Show of Staff Editorial f Heartache and Pain The Trials of Abuse By Theresa OConnor O'Connor Staff Writer Were We're all jugglers in this lie juggling juggling jug jug- juggling gling many balls as many as it takes to keep our minds off the issues we do not want to deal with The mailman the secretary the president and the professor What are they hiding The person who sits next to you what have they done Or what might Why is it that when accusations come out or severe actions are taken that everyone is always so surprised surprised surprised sur sur- But he is such an upstanding member of the community He would never do THAT I can not believe it we say in shock and horror horror horror hor hor- when the truth is revealed Your neighbor may be one of the thousands in the United States that grow marijuana in their basement to supplement their regular income The person you watch in awe with a heart may hide the secrets of an unorthodox past Is it just that no one cares about anyone else anymore Have we all gone mad Or is it simply something in the air that is causing all this craziness Prostitutes at 15 at seven pregnant at 10 or worse dead by 9 What causes people to act so rashly The man you trust may be involved in serious abuse and even pornography Yet through it all through the cries and tears and investigations the system looks on with disbelief Isn't it time we wake up to the facts Dont Don't the pictures of a naked 3 year old forced to pose for pornographic pornographic porno porno- pornographic graphic pictures prove anything Dont Don't the bruises on a battered woman tell us anything Why do so many people turn a blind eye to the truth The simple truth is that the system system system tem does not work for the people it itis itis itis is supposed to protect The system does not work now and it has not worked during my lifetime if it ever worked at all Now I am not saying that these people are not trying to help they are I am not saying that these people can not help the tortured and beaten down or even the financially desper desper- ate No one wants to say that we do donot donot donot not care No one wants to say that this should continue then why does it If the system DOES NOT WORK then Why do we cling to it the way we do Why not do away with the sy system tem and create one that works Or is the failing system worth letting the abuse continue We are all juggling different roles and appearances how many of those are to uphold our own mask of strength It seems as though we are all too busy to take a little time and help the ones who are suffering the most There is a saying people will surprise you As I encounter new people everyday I I have come to believe that it is right When my neighbor burglarized the house across the street we were shocked stunned in disbelief When he tried to get my house we were terrified He has escaped convictions convictions convictions con con- in five states and served minor terms in at least three others What's next Look into the eyes of the disruptive disruptive disruptive tive or annoying student why do they act this way Maybe they are hiding something Isn't it time you found out When looking to the loner in the corner who can not seem to make any friends or the teacher that is extremely hard on students do not hate them for it Maybe it is time we express a littie littie littie lit- lit e tie more than just the appropriate words Isn't it time we help these people Because if we dont don't deal with it now we are going to have to later once the problem has gotten much worse Even the best of jugglers drops a ball every now and then Once the bomb drops you cannot run anymore for there is no where I Ielse else to run A famous scene from the Holocaust stands out as the perfect example When they came for the Jews I stood there and did nothing when they came for those harboring Jews I stood there and did nothing one by byone one they were taken away and now they have come for me but there is no one left to stand up We Ve are all jugglers trying to get by in this confusing world the question question question ques ques- tion is will we succeed where it really really real real- ly counts V |