Who's Playing With Fire?

I read the "Hunger Games" Trilogy last year and reviewed it on a Star Trek site I was a member of then.  I distinctly recall saying two things in my review.  


Number One:  The events of said books were deeply disturbing to me.  So much so that I couldn't sleep for a few nights after.  Mind you I'm a grown woman in my 50's.


Number Two:  The theme of said volumes was MUCH TOO MATURE for young adults!


I could not for the life of me pinpoint why these supposedly Young Adult books were so upsetting.


Now, I know exactly why.  Please read the following article!

The Hunger Games and Children: Playing with Fire

Contact: Brenda Hunter, PhD, Co-author, "From Santa to Sexting," 919-450-5773, drbrendamhunter@att.net; Kristen Blair, Co-author, "From Santa to Sexting," 919-730-3241, kblair@nc.rr.com

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., March 21, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- This Friday the first installment of Suzanne Collins' riveting, blockbuster trilogy, "The Hunger Games," hits theaters nationwide, but what many parents don't know is that this is ultimately a story about child sacrifice. In Collins' twisted dystopian world, kids kill kids in gladiator-style "games" imposed by the Capitol to prevent rebellion among starving districts. Impotent or voyeuristic adults acquiesce and watch. Americans were horrified recently when a 17-year-old boy shot and killed students at an Ohio high school, yet middle schools across the country will take students on field trips to see this movie in which kids slaughter kids to survive.

Why this cultural disconnect? We are playing with fire. What children watch and read matters greatly. It seeps into their hearts, minds, and souls. Research unequivocally documents the connection between media violence and aggression in children. Yet tweens and young teens today are exposed to graphic violence through video games, television, movies, and books. Collins' novels, slated for 12-year-olds on up, are nonetheless being devoured by elementary school children.

In interviews for "From Santa to Sexting," a book about contemporary middle school, psychologist Brenda Hunter, PhD, and education writer Kristen Blair found that many parents are in the dark about kids' exposure to media and violence. Yet it's the child of the "unaware" parent who gets into trouble. "In talking to middle school parents, we have heard that most feel overwhelmed by the media onslaught their children experience daily. Parents are often shocked to learn what their kids are consuming," says Kristen Blair. Psychologist Brenda Hunter says, "If 'life imitates art,' we can expect to see an upsurge in violence and carnage among kids as this movie circles the globe. Kids are copycats who lack the cognitive and emotional maturity needed to process the disturbing material in 'The Hunger Games.'"

Brenda Hunter, PhD, is  a psychologist, practicing psychotherapist, and internationally published author who has served on two presidential commissions and written numerous books.

Kristen Blair is an education columnist and writer who has worked on education and family policy issues for the government and think tanks.

"From Santa to Sexting" (www.fromsantatosexting.com) is published by Leafwood Publishers (2012)

I pray this warning is sufficient enough. . . . . . . .

We Are All To Blame

Please read the following article before continuing.


Stand With Trayvon's Mother For Justice


I am not here to point fingers at skin color and/or make this a race issue.  Why?  Because I place the blame and responsibility on both parties.  That's right I said both.  


I blame the parents for not teaching their son the proper dress code.  


As a Black woman I know from personal experience that if you live in a crime ridden neighborhood, the police will automatically profile you according to what you wear!  If they see young Black, Hispanic, Puerto Rican male(s) are dressed in baggy, drop trouser jeans, and hoodies (they may be innocent as the pure and driven snow), but that type clothing is a signal to the cops that something may be afoot. 


In other words, you look like you're gonna rob somebody. This is called probabale cause which means if the guy looks shady as if they are up to something, the cops have just cause to stop them.


Here in New York City there is a great controversy over the fact that NYPD does what it calls Stop and Frisk.  To wit, if they see a bunch of young black or hispanic men, dressed as mentioned above, NYPD will, stop them, toss them against a car or a wall and frisk them for drugs, weapons or both.  The Black and Hispanic community and civil rights groups are up in arms because this seemingly happens only to innocent Black and Hispanic young men. Also, that their civil liberties have been violated. 


You wonder why cops only target Black and Hispanic men?  Is it because they are all decked out in "Thug Wear"? Just because their rap artist idols dress like that, they do it too.  Apparently our young people have no clue of the serious ramifications behind dressing like a thug, or donning gang colors just to look cool.  


As parents, we seriously need to teach our sons, that is not the way to dress if you want the police to leave you alone.  We also need to teach our children respect for the authorities.  When the cops tell you to stop, you stop.  When they ask you something, don't give them a bunch of lip, do what they tell you to do.  If you must speak to them, be polite.  Save the curse words for your "homies".   And if possible, get names and badge numbers so you can file an official compliant later.


As for George Zimmerman.  I blame the authorities for not stopping him in his tracks. First of all, according to various news sources, despite the fact that he was good at what he did, Mr. Zimmerman had a history of problems.  The domestic violence issue alone should have gotten him bounced off the neighborhood watch.  They should have also taken away his gun and revoked his firearms license. 


Where was the official oversight?  Just because the Mr. Zimmerman was a volunteer doesn't exclude the fact that he had to answer to someone somewhere.  Especially when you are carrying a loaded firearm. . . . .


It is disturbing to see how issues like this are allowed to spiral out of control until there is a slow motion train crash.  Now all of a sudden folks rush out to help.  Now, when it's too darned late!  Someone's son is dead and another man is going to be tried and convicted of murder.  


This could have all been headed off at the pass, if only people were responsible in both camps. . . . . .


This of course is merely my humble opinion.

Another FaceBook Warning. . . . . .

Please click and read this link first before continuing.


Potential Employers Demand FaceBook Log Ins


Two weeks ago I had railed in another blog, about this.  What fresh hell has happened now?  Many work places are making it a standard practice of asking for your FaceBook log in codes during an interview.  


Why would they do this?  Because they want to see what your posting history on FaceBook is like.  In short, if you've posted "crap" in the past, you are not gonna get the job!  So-called potential employers get away with and do this under the guise of "Properly Vetting" applicants before hiring them.  In other words, to employers, this is the free version of "E-Verify".


But, herein lies a serious ethical question. In this economy where jobs are scare and job applicants are plenteous, if  you are in dire need of work, what do you do?  


Will you like Biblical Esau sell your birthright for a bowl of stew?  Know this, if you refuse to give up your codes, you've automatically cast suspicion upon yourself, and lost the job.  


I'll repeat what one of my IT friends has repeatedly told me:  NEVER EVER give out your codes to anyone!  Unless they have a court order, they can forget it!  And, if they do have a court order it is advisable to seek legal counsel first before making any moves.


And again I warn, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU POST ON FACEBOOK BECAUSE IT WILL BITE YOU IN THE BACKSIDE LATER!  


I rest my case.