Dead Children and someone's not giving a s#!t...

[fulano]

This has to do with the tragedy that happened the past fifth of july when a daycare center burned here, in my city, Hermosillo, and several kids(babies, for fuck's sake) suffered horrible, horrible burns.

News link from CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/06/07/mexico.day.care.fire/

Rant Mode On:

It's been a little while since then and I wasn't planning on writing about it here, because let's face it, people just have other things to do than read about this. But since attending a rally yesterday I thought it may just be the appropriate thing to do, so bear with me for a little while.

Officially, what was a glaring case of omission turned into an "accident" and nobody's done shit. Not to mention that the daycare was, for all intents and purposes, a fucking warehouse with no emergency exits whatsoever. Negligent much?

We are 16 days from the incident, three marches that culminated in rallies, and nothing has happened. The death toll is at 46 as of now and it will probably go up in the coming days.

One thing I've noticed is that the government doesn't give two shits about this. Sure, our idiot president came and spoke about the tragedy and yadda, yadda, but nothing happened, not to mention that one of the owners, a woman named Marcia Matilde Altagracia Gomez del Campo Tonella is a relative of his wife. Now, guess where this is going...

The daycare system here, known as The Surrogate Daycare System, is a BIG business for owners, if they can get their mits on it, as they get subsidized by the government for every kid admitted, and in the case of Sonora, my city, it is also littered with relatives of politicians. Yup. Someone's making a killing here, both literally and figuratively. They only have to get a building, minimize costs, and that's that.

Ironically, I've just realized I'm listening to a song named For The Fire, by Turin Brakes...ugh...this is no joke to heighten teh dramaz.

In the eve of things, the kids were supposed to be flown to a hospital in the U.S where they have trained people, as in professionally trained, to treat burn victims of that magnitude(not to mention their age), and a number of them indeed have been, while others are still here, and guess what? Someone, somewhere in the government thought it was better to be actively keeping them here, where we embarrassingly don't have a fucking clue as of what to do with them.

The government told the parents they were being flown to the U.S but later it turned out it was no dice, and instead flew them to Guadalajara to a kickass hospital with state of the art equipment that not a soul knows how to use correctly, and where some idiot thought that giving two of the burned kids water baths was the way to go. The end product? They died of collapsed lungs.

Yup, what the fire and smoke poisoning didn't get to do we did. Booyah, one for the team...

Now, so bad were things that even the U.S doctors were angrily demanding the mexican consulate to tell them the fuck was going on. Why weren't they getting the remaining kids so they could fucking treat them?

Harrowingly I realize our government is most likely trying to cut costs on these kids because for every kid that gets treated in the U.S, and survives, the tab here grows and grows, and grows. Yes. Burn victims be expensive these days. But, following that train of thought, was there a cheaper choice? Yes. There was one fucking choice. It's fucking called CUBA. Just like they did with the Chernobyl children. But wait...we burned that bridge too...fuck.

Sauce, if you don't believe me on the kids from Chernobyl: http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/43b/030.html

Sauce on the state of Mexican-Cuban relations: http://havanajournal.com/cuban_americans/entry/can-president-calderon-of-mexico-restore-mexico-cuba-relations/
(and if you read it: no, he couldn't, and didn't mind much.)


Everyone got royally pissed. What started first as a "justice rally"(because people just don't know what the fuck to call it these days) of a bunch of people walking(mind you, it has been like eight thousand so far but that still counts) because of indignation, now has somewhat formed into a little social movement where now they want reform in the daycare system, at the very least.

Now, yesterday I was at one of said rallies. I've been to two of the three(me daddy brought me up to be solidary...those commies, I tell you) and my overall view on this thing is that shit's gonna get bad. Incidentally, everytime there has been one, people congregated outside of the Palacio de Gobierno(basically the main government building), and guess what? the governor "happened" to be out, just as he had the previous two ones.

I assure you there's no schadenfreude in watching a series of poor people(like, economically poor) take turns to wail, cry, and then scream in public that the government doesn't care one bit, and that it took their kids away in its attempt to conduct bussiness. Ironically then they asks it for "justice," all the while a chorus chants "ASESINOS!(murderers)" over and over again.

It doesn't get any more inverosimile than that.

As I finish this thing(finally, right?) I'm racking my head trying to find a word to describe the bereaved folks I saw, and I realize I can't find it because it turns out it does not exist. At least not in english or in spanish. Someone who lost his/her parents you call an orphan, someone who lost a spouse you call a widow/er, but you just can't call anything a person who lost a child because the word does not exist.

When the indescribable happened those in power did nothing. We are sixteen days in since this thing began and they haven't done one bit.

I can't shake the thought that people can only be pushed so far before they begin to entertain the notion of belligerence in their minds. Yesterday amidst choking sounds one of the parents addressing the government infront of the crowd said "Be careful because I've got nothing to lose anymore," and people began cheering wildly, and so I turned to me daddy and in a deadpan way and just uttered "Okay, That was unexpected."

