Guys...

This morning when I booted up to read my usual 6am news stories before work, I found something that's been bothering me all day. There was the story of a 6 year old child that went missing in Georgia about a month ago, whose body they just found recently. In reading of his kidnapping from local neighbors and his harrowing last hours on this earth, my thoughts somehow went to the parents and families of the Org. i don't know if you guys are aware of it, but there are so many of you: moms, dads, uncles, aunties, and granparents, whose love come through in every post and picture of your little ones. It's amazing how in fact even knowing very few of you at all, you have been able to show us the wonder of children and how they are a valid, valued, and scared part of the human experience. On this one little board in cyberspace, through you many of us have seen the trials and trbulations of the everyday "parent-guardian-family protector": we have seen joys (and pains) of Monigram as a new Memaw; amazing (and sometimes hilarious or heartbreaking) reflections of Supa and Imago on their experiences of being uncles, and beautiful photos and discussions of the children of Noimageatall, Rhondab, ZombieKitten, Stymie, and Justerin and many many more all across this board.

Call it an odd thing, but no matter how different we all are in life, opinion, or cause, one thing that has been a wonderful part of this place is the respect and awe we have for kids and families, no matter if they're a full house or table of two.

Today I saw something that gave me grave pause, because I was confronted with the reality that these days life is so stark, that it's no longer enough to value your smallest family members and be kind and nurturing to them; we are essentially living in such strained and apathetic times. We have to guard children with our very lives on a daily basis, just to ensure that they can make it safely to kindergarden and back home each afternoon without being crushed and mutilated by the sociopath next door.

The following are links with information on what happened to an ordinary little boy, on an ordinary afternoon while making his ordinary trip to and from his bus stop each day from school. My intention in posting this is not to argue the politics of either side of this horrific tragedy, rather than just remind us all that the world is changing, unfortunately not better for our kids and families, and we must remain cognizant of the predators that lurk amongst us



The backstory on mainstream news(MSNBC):

http://www.youtube.com/wa...dzrM6ZgWsU


The little 6 Year Old Himself:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...P08FTpWkjo


R.I.P. Christopher Barrios


xxx,

Ottie

Oh my god
How so very sad.

Horrifying isn't even close to close to a word that can describe what happened to this little boy The light in his eyes stolen by psycho maniacs. I just hate these stories with every fiber of my being because you just don't want to imagine his last moments or what they were like but you can't banish him from your thoughts altogether because no matter what happened he deserves to be recognized and remembered.

It is a blessing to have healthy children and for those children to belong to loving and caring families. Some here have experienced the loss of children. It's sad when children are lost but even sadder when it's senselss tragedy. This is senseless. I understand victims, I understand the abused. I don't understand what could possibly drive a mother to betray the most elemental and basic bond to her child, for a man. It's likely she was already fucking demented and sick but more likely that she did what she did to please a fucking man. I don't understand.

One of the biggest reasons I don't want kids is the world I would be bringing them into but I cherish the kids that are in my life and am part of a community that cares and watches out for others children. God help the children.....

Just a couple of weeks ago we had our own version of that here - a 10 year old girl was for the first time allowed to ride her bike home on her own in the afternoon, in a small village very close to here. She was in touch with her Mum every 10 mins on the cellphone but she stopped answering. Half an hour later her Mother reported her missing, they found her bike on the side of the road. A few days (maybe a week later) they found her body and they arrested a man for killing her. The mother did everything you're "supposed" to do but that didn't matter. The man hadn't been stalking her, she just happened to appear in front of him on the road and he took her. As far as is known he didn't molest her, which is a small blessing. Now, what's truly horrible is that he was marked as "a person of interest" in a murder last year, but the police never brought him in for questioning. If they had he wouldn't have been out on the streets to do this to little Engla cos he confessed to that murder.

I've been trying not to think about this since it happened cos I have Tyra. The man who killed that little girl, or the little boy, would not have been alive today had it been Tyra he took. I believe in vengeance and it would have been mine. I try not to think about it though.

to all the families on the Org and these little children, too.

Whenever I see young kids unattended or worse ALONE in public places I get so upset. I hate my 12, 14 and 16 year old nephews going out into the world but at least they are a little older. You have to guard your young ones always.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

People who get too close to Tyra when we're out fall down dead from my stare.

It may sound insane to some of my friends here but it's been on my heart to adopt some more kids.

I can't handle this kinda stuff.

I feel ill for days.

This is horrible. Too many awful things happen to children.

Stymie said:

It doesn't sound insane at all. The point is those kids would be LOVED SO MUCH. If you could handle it, I would support you into the universe on it.

Teacher said:

I'm like that with the children in my life too - especially my nieces, nephews amd godchild - if anyone dared put an unwanted or hurtful touch on them, God help them.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I agree, Ivy. I think it'd be wonderful.

Stymie said:

I too have been dwelling on the same thoughts

This whole thing brought tears to my eyes. I couldn't even finish watching the second video. The thought of this little boy having to go thru this breaks my heart! I will never understand how people can do such things. They are children, babies! How can anyone hurt them!? My heart is breaking, at the thought of what happened to him, or the things he had to see or do.

Stymie said:

You should do it. From your posts I can tell you're a great mommy. I'd like to adopt some day, but I'm running out of time.

omg!!!! that is terrible. it is just so sad. what sick people. they will have to pay for what they did

People are damn sick and perverted now it pisses me off.
As tall as my nephew is (he's 15) I'm still overprotective of him.
A few years ago, a 16 year old boy was raped in a public bathroom by a man,
so I know that young ones are vulnerable and powerless
until they become adults (and I mean well into their mid to late 20's).
You can never be too protective of young ones, they need all the protection they can get.

That's sick & very sad. RIP Christopher Barrios.