Sunday, April 12, 2009

MJS Finds Does Have A Good Columnist

In this morning's paper, I was pleasantly surprised by the column done by James E. Causey, who wrote about the rash of unacceptable deaths and abuses of children in recent weeks:

But during the past month: five babies were killed and one abandoned atop a car in freezing temperatures to little public outcry.

No one organized a march to "save our children." Ironically, this is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Nor have there been calls for sweeping changes in parenthood.

Reasons for the lack of outrage?

People might be so stressed from the economy that they can't summon the energy to get upset at even the most outrageous things.

Or: It is a lot easier to get mad at an agency responsible for caring for children when it messes up than it is when a neighbor does the same thing.

Why? Getting mad at your neighbor requires you to look in the mirror. It forces you to ask: Could I have done something to prevent this? Should I have known this child was being abused?

About now, you're telling yourself that no one needs to tell you not to slam your son's head into a wall because you're angry; no need to lecture you about violently shaking an infant because she's crying.

No one needs to tell you not to drink eight beers and fall asleep next to a baby. And no need for a public service announcement instructing you to never abandon your newborn on a neighbor's car.

Granted, all of these people should have handled their situations better. But they didn't, and this is where the community comes in.

If it takes a village to raise a child - and it does - then all of us share in the blame.

"My goodness," I thought to myself, "a columnist that actually understands and gets what's going on. And even more importantly, isn't afraid to express it without trying to tie it into some political or ideological agenda."

Now compare that to the column in today's paper from Patrick McIlheran. McIlheran takes a great story about a couple who have adopted eight special needs children. He could have made the story into something special by talking about the need for adoption, or what good foster parents do, or the need for other good people to step up and help with Milwaukee County's abused and neglected children. Unfortunately, McIlheran wasn't as high-minded as his colleague, and made it into an anti-choice piece.

In my own humble opinion, I think that MJS could do a lot worse than have Causey in the paper more often. McIlheran has been touting his Charlie Sykesian talking points several times a week as well as doing several of the "Quick Hits," but the paper is still struggling.

I'm not saying that Causey alone would save the paper, but I know that I am more apt to be talking up columns from Causey than from McIlheran.

And for the purpose of full disclosure, I don't get sneak previews from either of them. (I don't even think Causey does that, buy we know that McIlerhan does.)

4 comments:

  1. No, the community does not share blame for the deaths. The first fault, and it is the biggest fault, is the people who caused the death in the first place- the van driver, the murderers etc. They are the most to blame. Percentage of the blame woud be 90-100%. 2nd to bnlame is an organization such as the employing agency or if the kid was in social services, then that agency, but there is probably only about 10% or less to blame for them.
    The person who lives on 89th and Center are not to blame- not in any way shape or form.

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  2. How nice of you to abdicate any ownership in being a member of the community. Or the human race.

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  3. How nice of you to place blame where it doesn't belong. You take the lazy and irresponsible way out. I prefer to actually hold account people who did wrong. Maybe you feel guilty?

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  4. Not in the least. I am one of the people out there trying to improve life for people, at least in my corner of the world.

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