What do I get from this? That the system is uncontroversially, irreparably broken.

Someone in Mexico said, a reporter lady whose name I cannot remember at the moment, that our system didn't thrive on impunity to but rather needed it to exist. Can you picture that? Forsaken angry people chanting "ASESINOS" together as a mob.


Ok, I'm out.

 

[jimduckie]

that is sad especially kids i know how bad a severe burn feels but a kid is even worse

 

[Sparrow]

I'm always skeptical of people's views toward the death of younger people. Is there such a difference between 17 and 18 years of age? A teenager dies, and we're up in arms. An 18 year old dies, and it's just another tally on the board.

I think people feel sorry for the death of younger people, because everyone else does. Just being a big old flock of sheep. Or hey, I could just be a non-emotional bastard.

Make yourselves feel better and go with the second option.

 

[fulano]

I'm always skeptical of people's views toward the death of younger people. Is there such a difference between 17 and 18 years of age? A teenager dies, and we're up in arms. An 18 year old dies, and it's just another tally on the board.

I think people feel sorry for the death of younger people, because everyone else does. Just being a big old flock of sheep. Or hey, I could just be a non-emotional bastard.

Make yourselves feel better and go with the second option.

I don't know where you live but where I'm from, when anybody dies no matter their age a shitstorm happens. You just entertain a contrarian view out of the luxury of your own circumstances, I'm afraid.

So, no. You're not being a non-emotional bastard. You're just being an idiot and you just haven't been there and don't know beter, and that's perfectly fine if you are fine with it. Nobody's forcing you to think otherwise.

The fact that we feel even worse when kids die is because of animal instinct, because we are primates, and because we're used to that notch in our society, and I don't think that's a bad notch. It helps us preserve life.

My main gig with this thing was indignation for the situation with the kids, but also what's going on with our government, and how it has just forsaken the population to cover its own ass.

 

[GodsOneMistake]

There's so much to read.... Quick question what country are you in exactly.
And from my very best skimming. This is a tragedy, but couldn't it have been avoided, by the people, if it was such a fire hazard.

 

[Aaron Gray]

July fifth is my birthday; it's odd that I never heard about all of that.
"The Mayor is out killing kids, to keep taxes down." - The Weakerthans

You should find a way to put that passion to work. It's not to say that I didn't enjoy your post, but I think you could defiantly find a more productive place to share this. I hope you do. All of what you said sounds horrible.

 

[scotth266]

So, no. You're not being a non-emotional bastard. You're just being an idiot and you just haven't been there and don't know beter, and that's perfectly fine if you are fine with it. Nobody's forcing you to think otherwise.

Ok then: stop right there. I understand that you're upset, but if you keep acting like that you're going to attract unwanted attention: namely, angry moderator attention. There were better ways to put that.

I feel sad that such a tragedy happened, and that your government seems to be mucking about.

I'm always skeptical of people's views toward the death of younger people. Is there such a difference between 17 and 18 years of age? A teenager dies, and we're up in arms. An 18 year old dies, and it's just another tally on the board.

Sadly, that does tend to happen. I stand contrary to that though: if anyone dies under circumstances that aren't natural, I feel sad.

 

[fulano]

So, no. You're not being a non-emotional bastard. You're just being an idiot and you just haven't been there and don't know beter, and that's perfectly fine if you are fine with it. Nobody's forcing you to think otherwise.

Ok then: stop right there. I understand that you're upset, but if you keep acting like that you're going to attract unwanted attention: namely, angry moderator attention. There were better ways to put that.

I feel sad that such a tragedy happened, and that your government seems to be mucking about.

Eh, nope. I'm upset but not enough to launch into unwarranted offenses.

If he's saying what he's saying, and he really believes it(what reason do I have to believe otherwise?), then he is being foolish and/or stupid: an idiot. Also, I told him that it was fine to be that way if he feels fine.

If it somehow attracts angry moderator attention then so be it, but if he is going to entertain such a shallow world view then he should be called on it using the appropriate language. Nothing's wrong with that. We're adults here.

EDIT:

There's so much to read.... Quick question what country are you in exactly.
And from my very best skimming. This is a tragedy, but couldn't it have been avoided, by the people, if it was such a fire hazard.

I'm from Mexico.

And yes, it could have been avoided. It' was daycare, and it allegedly met all the regulations to be allowed to be one, and the parents just went along and believed them. Next thing you there is a fire.

 

[Aaron Gray]

My partner always gets mad at me because I have a very natural habit of chuckling when she mentions to me that someone has died. I was unaware of this for a very long time, but now that she pointed it out, I try to hold it back the best I can.
Death is always an epic tragedy to everyone but the victim. We feel sad because we assume that the deceased wishes they were still alive. That is just simply not the case.


