Dangers to Our Children

When my father was born in 1900, he lived without electric lights, radio, television, modern plumbing, synthetic fibers, magazines, super-markets and often without a newspaper.

The family was focused on survival in some of the most inhospitable country in the United States. Although some of "the unsavory" was present, his family was mostly immune to it because they lived too far from civilization.

I have visited most of the areas that he lived before moving to the Big City. They are not much different today than when he was a boy. But they are in touch with the world through the idiot box. The "unsavory" is in the living rooms of homes far from any major city and the kids are bused to school where they can encounter more bad stuff.

This first article in the series is on Kidnapping.

Now that was not something that my father was immune to.

He was kidnapped after birth by Ute Indians in Utah.

He was taken by and Indian woman who climbed in the back window of the home while her friends were begging for food at the front door.

Dad was taken for two weeks. Everybody knew who had him, he was not in danger at any time. But, negotiations with the Utes were required to get him back.

When he was returned to my grandmother, the Indian woman told her that my grandmother had plenty of kids and she had none and that if Grandmother would let her keep him, she would make him a great chief. My grandmother had other ideas for what her child should become.

What are the Major Threats to Our Kids?

Here are some things that are dangerous to kids: kidnapping, drugs, pornography, prostitution, alcohol, tobacco and from what is going on now, business schools.

O.K. The business school thing was just a joke, or was it! Where should are kids learn ethics?

Kidnapping

This is something that you don't expect but it happens everyday. Pictures of kidnapped kids are posted at Wal-Mart and on telephone poles. They are listed on the Internet. There is usually a picture, the location and date last seen, and supplemental information. Many thousands of kids are missing. The sign at my local Wal-Mart display says that some eight thousand have been recovered through Wal-Mart's program.

Most missing children are kidnapped by a family member. The court gives custody to one parent and the other parent kidnaps the child or children. But some are kidnapped by sex deviants. Some are sold into prostitution. Kidnappers cross state lines in violation of the Mann Act and they cross international borders too. Some children, too many, are kidnapped, sexually molested and murdered.

So, what can you do about it?

1. Predators search for isolated targets such as children who are walking alone or playing alone.Tell your children to always walk or play in groups. Work with neighbors to form children groups. Work with your local school.

2. Teach your child what to do if encountered by a stranger, how to scream "no" or "fire", how to find a safe place to run to. Teach your child not to talk to strangers at all.

3. Know where your kids are and what they are doing. A cell phones can save a child's life. A cell phone keeps a child in contact with a parent or older sibling.

4. If your children spend time at their friends' homes, you should discuss a mutual child-watch plan with the other parents.

5. Don't allow small children to play outside unsupervised.

6. Keep a list of phone numbers of other parents. You can quickly check on the location of your children if needed.

7. Children should know "safe strangers" like store clerks, police officers, teachers, people who are behind desks in office buildings, mail-carriers and mothers with children. Explain to your children that they can trust these strangers if they ever need help and they cannot locate an adult they recognize.

8. Teach your children that stores, schools, libraries and restaurants are all safe public places where they can run if they are in trouble.

9. If your child is to be picked up by a neighbor, give the your a code word that your neighbor must learn. The card is not to get into any car if the driver does not know that code word.

10. Teach your kids about the common lures used by abductors. Often, a kidnapper appeals to victims by asking the child to help find a lost animal or offering a gift. Sometimes, the stranger will ask a child for directions. Occasionally, abductors know the child's name or the names of the child's parents. Perpetrators attempt to use this knowledge to gain the child's trust. You should tell your children that adults ask other adults for help when they are truly searching for lost pets, or when they need any other type of assistance.

Go to the Charity Guide Organization website for more complete information.

If your child come up missing, immediately notify the legal authorities, the school, the neighbors, the newspaper, the television station, anyone that will listen to you. The sooner the action the more likely the recovery.

Unfortunately, despite the action of civil authorities and private detective agencies, some children are never recovered. That is why prevention is so important in this day and age.

There are some child safety devices on the market including alarms. The cell phone is prominent with most families.

Fly Old Glory!
John

Thousands of youth gangs dot our country in both rural and urban areas. Such gangs usually have a territory, operate using fear and coercion, and promote self-destructive behavior.

Gangs often have their own colors, graffiti, hand shakes, secret codes and such. The name of the gang, like "Blood," may bring fear to outsiders. Gangs extend from the streets to the prisons where many gang members end up.

The schools are used to recruit new members, offering fun and protection. The government has programs to monitor and control gangs. Local police authorities monitor gangs and gang behavior. Groups not involved in crime are not considered gangs.

If you feel that your child is being threatened by a gang, immediately contact your school and the local police.

You should not ignore gangs. Teach your children how to recognize gangs and how to resist joining a youth gang.

John
http://www.magicwater.biz

I walk around the track next to my home now and then. My doctor said it should be more now and less then. It's tough to pull myself away from the gravitational field of my computer keyboard.

There is a sign in the fence as I enter the school grounds warning drug bearing people to stay back. There is a pic of a gun too, not allowed.

Over the years I have been involved in church work and scouting. I've had to deal with children who were using drugs.

The heartbreak of the parents is always the same. They had a perfectly happy child who minded them and did her or his schoolwork and ended up with a completely person who did just the opposite.

I quickly learned that it is silly to try to solve a drug problem in an organization without bringing it out into the open and involving both parents and children. I don't know how the rehabilitation people do it, but my way worked.

Meth is a big problem. The drug enforcement people are continually making raids on meth labs here in Idaho. The state continually runs "Not Even Once" ads to help the children understand what will happen to them if they get hooked on meth.

Parent, stay close to your kids. The cell phone helps. You can call a son and say, "Get your butt home!"

You need to watch the habits of your children. Any change in behavior should be immediately diagnosed.

You may have to get help. There are plenty of local resources. Just call the police department or ask the librarian, etc.

As Laura Bush says, "Do Something!"

Fly Old Glory!

John

The electronic power of the Internet was created by the Porn Industry. They created the band space for their many photos and web pages.

You should protect your children from pornography in print, on television and on the Internet. You don' want children that can not form normal relationships, do you?

Here are are some ways to keep them from porn:

1. Computers: Use the parental controls. Keep computers in the day use areas like the living room, family room, dining room, etc. Keep them out of bedrooms and don't let your kids carry a laptop of into some dark corner. Keep computers where you can see them. Check the "history" of computer usage to see if anyone in the family is watching porn.

2. Television: Use parental controls and watch what the kids are watching. Kids easily bread "access" codes. Change them often. There is a device that will stop profanity on your television set. It blanks it out. Try Wal-mart.

3. Magazines: Years ago the Knights of Columbus stopped stores in the Denver area from carrying certain magazines and placing them where the kids could get to them. A member would fill his cart to the top, grab a magazine, say, "Do you carry this here and put it right in front of my kids?" Then he would leave the full cart and walk out of the store. Kids do know how to hide things but teach them not to buy trash.

Fly Old Glory!

Internet Business Tool Center

John