Crime against kids exposed public blame

Public shock following violent crimes is understandable. It is also questionable when it displaces the level of responsibility onto the perpetrator alone.

On Monday, Jeremiah Lee Wright was arraigned for the murder and dismemberment of his 7-year-old son, Jori Lirette. During the past month, residents of the Tri-parish region have expressed shock, not only at this case, but at the rape of a child in a public restroom, the case of a 13-year-old girl sold into prostitution, and other crimes involving violent actions against minors.

It is easy to ask, ‘What is this world coming to?’ It is a question that has been voiced for centuries by adults, who ideally remember their childhoods as somehow being more civil and safe.

It is difficult to know if the world today is really a more dangerous place to live, or if those once unspeakable acts have simply become more frequently reported and discussed after being committed.

We are rightfully a culture that protects the accused until they are proven guilty. However, laws defending criminals have gained so much strength that the reporting of questionable behavior seems dangerous itself.

It is easy to blame violent crime on television, video games, or even the perpetrators alone, but those elements are only symptoms of a greater disease.

A Federal Bureau of Investigation source has stated that it is no longer sufficient for law enforcement to investigate crimes after they occur. Cops and detectives can only do so much without crossing the line that would justify a police state. Society as a whole must become proactive in prevention.

Many people resist involvement when they see warning signs. They justify their inaction as avoiding something that is none of their business. They are also the ones who express the greatest amount of shock when rapes, murders and the dismemberment of children occur.

Cultures are demolished not because the public is hot or cold regarding social activism when it is needed. It is the lukewarm, the indifferent and the ones afraid to get involved, but complain that someone should, that are the problem.

It is past time to ask, “What is this world coming to?” It is time to ask, “What are we as individuals doing about it?” Shock when an unspeakable act takes place might be understandable. Doing nothing to prevent it is not.