The second note worthy news I had encountered was on the front page of the Star Tribune. There was an eye catching article of a man that had "unintentionally" killed his 1+ year old step-son due to excessive battering. This article stated that the baby had been beaten and severely injured over the course of several months. The baby was living with fractured bones, including his ribs and collar bone and a broken back. The man who pleaded guilty to the boys death was charged with involuntary man slaughter. His punishment to this crime was 2 + years in prison and an unspecified time spent on parole. I didn't agree with the sentence given considering there are crimes less heinous and more time spend in the prison system. This article hit home for me because I, myself, have a son 16 months old. He is the age where wrongdoing is unknown and cannot be punished with such severity.
The third news article I encountered, was an incident I could relate to. In fact, witness with my ears. There was recently, within the last two months, a shooting in South Minneapolis near Columbus and 31st. I was working an overnight at the children's shelter when the sound of gun shots rippled though the air. My first thoughts were fire works and the ongoing excitement of Independence Day. After the sounds became more clear my thoughts were immediately disrupted by the screams of people, then sirens telling me help is on the way. All I could think to do was close the curtains and tuck my head under the blankets. Thankfully all shelter clients and staff were safe. It was reported to have possibly been gang related. I have not worked an overnight shift since the time of the incident.
The story about the father killing his child is horrible. I don't understand how someone could do that. And the kicker is that it was that he "unintentionally" beat him to death. It is horrible, plus such a short sentence. I just don't understand some people.
ReplyDeleteI have always love kids and i am now pregnant and i could never hurt an infant to me that seems so heartless and crude. I always have such faith in people until i hear stories like that.
ReplyDeleteAll of these stories are thought provoking, but I shall only comment on the second one. No child should be hit, at all, for any reason whatsoever. When they don't know what's good or bad, don't understand why you're angry with them, there is no reason to hit them, it won't help anyhow. And his sentence only proves how corrupt and broken our justice system is. Nothing is fair. Then again, I believe in the "eye for an eye" philosophy. :)
ReplyDeleteGrade: 8.5/10 Minnesota should be Minn.; you missed a possessive apostrophe; and there was in incomplete sentence.
ReplyDeleteAn option would have been to do this:
Later that same week we had an intake of a young girl who had lost both of her parents –– one to death and the other to imprisonment