Ok, we all know that illegal drugs are bad for you…understanding that, starts in elementary school when children become educated about such risky behavior. However, world cultures send mixed messaged to young children through the behavior of the adults that they interact with in their lives; and, through exposure on television and in various forms of media. Television often glamourizes the lifestyle of the drug trade. It shows all that it has to offer with money, celebrities, music, expensive house & cars & jewelry and loads of boyfriends/girlfriends…what it doesn’t always address is the danger, the moral/spiritual decay, suicide, murder, prostitution, the dehumanizing treatment of families, and the lack of control of how far they end up sliding into despair.
So, not only do we understand the damage that can come from the abuse of drugs…such as death, brain damage, broken relationships, jail/prison, rotted teeth, damaged health, addiction, prostitution, theft, and many other physical ailments…but we begin to see a moral decay as well. People appear to have very little value to the drug addicts; and or, the people who supply them with the drugs.
This week a very disturbing story made the news about a young boy, from Las Vegas-Nevada, who was forcibly taken from his home by people posing as police officers. They tied up the young boy’s mother and her boyfriend, ransacked the home, and took the six year old boy named, Cole Puffinburger. The reports are that the boy was kidnapped out of some kind of retailiation; allegedly involving, (unknown to us), relatives of the boy and a drug deal. Parents lose custody of their children everyday because of their relationships with drugs or alcohol. But in this case, the people removing young Cole were NOT protective services…it is probably, people involved in the drug trade. No one appears to know whether Cole is safe or not at this time. If you have any information please call the Las Vegas Metro Police at: 702-828-5678. Update: Cole’s grandfather has been arrested on Friday night by U.S. Marshalls. It is believed that he has been laundering money for Mexican Nationals involved in the drug trade. The Grandfather has been hiding out. It is being alledged that he owes the Mexican drug cartel, between 8-20 million dollars. Pray for Cole’s safe return…hopefully, the grandfather will have information that will lead to finding Cole (alive and well). Abductions are taking place more often near the Mexican boarder. This is a national problem that we need to address…pray for the DEA who try to fight the good fight…pray that those who are tempted to go to the other side, stay strong!
It is frightening and sad how little value is placed on human life anymore. This poor young boy was put in harms way because of drugs; and or the buying/selling drug lifestyle. Is this little boy going to be alright? His playmate chums in the neighborhood and in school are worried about him…they are frightened. Whether it was the relatives that Cole lived with or others that were involved in his life…this child has been placed in danger due to the direct actions of people who he trusted; if the news reports we are hearing are true.
Children all around the world are impacted by the choices their caregivers make. Those caregivers (parents) who use illegal drugs or alcohol aren’t making rational decisions, oftentimes, because their thought processes are impared by the drugs/alcohol.
Please say a prayer for Cole, his friends and family (i am sure there are other family members who weren’t involved in the drug deal who care for Cole); as well as all children who’s lives have been impacted by the destruction that comes from the relationship of drugs/alcohol in their environment. Have you or someone that you cared deeply about been affected by destruction associated with this kind of lifestyle?
You’ve heard the saying that people who abuse drugs or alcohol say to back off…because it is their life; the thing is…that drug abuse affects us all. It starts with each individual choice to use or not to use. They often think that they are in control of the drugs or alcohol…but, it doesn’t take long for that to shift…and the drugs or alcohol are controlling them…and affecting everyone around them. It is a big business with high stakes…people get involved in things that they can not control. www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/
Update on Saturday October 18th, 2008…it appears that the authorities have suddenly pulled the amber alert that was put out for young Cole. There has been no further information. There is supposed to be a news conference this afternoon. As soon as there is updated information released…i will add it to this page.
New update: Cole has been found walking alone on the streets while detectives were handing out flyers about him. Thank you God…thank you to the volunteers…and thank you to those who prayed for his safe return. There were no further details given.
Write where you are 
Breakfast With O.J.
