Cliff LyonShot Dead as She Buried Her Doll Along With Our National Conscience
A really ugly thing happened that should weigh on the conscience of every American. A little girl was shot as she buried her doll in a pretend funeral.
Syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts wrote several articles about it. The first one was published in the Salt Lake Tribune
An American problem is a buried priority (permalink) - July 7
When a gunshot rings out, does it make a sound? - July 8
Again, we failed a slain child - July 9
Carla responded through her tears.
I am not sure why I am so moved by the tragedy of this event, nor am I sure what I can do. But I am reminded of what Elie Wiesel stated that indifference is the triumph of evil. The disease of our culture is apathy, and I am now convinced apathy is as much learned behavior as is prejudice.
A little girl “playing funeral” with her doll in the dirt, was the ironic prophecy of her own death. I have a heartfelt wondering about how many of Utah’s little girls playing with their dolls would/could perceive burying their dolls as a reflection of their own lives? And I have a further wondering, if this tragic event had happened in Utah, how would we as a community respond? Would the loss of one precious child awaken us to the evils and devastation of apathy? But she didn’t live in Utah, so does that give us more of an excuse to become indifferent to this tragedy?
Well, I am making this promise to 9-year-old Sherdavia Jenkins. I will never, never forget her, as she will remind me that I was complicit in her death. I will not be silent. I will refuse to shroud my heart in apathy and fear. I remain committed to this organization that somehow our work will help give children a childhood that does not mirror the real violence in their very own community, and the knowledge that caring for others is the only reality.
Carla Kelley
Carla Kelley is the Executive Director of The Human Rights Education Center of Utah which conducts trainings and workshops in schools and communities that teach about diversity, anti-bias, and peace-making.
July 14th, 2006 at 5:48 pm
Carla,
Don’t give up.
It’s so hard to reconcile such horrific events like this. When a little girl plays “funeral” instead of all the other pretend things, it just takes my breath away.
Where do we even begin? Is it about poverty, education, community structures? Public policy?
July 14th, 2006 at 6:17 pm
How about dealing with the 8oo pound gorilla that is our own sibsidising of a world policy of blowing the crap out of people?
If that is the answer for the difficulties we have with other nations, it is small wonder small weaker nations want atomics?
Is it not also a small wonder that your tax money goes to pay for substandard living, education, healthcare, while the bulk of your money is pocketed away by a scum so profound, that as much as you all try to “scrub” our Country, it seemingly leaves it stain on all it touches?
Leaving the populace at the hands of untrained thugs with no vision of what a “better life” would look like? Leaving our children to the predations of drugs, and perversion while unwilling to really do anything substanstial to end the horror our leaders are spreading on the globe and ourselves?
The answer is to organize a real General Strike. Prepare for that, or prepare for slavery. Or live through the war that those who can’t tolerate it(us) anymore will fight. It won’t be a voting war.
Carla; As for bullying it will be ironic that after all the efforts, we send our grown children to foreign lands, not just to bully them, but kill them.
July 20th, 2006 at 11:14 am
First, let me say thank you to Carol for your (lone) comment, and to Cliff for posting this on his blog!
It has been ironic that writing about the evils of apathy has demonstrated just how apathetic we have become. It was a very startling and painful lesson for me. So, thank you Carol, for helping me remember that many people do care, they simply are overwhelmed and busy eating away at the elephant one good deed (bite) at a time. Little Sherdavia has taught me a couple of things. One is that we, as a society, have normalized the abnormal to the degree that we do not even realize we are being indifferent. The other is that she became my little prophetess. I noticed not only the tragedy of her death, but her silent screaming through her actions. My promise to her is that I will not forget, I will attempt to be more viligent in my noticing, and I will try to transform my anger into compassionate service and education. I will attempt to maintain my courage in believing that one person can, and does, make a difference.
July 20th, 2006 at 11:17 am
And to Cliff………….
Bush and his cohorts are the biggest bullies of all. Just like a bully on the play yard always have their buddies.
July 20th, 2006 at 2:33 pm
Bullies having their way in the playground smacks of an incompetent administration running the schools. Building a program to stop it from outside the school, is like pushing a car that doesn’t run and saying , well it’s still a car because we can make it move. We should be getting more for what we pay for.
The inmates nowadays truly do run the asylum.
July 21st, 2006 at 9:08 am
Whatever………….
However, bullying is bullying is bullying, just because we have incompetency within the administration does not give me the right to not attempt to do something. And, by the way, you can teach kids about bullying other places besides schools..and we do.
Honestly, as much as I love dialogue I cannot help but wonder if all the time we spend blogging about stuff could be better spent “hands on” good works in our own lives!
Thanks for your comment Glenn.