The Friday Photo: hellfire and damnation
This big mess on the sofa is actually my boys (not the hairy one in the middle – that’s the dog). They’re actually watching TV, believe it or not. I love, love, love them. Yes, they drive me crackers; my head often rings with guitar riffs, ridiculous arguments, towel-flicking battles at bathtime and manic giggling sessions. But I tell you one thing: if anyone, anyone tried to hurt just one teeny hair on either of those little heads, I would fight. I would fight, scratch, kick, punch, bite and yes, possibly – no, definitely – kill to protect them.
With this in mind, then, I read about the death of 17 month old Baby P with nothing short of horror. I’ll let you decide whether you read the details as they are horrific, but basically this poor child was systematically tortured over many months by his mother’s partner and their lodger, while their mother not only stood by, but actually took part. By the time they finally murdered him in August last year (despite more than 60 visits by Haringey County Council Social Services), the poor little scrap had suffered more than 50 horrific injuries, including a broken back.
Terrible enough? Or what about the delightful mother of little Shannon Matthews, who is currently being tried for staging the little girl’s kidnap in order to make £50,000. The little girl was drugged and tied up for 24 days until Karen Matthews told police the address of the flat where she was being kept, information apparently given to her ‘by a clairvoyant’.
You know I don’t have much truck with religion, but if that bit about people burning for eternity in the fires of hell happens to be true, then I wish it, with every fibre of my being, for every parent that harms their child, or stands by and lets another person do it. Here endeth the lesson.
Part of me thinks that the death penalty is wrong. But when I consider how I’d feel if someone hurt my child/loved one I’d want to throw the switch myself and watch them fry.
Great photo by the way. Judging by how Bert is cuddling in there I reckon if anyone tried to hurt the boys they’d have to get through Bert too!
Jenn: I know. These poor kids – the one person in the world who they should be able to rely on to protect them – it’s all wrong.
Oh yes, he loves them to bits. He even barked once when Hubby walked up the drive late at night. No, really, he did.
I don’t know about Hell but I hope that something rips the veil of booze, drugs, apathy and stupidity from the eyes of those criminals – and I absolutely count the social workers among these – and reveals to them the full visceral horror of what they have done.
I had my son young and hadn’t the price of a bag of nappies to my name, so the first person who tries to make a case for young motherhood and poverty is gonna get nailed. Be warned.
A neighbour of mine lost a wee baby two weeks to full term a fortnight ago. I saw her putting flowers in the churchyard when she should have been out buying ‘babys first’ Christmas decorations. I don’t know how heaven can bear to look at this world, sometimes.
I love that photo, i bet they’d go mad if you changed channel hehehe
x
Towny: Too right. How do people exist like this? With no morals and no empathy for another human being? It’s terrifying. Yup, they watch in all sorts of weird positions – how do you follow a programme upside down?! x
Alg: Good point: we don’t realise how lucky we are. And yes, I hope they all do. xx
There is nothing, absolutely nothing I wouldn’t do to keep my children from harm, any harm.
They’re two of the scruffiest messiest dirtysock-hiding little gets you’ll ever meet and I love them dearly.
I happened on the article about baby P and said goodbye to the lovely cup of coffee and toast I’d been enjoying.What a terrible little (mercifully short) life that poor mite endured.The mothers partner ‘trained’ him to place his forhead to the floor at a given signal?…there are some bad people out there.
Instead of locking them up in a prison with their own room and television and all the other benefits, they should be let loose, I think, in a town square. Filled with parents.
Bert’s a very patient ‘brother’ in the middle, meanwhile–wonderful photo!
It is quite unbeleivable, that in these times, we’re still bending over backwards for the PC lobby, while allowing this kind of atrocity to be perpetrated. We KNOW that once this has happened, future children cannot be considered safe, so why allow them to be born? Aren’t there enough unwanted kids in the world yet?
Gah.
Makes me sick.
Susan: What a great idea. I’d second a bit of mob rule for monsters like that. And yes, he’s very patient when being cuddled mercilessly for hours, bless him!
Dorothy: Welcome! Yes, he’s got that ‘oh, go on, then, cuddle me if you must’ look, hasn’t he!
Susan: So right. Hubby couldn’t even read the details – it’s just too much. Apparently, one of the social workers fired off letters to loads of different members of parliament and all sorts – just in desperation that nothing was being done. I reckon heads should roll – a couple of those in charge need to know what happens when they cease to care… x
AW and thanks – he repays us tenfold!! x
Jay: Me too. Can you believe that this heinous, heinous woman is in prison and pregnant again? Just shockingly, terrifyingly wrong xx
Brilliant contrast, hard to read.
Tara: Nah, he’s always stretchificated though so he looks longer!
Moon: Me too, my darling. x