Posted in children, Impact, news, tagged actor, author, book, breakfast, business owner, children, commentator, court, credibility, domestic disputes, football, interviews, jail, Las Vegas, law, media, memorabilia, murder, news, O. J. Simpson, parent, punnished, robbery, siblings, sports on October 4, 2008| 1 Comment »
On Friday, O.J. Simpson was declared guilty in a court room in Las Vegas, Nevada, of all 12 counts that he was charged with that were associated with armed robbery. This morning, O.J. is sharing breakfast with other inhabitants of the local jail. This case had centered on an armed robbery of sports memorabilia related to O.J. Simpson’s career in football. The case made headlines around the world because of the cast of characters involved in the robbery. During the trial it was a he said/he said situation. Some of those involved on both sides of the accusations have had their credibility questioned due to previous run-ins with the law. There were recordings that appeared to shed light on the actual drama behind the scenes. Of course, this case could have long lasting implications…O.J. and C.J. Stewart, his co-defendent were both found guilty and could spend the remainder of their lives in jail. They will be formally sentenced in December for their involvement in this case.
Of course, we all know of the infamous case against O.J. Simpson back in 1994 when he was accused of murdering his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, her friend and a waiter, from a local restaurant she had visited earlier in the evening. O.J. was declared not guilty of those murders in the criminal sense…but, many people never believed in his innocence. He was found to be liable for their deaths in a civil suit.
O.J. has made headlines in the news since he began his football career at USC in the 60’s. He has had a varied career since he retired from football. He was an actor, a football commentator, a business owner and an author. He wrote a very controversial book called If , I did it. This was supposedly a book of fiction surrounding the murders; and, how he would have murdered them, if he did it. There was a very intense public outcry towards the publisher of the book and the television network that were going to give it attention on their media network. In a series of events, the publisher lost out big time. Then Ron Goldman’s family sued the publisher for the rights to help satisfy O.J’s debt in the civil suit that was brought against him for being liable for the deaths of Ron and Nicole. They were able to win the rights to the book and retitle it, If, I Did It: Confessions of the Killer; and add commentary to the book.
In a life of such highs and lows…this latest development could appear to be the final chapter; however, when a person who is used to such intense attention and focus, it begins to feed a core need in that person. Even if O.J. is sentenced to life behind bars…this will not be the last you hear from him. I am sure that there will be interviews, blogs, and possibly more books all expressing his views and need to be heard and seen. Still, you can’t help but feel for those most closely aligned with Mr. Simpson…his children, his siblings and anyone who has been most closely and directly involved in his life. This is another painful chapter for them to endure.
Those who thought, that when O.J. was incarcerated, that it would bring them some closure will probably be disallusioned. He has had many issues with the law. There have been domestic police calls(regarding spouses, girlfriends & children), murder trials, fender benders and robbery. Each of those situations have had people impacted by O.J.’s choices and actions. I am sure in this situation, there will be a period of satisfaction for some, that they will feel vindicated that he is getting his due. But, i have to wonder if that part of them that feels he has “gotten away with so much”, will eventually feel empty when their opponent is no longer free to do battle with them anymore. After all, he isn’t being punnished for the issues that they feel he should have been punnished for.
Just because he is being put away in jail/prison…doesn’t mean that he is going to go away. He is a big personality. He will find a way to still get the attention that he feels bound to command. There will be interviewers who will feel duty bound to get the interview and record it for posterity. He will be incarcerated and be getting 3 meals a day, housing and medical care, all at the tax payer’s expense. Yes, he will have lost his freedom, but, he will still not give them what they want and need, total satisfaction that he is getting everything that he deserves.
Update: On Friday, October 19, 2008 The lawyers for O.J. Simpson filed a motion for a new trial because they believe that they did not get a fair trial. It was an all white jury except for one hispanic juror; that, plus two African-Americans were dismissed from the possible pool of jurors. We will see where this goes. I know that O.J.’s co-defendent wanted to have a seperate trial from O.J. because he felt that he would be lumped together with the prosecution of O.J. and that he would suffer the consequences of people who wanted to pay him back for the idea of “getting away with murder” years before.
Read Full Post »