jonStarving Kids
November 7th 2007 22:47
All over the world, children starve to death... we see it on the TV, and rush out to sponsor a child, or whatever it takes to dampen that rising tide of guilt as poor little Guihnho from Guyana stares at us from the screen... We are used to it, and unfortunately so are they. But now we have a case, in Sydney, of some pair of absolute muppets letting their mentally impaired daughter starve to death in her bed, at age 7.
Although in theory this should be no more of a tragedy than poor Guinho, it is, because in this country we have the infrastructure not only to ensure that children survive, but flourish, autistic or not.
There is one angle to all this, though, that the mainstream media will not report. Yes, Shellay Ward died because her mum and dad were terrible parents, didnt care, or wanted to her to die. BUT, where does it say, in plain black and white, that the system we have in this country for the creation and protection of the celebrated family unit is hopelessly inadequate in these cases. The departement of community services (DOCS) is, surprisigly, not to blame. The real issue here is that the final decisions, up to the point where the child is taken away (which poor Shellay Wards sister was), are left up to the parents. Shellay (or her older sisters) didnt attend school, and surely her emaciated state would have been seen if she had. Incidentally its federal law that she must attend. The DOCS statement on this read 'The department put forward a number of educational options to Shellays parents. However, they did not accept.'
The Wards are just one tragic example of the inability of some to look after their own. In this counrty you need a licence to own a dog, but anyone can have a chilld.
Although in theory this should be no more of a tragedy than poor Guinho, it is, because in this country we have the infrastructure not only to ensure that children survive, but flourish, autistic or not.
The Wards are just one tragic example of the inability of some to look after their own. In this counrty you need a licence to own a dog, but anyone can have a chilld.
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Thanks,
Jon.