She went home to known abusers and they killed her. Three-year old Tajanay Bailey died Tuesday in Indianapolis in what apparently was a gruesome, suffering death.
Point of personal privilege: I've had it. It's not 'the system' I'm after anymore, it is women who get with these guys and then subject their children to this abuse, whether at their own hands or that of a boyfriend. It has to stop.
Personally, I've trashed "the system" over the years but I've got to honestly applaud Governor Daniels and his folks for their strong efforts to turn around the Titanic of bureaucracies - they're doing a good job (although not fast enough if you ask them). But that only goes so far - judges make the final decisions and they don't have a crystal ball to see who is going to get killed.
It's the abusers, stupid. It is often the "mom's-boyfriend-syndrome". Drugs or criminal activity are usually involved. Stereotypes, you say? You bet. And I place the blame squarely at the feet of the mothers.
I'm burning up with questions. Do you have any answers?
- When do we get to talk about this honestly with sexism, race, poverty, etc., issues aside? We can't excuse this abuse anymore; it is flat-out selfishness and disease.
- When do we get to say aloud that these folks are not fit to parent and do something about it?
- When do we admit that our social service programs don't measure up to such narcissistic behavior and deep-seeded dysfunction? Aren't dead children enough for us to say that maybe we should try some vigilante interventions?
- When can we impose our values on them?
Oh sure, slippery slope and all. Get over it...we have to drastically change our expectations of each other and lower the level of tolerance for abhorrent behavior.
And I'm the most liberal of the Rex crew.
