Beautiful Bella. We know your name.

Baby Doe captured the nation. We all were asking "How could no one know this child is missing?" Yesterday we found out that beautiful little girls name is Bella. Beautiful Bella.

When I found out her name, suddenly I felt like I was introduced to her. Not yet three years old and taken away. She barely got to live her life and at that, who knows what kind of life that was.

I was so moved by this case. So many questions. Now maybe they will be answered.

Bella's Mother has been arrested along with her Mother's boyfriend. The Mother is being charged with accessory after the fact and the boyfriend is being charged with the murder. I'm glad someone is being held accountable, this is a good thing, but I don't think accessory after the fact is enough of a charge for the Mother. It was her child... her baby. Bella was her responsibility. Why not speak up right away instead of helping dump your child in a trash bag along the water and walk away?? I simply cannot fathom it.  She needs to be charged with murder as well.

This woman has already had two children removed from her care and adopted out due to neglect! How on earth did anyone in Child Services think "third times the charm!"?? Now don't get me wrong... I won't blame child services. It's a harrowing job and sadly they are all overworked. We need more people in this field, so instead of blaming... I think we should be encouraging people to get involved.

But where was Bella's Father? Her Family? I saw an interview today with her Father and Grandmother from that side. He said he has been in Florida and had no idea that Bella was even missing. Really? Are you proud of the fact that you haven't attempted to speak to your baby daughter in months? No... how could you know if you didn't bother to stay in contact with her or her mother. Poor kid didn't have much of a chance at life.

Even the neighbors. They noticed the child wasn't around... but just assumed that her daughter was taken away from her like her other kids were.  One neighbor said they didn't want to get involved. I don't blame the neighbors either to be honest. Even if they suspected... It's a very hard decision to make especially when you already think the person you're going to report is unstable. But don't take that the wrong way... I understand... but I still think they should have called anonymously or something. SOMETHING!

In the end... I want to thank law enforcement for doing an outstanding job to try and give Baby Doe her name. Doing everything in their power to see that this baby gets justice for having her life taken so short and so brutally. I appreciate the work they did.

Moreso tho, I want to thank the tipster who gave police the tip that essentially gave her back her identity and put the people in prison who took her life.

I pray for peace for Baby Bella....

Donald Trump..... Huh???

Hey Folks,

So.... I wanted to write this post now before the election really heats up in 2016. I was shocked when I heard Donald Trump was truly throwing his hat in the ring to be a candidate. Let's be honest, he's claimed he was going to run the past 2 or 3 elections but never followed through. It used to make me laugh to be honest when he would say it. The man loves his publicity!!

Ok... When it became official that he was running, I cringed and said things like "I don't want to live in a country that Trump is the leader of!"...  and I meant it.

I never liked the guy and I thought he was one of the biggest idiots on the planet. His squabble with Rosie O'Donnell years ago and the things he said. It seemed like nearly everything he said in the press made me roll my eyes or cringe. I watch the "Celebrity Apprentice" cuz I tend to be a bit of a celebophile... but I never, ever, ever liked the board room part of the show, cuz again, Trump was an idiot. He loved to put people in awkward spots and try to get people angry... great for ratings, but some people just don't dig people being mean. I'm one of those people. So... I generally fast forwarded through that part of the show.

So again, once it was official, he was suddenly EVERYWHERE! CNN seems to have a Trump fetish. But the man is making news. His name is mentioned nearly every night on every talk show monologue. He is everywhere.... EVERYWHERE! When you stop and listen and pay attention.... well, it kind of makes you go... Hmmmm!

I'm saying hmmm a lot about him lately. Some of what he stands for makes sense. He speaks like a person and not a politician. He's not very politically correct and man does he say some off things, but when he talks about what he stands for, he is speaking my language. It feels to me like he's not saying what he thinks the voters want to hear... but more what he genuinely feels.

I'm not committing to voting for him... I'm not saying that, I am saying that he has me paying attention like never before. I'm listening. I do think it's time to have a successful businessman in office instead of a politician.

I'm very intrigued! I had to remove his TV persona out of the picture. I'm sure he is a dick to some extent right? Cuz to be that successful in business you kind of have to be. The other half I think is for ratings and just general publicity. It works...

So... I'm not a decided voter, but I am very interested in this election like never before and that alone... because I am not alone... is a good thing!

I'll keep you posted!!  My mind could easily change over the next year.

Jaided

Black Lives Matter....... Too

I've debated long and hard about writing this post.

I didn't like the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter.  It bothered me. I felt like it was exclusionary... because I am not black, does this mean my life doesn't? Shouldn't it be all lives matter? They do..... they should anyway.  So that was my stand, #AllLivesMatter!

Recently, I saw a photo someone posted of the City Hall from the city I grew up in and there above the entry was a large banner that said #BlackLivesMatter and that's when I really started to pay attention. I didn't think that a City Hall should take such a stand. City Hall is a symbol of the entire city and unless the entire city agrees, it doesn't belong emblazoned on that spot. Again, I just feel the hashtag is saying if you are not black, you don't matter. That is the reason why it bothered me that it hung there.

I'm not against making a stand to remind people that black people are people too. That their lives should matter as much as anyone else's does. I'm all for that. Why not #BlackLivesMatterToo? Isn't that a stronger statement? Reminding people? Letting us know that it seems we are forgetting that fact? Why not add the too?

Someone told me that it's a "movement" and that it's much deeper than just a slogan... or even a hashtag. I still didn't understand.

Racism exists. I've never been black and I have no idea what it's like to live as a black person so how could I possibly understand it to the fullest? I can't. I won't even pretend I understand.

I've been so frustrated by this hashtag. I felt like it was causing a larger divide between the races and doing more damage to race relations than good. The question then became "What if "WhiteLivesMatter" was trending? Wouldn't that be jumped on as being racist? Of course it would! If that would be offensive then why isn't #BlackLivesMatter offensive?

So in my frustration, I decided to educate myself on this whole hashtag that seems to be causing a lot of debates among all sorts of people of all different races. I needed to know why it was considered a movement. That's the kind of person I am. I don't like to comment on anything until I am educated on it... both sides. I understand my frustration and I needed to understand what it was all about.

So I found this article written by the woman who started the hashtag in the first place. Her name is Alicia Garza and she wrote an article explaining the history of it as well as the whys and hows of it all. You can read the article by clicking below.

A Herstory of the #BlackLivesMatter Movement by Alicia Garza

I found it very informative. It helped me to understand the whole thing better. According to the article, it started with Treyvon Martin's killing. It picked up steam with the Michael Brown shooting.

With a better understanding of why it is a movement and what it is intended for and it's meaning, I don't feel as offended. I think it's great for people to try and bring attention to an important situation. I said I don't feel as offended and I'm not, but I still firmly believe it should be #BlackLivesMatterToo.

Not everyone is going to take the time to educate themselves... black, white, hispanic, asian etc.... what people see is just those three words and they can be interpreted in many ways. Adding the too takes some of the sting away, but leaves enough of a sting to make the point.

Below is a video that went viral.
It went viral because it spoke to what a lot of people were thinking and feeling. Five million hits in one day on this video below (adult language)

I believe Black Lives Matter.  I believe that there needs to be change. I believe that all humans should be treated the same. I truly do.... I hope the movement doesn't do more harm than good.

Jaided