Quote:
Originally Posted by sigmadiva
I get your point, but if people don't know about a particular child, then why expect John Q. Public to become upset about it.
I presume we all understand that there are missing, abused and exploited kids out there. There have been similar cases in the Houston area that certainly received local attention, but for some reason did not make national attention. Maybe a local case that received some national attention is Andrea Yates. She is the NASA area mom who drowned her 5 kids.
Why the Anthony trial became so nationally sensational, I can't remember.  |
It is kind of funny/sad to me that the incidents PiKA2001 mentioned earlier in the thread I knew about, and knew more about than the Casey/Caylee trial. I remember years ago when she went missing, but I couldn't tell you anything else until yesterday and today, and it still isn't that much.
I don't have broadcast or table television and I think that really allows me to be less inundated and I using different sources. I listen to NPR on the radio or online and some BBC broadcasts through my Droid apps, and get the rest from reading actual printed papers we get at my office or online.
I know you get where I'm coming from so the rest of my post is just general grumping. I think slacktivist, which my sister agzg and Drolefille used is a good description of how I see this and all of the other momentary important causes that pop up due to instant access and well, social media like facebook. I'm much more of a doer and being involved than just signing an online petition or getting outraged and emotional, especially when I know the issues of power, privilege, race, class, and gender that fuel and drive these situations with girls and children.
I just don't see any genuine or lasting effects or change with an online petition or facebook rantings that have me turning on a porch light. Why not do something with either time, money, or advocacy, with community building where kids are involved in activities and schools, and connected with people who would notice if something happened and may not be family members. Granted in Caylee's situation that may not have mattered but for many others having their membership/dues covered at the Boys & Girls Club, Campfire, Boy & Girl Scout, and so on will do a lot more than any porch light or online petition. There's also CASA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, churches, and local programming that need volunteers and/or fundraising.
Not that I'm really a fan of those rubber bracelets or colored bracelets for every cause, but at least in many of those situations money is going to something that may make a difference, even if it is a paper heart in a business someone writes I.P. Freely in the donated name spot is a lot less "slacktivist" than what people are doing via facebook status messages.