Wednesday, July 8, 2009
NATALEE HOLLOWAY REHASHED
I receive alerts every day for various subjects and it surprises me how many there are for Natalee Holloway. While it is important to keep her memory alive, after reading many of the articles, I can only wonder if the purpose of most, if not all of them, is merely to keep the writer alive in the Internet community. I've seen everything from speculation on what happened to Natalee, which often times comes directly from her father's book, to thoughts about why Natalee was not a victim, but that she brought her disappearance on herself either through stupidity or intention. Is there a noble motive amongst the continuing babble? I dare say that I can't find one. We know everything there is to know about the case and while the only people of true interest to listen to now are Natalee's parents, Dave and Beth, herds of bloggers and other amateur writers continuously throw their opinions out there as though they mean something. I'd like one day to go by where I can read something actually interesting or new about Natalee's case. I'd like some progress to be made in the case. I'd like to see those responsible for her disappearance brought to justice. Mostly, I'd like Dave and Beth to find some peace in all of the turmoil they have been swept up in over the past four years. I doubt they will find it online. Perhaps those who think they are doing a great service by throwing out their own opinions are really just feeling some self-importance. Perhaps they have nothing better to do. Perhaps they think they are helping in some small way. But, continuously rehashing the details that we have all seen over and over and discussing the pain that Natalee's parents must be feeling serves no other purpose than to blow hot air. Let's use some discretion and intelligence when and if we decide we need to write about Natalee and her family. Don't do it just to see your words in print. Don't do it to tell us that the case isn't solved or that Natalee's family hasn't found any justice. Think before you write. Think about why you are writing your words. If you can't come up with a good reason, find something else to do!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Comment about the Sex Abuse Bill post that follows
If so many Catholic Priests weren't molesting children, the Church wouldn't have to be afraid of becoming bankrupt by lawsuits from sex abuse victims. It's time for them to take the consequences of their actions like the rest of society. Protections for people in power are disgusting and disgraceful...just as bailouts are!!
Controversial child sex bill fails to advance
BY BART JONES bart.jones@newsday.com
10:55 PM EDT, June 23, 2009
Supporters of a controversial bill to make it easier for alleged child sex abuse victims to sue their abusers thought this was their year to get the legislation passed.Democrats controlled both the State Senate and Assembly for the first time in years, and the bill had already passed the Assembly three sessions in a row.But when the Assembly wrapped up its current session early Tuesday in Albany, the bill - like its sponsor Assemb. Margaret Markey (D- Maspeth) - was nowhere to be seen.The Markey bill would create an "open window" during which the statute of limitations on child sex abuse cases would be dropped. Initially, there was no limit on the alleged victim's age, but Markey amended it to cap it at 53 years or younger.
Analysts said a variety of factors contributed to the bill's failure to advance, including what one called an effective lobbying effort by the Catholic Church led by Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, among others. Religious leaders claimed the legislation could "bankrupt" the Church."I think she walked into both barrels of a well-organized, well-lubricated lobbying campaign by the Catholic Church," said veteran Albany lobbyist Desmond Ryan, executive director of the Association for a Better Long Island.Sean Dolan, a spokesman for the diocese, said Murphy "played an important role" in opposing the bill, writing columns and meeting with and phoning legislators. The NY State Catholic Conference and other bishops also played key roles, Dolan said.Beyond the church campaign, analysts and politicians said Markey compounded her problems by amending the bill to explicitly include public as well as private institutions. That provoked added opposition from school officials and other public entities.A competing bill by Assemb. Vito Lopez (D-Brooklyn) that did not call for dropping the statute of limitations also drained some support from Markey's bill, analysts said. The Assembly also did not take up Lopez's bill.Michael Armstrong, a spokesman for Markey, said she was not in Albany on Monday for "personal reasons."He said Markey's strategy had been a "tandem" approach to get it approved in the Assembly and then move quickly to the Senate. But the standoff in the Senate dashed the plan, he said.The bill may not be completely dead. Armstrong said he expects it to be introduced at a special session later this year, and even some opponents say it could be revived.
10:55 PM EDT, June 23, 2009
Supporters of a controversial bill to make it easier for alleged child sex abuse victims to sue their abusers thought this was their year to get the legislation passed.Democrats controlled both the State Senate and Assembly for the first time in years, and the bill had already passed the Assembly three sessions in a row.But when the Assembly wrapped up its current session early Tuesday in Albany, the bill - like its sponsor Assemb. Margaret Markey (D- Maspeth) - was nowhere to be seen.The Markey bill would create an "open window" during which the statute of limitations on child sex abuse cases would be dropped. Initially, there was no limit on the alleged victim's age, but Markey amended it to cap it at 53 years or younger.
