Advocates for Decency

I read this from a State Advocacy Group Regarding Jonathon's Law
Copy the Link and read for yourself.
http://www.sanys.org/Policy/Johnathan%20Carey%20Statement.pdf

If we want a just world, we can not compromise on human dignity. I am sorry.

Here is my response:

I read with great interest your response to Jonathon's law.
I have heard his family speak and I also have looked into CPS's unfounded reports. I guess I do not understand the objection to what is just and decent for families of people with disabilities having full disclosure when a restraint happens? What is the harm regarding releasing documentation of an incident at a residential setting?

The facts are that the staff member who killed their child was passed along in the system. He had over a thousand hours of OT in one year. This would make a great point for higher wages. Why hide this from the Carey's or the general public?

Regarding the staff member, this was not his first instance of abuse. Why did the state fight so hard to keep this information from the Careys? If that was your child, are you saying this is just? Where is the struggle here. They believe many good people work in a system that is broken. This is said with no disrespect to them. I have spoken to workers in this field and hear time and time again from their own mouths that there is a problem. Are they wrong also?

I do not work with disable children, however I want what is just for them. Am I wrong to ask for justice?

Moral Waivers and Decency

The army gave out 511 moral waivers to soldiers with felony convictions last year. Criminals got 249 army waivers in 2006, a sign that the demand for US forces in Iraq has forced a sharp increase in the number of criminals allowed on the battlefield.

The felons accepted into the army and marines included 87 soldiers convicted of assault or maiming, 130 convicted of non-cannabis-related drug offences, seven convicted of making terrorist threats, and two convicted of indecent behaviour with a child. Waivers were also granted to 500 burglars and thieves, 19 arsonists and nine sex offenders.

Is this just? Is this fair? How does one explain to someone raped in the army by a sex offender that this would never have happened if was not for a moral waiver?

War is never just.

(A more detailed account of this story can be found in the media watch website)

Corporate Greed v. Human Need

It seems odd to me how quickly Americans have settled for our Government's solutions to our nation's mortgage crisis. Our government is spending billions of dollars to bail out lenders from the crisis. Shouldn't a government for the people by the people bail out PEOPLE first? This is typical of the corporate model of government. The citizens of our country need to pay attention to the reality of business first, people second. The Mortgage bailout is not unique.

Does the Media Ever Question Reports about Iraq?

It seems like our Media fails to examine the news on Iraq. Watch this video and on MoveOn.org and question the perception of Fair and Balanced reporting in our media.

Social Security and Medicare are out of control?

Hmmmm, I just can not understand why this chart is rarely ever discussed in the media. All I seem to hear is that Social Security and Medicare are bankrupting our insolvent. Could it be that our spending priorities are not all that they seem. Fair and Balanced? I bet. Click on the graph and see the FACTS for yourself.

April 25th - When Teachers Hate Their Students and Will not Admit it.

As the Day of Silence program picks of speed and students come to school wearing their tags of protest, teachers around our country will have the following conversations.

Why does this have to be in our face?
Why do we not have a heterosexual day of silence?
Sarcasm, anger, and sadness will prevail.
For teachers who deny the importance of such days, here are the hate crime statistics that you refuse to acknowledge:

Hate Crimes Based on Sexual Orientation
1995: 13% of all hate crimes were motivated by sexual-orientation bias
1996: 12% of all hate crimes were motivated by sexual-orientation bias
1997: 14% of all hate crimes were motivated by sexual-orientation bias
1998: 15% of all hate crimes were motivated by sexual-orientation bias
1999: 17% of all hate crimes were motivated by sexual-orientation bias
2000: 16% of all hate crimes were motivated by sexual-orientation bias
2001: 14% of all hate crimes were motivated by sexual-orientation bias
2002: 17% of all hate crimes were motivated by sexual-orientation bias
2003: 17% of all hate crimes were motivated by sexual-orientation bias
2004: 16% of all hate crimes were motivated by sexual-orientation bias

Enjoy those teacher room conversations.

Second Edition Due Out April 25th.

Just in time for the Time for Us signing in Rome, the second edition of The Quest for Human Decency will be released. There will be new chapters that challenge new topics regarding the human condition. I am extremely thankful for the contributions from many people to make this second edition possible.

Signing at Life Community Church April 26th.

The Carey Family will be coming back to Central New York to join us in our next signing. The Time for Us follow up will be attended by many professionals and families from all over New York. We hope to see you there.