We are a Village!

Today we went to Six Flags as a treat for Michael and his friend Zack as it was week of Spring Break and we at least wanted to do something with him before his break was over.

As we have attended amusements parks and other places over the years, it has not been totally uncommon to see kids and sometimes adults not using the best of judgement in expressing their affection with their significant other. I have to admit that sometimes this has made me uncomfortable but I have never voiced my opinion. I have always felt that others may not share my convictions although I have sometimes secretly wished that others display of affection could be elsewhere.

Today, an older man with gray hair...about my age was standing in the long line to get into Six Flags with about a 12-14 year old girl which I assumed was his daughter. At first, they were just standing, then it was hard for anyone to miss the man's inappropriate fondling of this young girl. She was standing there, arms folded, not reacting or talking for that matter but I could tell that she was uncomfortable. I noticed that the gray headed man had no wedding ring on and I wondered it he was perhaps divorced and had his daughter over for Spring Break. The inappropriate fonding kept going on and on. No one said a thing. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't sit still one more minute. I said "Excuse Me, Is this young girl your daughter. I cannot believe what you are doing to her. It is your job as the adult to PROTECT her, not to HARM her". I did not say this loudly but he certainly did know that I was talking to him.

The response to all this was even more shocking. The man just said nothing and after a few minutes, moved to another line where he continued the fondling. When I was discussing my shock about the situation with the people in front of me. The lady...about 35 years of age said "maybe, she liked it". I responded, "Are you kidding me. This has nothing to do with what the young girl's thoughts and everything to do with the older gentleman's behavior. It is our job as adults to PROTECT children no matter what the circumstance". I was extremely surprised and disturbed at the same time. Have we all lost our minds? Do we not understand that it is all our job to care for the young kids and that we need to stand up for them and help them when they have no voice? It takes a village! It takes all of us to protect those that do not have a voice.

I have to say that I have NEVER spoken up like that to a total stranger. I wish that I would have had that wherewith all to call the police and report him. I was so shocked about the whole situation and really didn't know what to do until it was too late. Never had I witnessed anything like this in a public place before. I was also so shocked that a paedophile was right there and no one did a thing.

Zack was surprised at my response as he had never in the five plus years that he had known us seen me respond like that. He later asked Michael if I generally spoke up like that in public. Michael told him that I never had and that I had to be really passionate about the situation to voice my opinion like that. Perhaps it generated some thought in both of them.

We did end up having a very nice day at Six Flags but I have to admit that I am haunted about what happened to the girl. When I got home, I realized that I had brought a camera and probably should have taken a photo. I hope that maybe something I said empowered the young girl to take some kind of action in her own behalf. I hope that she will be alright.

I am certainly surprised that with as much information that is out there now that not more is being done by us all.

It's Official...The Old Testament is History

Finally, we completed the Old Testament... reading every word. Now, we can begin our Stake Challenge of completing the Book of Mormon by June 30th. I never thought this day would come. We have been reading the Old Testament for two years. It is hard to believe that we are finally finished.