways to get involved.  No one suggests that bystanders put themselves in jeopardy - that is a very personal choice -  but there is absolutely no excuse for refusing to dial 911 or for sugar coating a crime in progress.  If 10 bystanders witnessed this crime, then there should have been 10 calls to 911, all detailing vividly the crime underway.  And instead of excusing inaction with psychological or sociologial phenomena, these bystanders ought to be held accountable by a reasonable application of Minnesota's Good Samaritan law.

"And for support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on Divine Providence we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."    Thomas Jefferson  "Declaration of Independence"  1776

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.  In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the dutied of men and citizens."   George Washington (farewell address of 1796)

"Revelation assures us that 'righteousness exalteth a nation.'"    Samuel Adams to Arthur Lee, September 27, 1771

"...can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God?"   Thomas Jefferson Notes on the State of Virginia 

"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."   John Adams

"When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public office, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, just men who will rule in the fear of God.  The preservation of a republican government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty;  if the citizens neglect their duty, and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good, so much as for selfish or local purposes;  corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded.  If a republican government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws."  Noah Webster "Advice to the Young" 1834

has it actually altered public perception of homosexuality?  According to a recent poll, ABC hasn't been successful in convincing Americans that same-gendered attraction is morally acceptable.  The Politico is reporting on the numbers that may have Ellen and Rosie's panties in a bunch.

Quinnipiac University polls of voters in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania -- the big three Electoral College swing states -- found voters by large margins more likely to see the endorsement of a gay rights group as a reason to vote against, rather than for, a candidate. 

In Florida and Ohio, for every 4 voters who said affiliation with gay interest groups would impact their choices in the ballot box, 3 would vote against rather than for a candidate who was wrapped in the rainbow colored flag.  Even in Pennsylvania, a state the Dems carried in the last two presidential elections, the margin was nearly 3 to 1 with 28% voting against the gay agenda and on 11% voting in favor.

With several states passing pro-traditional marriage legislation by wide margins over the past few years,  there is plenty of evidence how voters feel.  Even though the courts have managed to undermine the will of the people in many of these instances, even the slowest of presidential hopefuls knows that his chances are weakened with outed activists in his or her corner. 

What remains to be seen is exactly how these poll numbers will have an impact on each candidate's position.  It will be interesting to see how quickly some distance themselves from the homosexual movement and how quickly gay supporters are shoved back into the closet.

It is positively unfeminine to ignore kind words from a gentleman.  The mere presence of estrogen demands a coy smile, batting eyelashes and an appreciative response.  So, to Michael for the very kind words naming me one of his blogging all-stars, a word of thanks.  Michael, few men have offered such a desirable description of yours truly and even fewer Democrats.  That you recognize greatness is a credit to both your gender and your party.  I'm laughing too hard to type now.... 

In all seriousness, the feeling is definitely mutual - someday we'll have to do our own version of Hannity and Colmes and write a book that addresses the issues from both sides.  Thanks so much for the wonderful compliment.

And to all the rest of you out there in IP land handing out Blogger Reflection Awards, BEWARE!  You never really know who you're talking to online.....  (turn on your speakers:-)

Drudge is highlighting the blog of Brad Warthen, editorial page editor of The State, a left leaning SC newspaper.  I say left-leaning simply because as Warthen's blog points out, editors were "fans" of Democratic candidates and the paper endorsed candidates from that party.  I don't generally read The State since my local bird cage liner the Raleigh N&O is more readily available.  But that's beside the point.

Warthen denounces John Edwards as a phony and decries his self-proclaimed "man of the people" status as pure showboating. 

This shouldn't be news to anyone in the country and less so to folks in the Carolinas who've endured the insufferable drawl and bad acting before Edwards emerged as a national figure but Warthen's revelation begs the question, why aren't we talking to the folks who know these candidates outside the limelight?  Why aren't we talking to the people who know who these candidates are after the media trucks have moved on and there are no more babies around to kiss?

Turns out that Hillary isn't swaying her hometown neighbors either.  The upper class white enclave where she grew up won't be voting her into office.  Why do you think that is?  When trusted advisors turn Benedict Arnold - men like George Stephanopolous and Dick Morris - you have to wonder what underlying causes led to disillusionment and abandonment. 

I'm not suggesting that every Bostonian is going to support Romney or that everyone in Tenessee will be casting a vote for Thompson, but when your next door neighbors, close friends, and intimate associates are voting for the other guy, that ought to speak volumes.