In
the end when a living, breathing, thinking person becomes an addict, this
individual has made a choice to allow his/her mind and body to be invaded... Yes,
I DO understand this is a very simplistic version of the process and that there
may be an infinite number of given reasons and circumstances for a person to go
this route … but I still will say that at some given point during this downward
spiral, a conscious (or non-conscious) decision
is made not to care anymore. Then all possible reasons become nothing
but excuses to continue the freefall.
Some
will eventually battle back and we are extremely grateful that our son was one
of these who chose to regain his life’s reins. However, a good number (we met many during our son’s treatments)
will never even take that first step and admit there is a problem and most,
even when going through the process, will fail and allow the addiction to
again, rule their lives. These last go
through the rehabilitation process and then usually go back into the very
lifestyle and “friends” which originally facilitated and enabled the disease.
If there is enough money, there are those who will come back every so often in
order to “dry out”… repeating the cycle over and again…
In
being an addict, a woman who becomes pregnant will give birth to a baby who
comes into the world already marked for suffering and, quite possibly, an early
death. There are hundreds of thousands of babies who fit this bill on a yearly
basis … just go to any hospital in most any major urban area where there are
special wards for these children who, in their often short life, go through
more physical suffering than most people do in a lifetime. An AIDS carrying
mother (albeit someone who may have been
infected through outside means such as a medical proceeding or innocent cut
that may become the doorway for the disease) will very often pass on to her
child this virus. We have no “vaccine” as of yet to prevent this. These
children come in genetically imprinted and, if a female, will be an HIV carrier
and possible sufferer of AIDS and if male, will most likely develop the
illness.
In
going back a couple of paragraphs; adults who choose a life path which will
allow either of these diseases (or others
like them) to come into their lives, do so of their own free actions; there
is no mention of “Free Will”, for by this time the will is usually no longer
free… Again, I am being simplistic but you know this is basically true. An
adult who having a disease which will affect an unborn baby chooses to become
impregnated or chooses to impregnate someone, and do so without even the most
minimal precautions, is committing a double crime.
One
is destroying his/her own life. This, some will say, is a free choice in one’s
own life. An adult who chooses to bring to the world a child already condemned
at conception, will be facing another type of crime. Unfortunately, there are
no laws against this; I think this, as a legal and ethical/moral issue, should
be approached by others who know far more than I do. My only knowledge comes
from having seen the dire consequences of these unthinking actions. But in
having seen first hand the physical suffering these babies go though, I will
say this is a crime against nature, against life itself.
Do
I have an answer? Probably whatever would be said at this time most likely
would be considered Neanderthal like … there is no place in these topics for
the so called “political correctness” … In fact, there is little place for this
concept in my mind; when something is blue, blue it should be called, not “heavenly
shade of blue with overtones of light purple”. We, as a people, should look at
where our monies are going. We (this is
The Royal We, you do understand) are very willing to spend tons of money to
help people in other countries considered to have lesser resources. Well and
good, this should be so. However, based on the latter statistics, our own
countryside is being littered with folks who have lost everything, including
the will to look forward.
Yes,
there are programs for the enlightenment of our young adults; those who are
most likely to become addicts or victims of HIV/AIDS in their latter times,
especially if coming from marginal pockets of our society. But these do nothing
to prevent the circumstances which seed the issues like the ones we are
discussing (unevenly, I do accept)
here. I think when it comes time to give out help (meaningful help, like restructuring a life, not just handing out money)
our own needy people should be at the head of the receiving line.
We
have welfare programs and these, when properly used, will help a family in
need. Yet, the social structures within which the current programs function,
often do little more than actually propagate the ills, rather than combat them.
There needs to be a true review of what it is that a family needs; there must be a reduction in the bureaucratic process through which many are forced to stumble
and, most definitely, there must be a
guardian figure that insures the proceeds are being actually used to
benefit those who are most in need. Much like the economic woes of the country
(and the world at large) the root of
the problem must be burnt out; excess baggage must be eliminated and the
working process has to be of such nature that the (limited) means available are
put to work where they are needed the most.
But
then, we are living in a society which spends billions of vanity $$$ in eliminating
“age looks” (as if this could really be
done!!) but is unwilling to spend a fraction of this in support of a better
school system, with better teachers… When we say “The Forgotten Ones” at the
beginning of this post, we refer to those children who suffer as born addicts
or HIV/AIDS carrier/sufferers… However, the worst possible disease and biggest disadvantage we can
inflict on our own children, may well be born from our own unwillingness to
demand a better education system for our upcoming generations… and pay for it. This,
I believe, would begin the process of eradicating some of the more encrusted
ills, arising from a general lack of knowledge about basic life management. Will it
cure all? Definitely not … but if we can, in future generations, save 25-30% of those who are now
condemned to repeat these horrific cycles, it will be money well spent.
Enough
for Now!!! … I’m jumping off the soapbox.
Be
well … Be Back!!
Final Notes:
- Pray for those who are fighting an illness which
may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and
counts!!
- Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com; it comes
directly to me. I promise to read all coming messages, and answer as many
as I can.
- Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at
6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the
link does not work, please just copy and paste to your address bar.
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