Analysts said a variety of factors contributed to the bill's failure to advance, including what one called an effective lobbying effort by the Catholic Church led by Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, among others. Religious leaders claimed the legislation could "bankrupt" the Church."I think she walked into both barrels of a well-organized, well-lubricated lobbying campaign by the Catholic Church," said veteran Albany lobbyist Desmond Ryan, executive director of the Association for a Better Long Island.Sean Dolan, a spokesman for the diocese, said Murphy "played an important role" in opposing the bill, writing columns and meeting with and phoning legislators. The NY State Catholic Conference and other bishops also played key roles, Dolan said.Beyond the church campaign, analysts and politicians said Markey compounded her problems by amending the bill to explicitly include public as well as private institutions. That provoked added opposition from school officials and other public entities.A competing bill by Assemb. Vito Lopez (D-Brooklyn) that did not call for dropping the statute of limitations also drained some support from Markey's bill, analysts said. The Assembly also did not take up Lopez's bill.Michael Armstrong, a spokesman for Markey, said she was not in Albany on Monday for "personal reasons."He said Markey's strategy had been a "tandem" approach to get it approved in the Assembly and then move quickly to the Senate. But the standoff in the Senate dashed the plan, he said.The bill may not be completely dead. Armstrong said he expects it to be introduced at a special session later this year, and even some opponents say it could be revived.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
NATALEE HOLLOWAY
People have been asking me if I know what happened to Natalee. Rumors have spread around a lot of misinformation. So, I'm going to respond to some of them.
Neither Natalee nor her remains have been found. She hasn't been seen hanging around anywhere. She did not put herself in the position of being hurt. If anything, she was drugged. The boys who were the last to be with her are not in custody. The Aruban and Dutch authorities have done virtually nothing to solve the case. They have allowed evidence to be tainted and suspects to lie over and over and they have still not brought any justice for the Holloway family.
Natalee was/is a lovely girl with a wonderful future ahead of her. Unlike what many people feel the need to write, what she did on that fateful night was no different than what any other decent young woman would have done. Whatever happened to her, she didn't deserve it.
Aruban sympathizers have consistently attacked the Holloway family in an effort to take the focus off the real perpetrators. Defending criminals makes you just as bad as they are. We will find justice for Natalee, because we will never give up!
Neither Natalee nor her remains have been found. She hasn't been seen hanging around anywhere. She did not put herself in the position of being hurt. If anything, she was drugged. The boys who were the last to be with her are not in custody. The Aruban and Dutch authorities have done virtually nothing to solve the case. They have allowed evidence to be tainted and suspects to lie over and over and they have still not brought any justice for the Holloway family.
Natalee was/is a lovely girl with a wonderful future ahead of her. Unlike what many people feel the need to write, what she did on that fateful night was no different than what any other decent young woman would have done. Whatever happened to her, she didn't deserve it.
Aruban sympathizers have consistently attacked the Holloway family in an effort to take the focus off the real perpetrators. Defending criminals makes you just as bad as they are. We will find justice for Natalee, because we will never give up!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Someday is Today!
Tidbit for the day:
What would you do if you found out you have one year left to live? Would you change your life?
If the answer is "Yes," you are living the wrong life today. CHANGE IT NOW!
Too many of us wait until it's too late to live the life we want. Why do we do that? Because we're stuck and we think we have to live the life we've made. We continue our patterns even though we know they're bad for us. Then, we get old and we look back on all of our regrets, all the things we would have done differently if given the chance to go back in time. There are things you know you want to do now, but you keep procrastinating and making excuses for not doing them. You say, "Someday....after the kids are grown," "Someday....when I have a certain amount of money in the bank," "Someday....after that promotion comes through," "Someday....when the time is right." Someday never comes unless you make it today. Today is "Someday." Make it happen!
What would you do if you found out you have one year left to live? Would you change your life?
If the answer is "Yes," you are living the wrong life today. CHANGE IT NOW!
Too many of us wait until it's too late to live the life we want. Why do we do that? Because we're stuck and we think we have to live the life we've made. We continue our patterns even though we know they're bad for us. Then, we get old and we look back on all of our regrets, all the things we would have done differently if given the chance to go back in time. There are things you know you want to do now, but you keep procrastinating and making excuses for not doing them. You say, "Someday....after the kids are grown," "Someday....when I have a certain amount of money in the bank," "Someday....after that promotion comes through," "Someday....when the time is right." Someday never comes unless you make it today. Today is "Someday." Make it happen!
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