Edit: Don't get me wrong, feeling sad for someones death is justified also by the fact that you will miss them, assuming they were close to you. What I said above I only meant to apply to hearing of an unrelated death on ABC33/40 or CNN.

 

[D_987]

Seriously for those saying "I'm not reading that" - its not that long; your on a forum for crying out loud - its not a race to post...

On topic : That's terrible, and yet it seems to be the trend now-days. Over here in Britain we have the current MP scandal in which MP's have been stealing money from the public by abusing a system, and whilst its not the same sort of thing it comes down to one thing - money.

The political system in general relies on politicians caring significantly about the good of the people and recently, throughout the world, I have not seen that - this is yet another extreme case of it. It all comes down to money - as you stated - that appears to be the reason why all the children have not received the medical treatment they deserve.

 

[scotth266]

If he's saying what he's saying, and he really believes it(what reason do I have to believe otherwise?), then he is being foolish and/or stupid: an idiot. Also, I told him that it was fine to be that way if he feels fine.

If it somehow attracts angry moderator attention then so be it, but if he is going to entertain such a shallow world view then he should be called on it using the appropriate language. Nothing's wrong with that. We're adults here.

Some people think that Communism would be a great idea. I wouldn't call them idiots: I'd called them misinformed and forgetting important historical lessons. Like I said: there were better ways to put that.

He was simply informing you that he finds it harder to care about the deaths of children because people will make such a large fuss over it compared to other age groups. His point was that loss of life is a great sorrow regardless of age, but that people tend to care less about the deaths of older people, which is a totally valid line of thought. And you called him an idiot for it.

 

[fulano]

Seriously for those saying "I'm not reading that" - its not that long; your on a forum for crying out loud - its not a race to post...

On topic : That's terrible, and yet it seems to be the trend now-days. Over here in Britain we have the current MP scandal in which MP's have been stealing money from the public by abusing a system, and whilst its not the same sort of thing it comes down to one thing - money.

The political system in general relies on politicians caring significantly about the good of the people and recently, throughout the world, I have not seen that - this is yet another extreme case of it. It all comes down to money - as you stated - that appears to be the reason why all the children have not received the medical treatment they deserve.

Yep. My thoughts exactly, but the thing that has me on edge is that there is a belligerent discourse creeping in and many people are getting jumpy, you know what I mean? You just don't deal with bereaved people by ignoring them, especially if their claim has factual basis.

My partner always gets mad at me because I have a very natural habit of chuckling when she mentions to me that someone has died. I was unaware of this for a very long time, but now that she pointed it out, I try to hold it back the best I can.
Death is always an epic tragedy to everyone but the victim. We feel sad because we assume that the deceased wishes they were still alive. That is just simply not the case.

I know exactly what you mean. It's one of the pains of growing up.

I really feel bad for admitting this but years back there was a case of a kidnapped baby here in Mexico, his name was Braulio. Long story short, the kidnappers offed him and burned him beyond recognition, and then threw his remains in a yunk yard. So, me and a pal of mine laughed our asses off and made it one of many absurd recurring jokes between us(we also had 9/11 ones, ugh!), and still years later, when I remember it I still get the joke but I feel like an idiot douchebag.

I was an idiot. Period. But at least I feel like I've done my share of growing up since then, hopefully.

EDIT:

If he's saying what he's saying, and he really believes it(what reason do I have to believe otherwise?), then he is being foolish and/or stupid: an idiot. Also, I told him that it was fine to be that way if he feels fine.

If it somehow attracts angry moderator attention then so be it, but if he is going to entertain such a shallow world view then he should be called on it using the appropriate language. Nothing's wrong with that. We're adults here.

Some people think that Communism would be a great idea. I wouldn't call them idiots: I'd called them misinformed and forgetting important historical lessons. Like I said: there were better ways to put that.

He was simply informing you that he finds it harder to care about the deaths of children because people will make such a large fuss over it compared to other age groups. His point was that loss of life is a great sorrow regardless of age, but that people tend to care less about the deaths of older people, which is a totally valid line of thought. And you called him an idiot for it.

No dice. He specifically said that he distrusts people's views towards the death of younger people and that he thinks people feel sorry for the death of younger people because everyone else does it too. Re-read his post.

Also, just so you know: I'm one of those guys who thinks communism would be a great idea.

Like the idiots in eastern Europe did with their cookie cutter version of communism, this people did with capitalism(those in power in my own country), and we ended up with bloated systems that seek only to look after their own sustenance beyond anything resembling ideology.

Be they in the bussiness sectors or the government, what the individuals in positions of power care about is money and not people. That shit ain't right. And seeing the shit I'm seeing these days with rich people running around and making a killing at other people's expenses only re-affirms my position.

 

[Mackinator]

Thats fucked, why do they keep cutting back on proper emergancy exists?

Greed is a very unattractive trait in humans.

 

[dmase]

This won't change until there is a revlution against not only the government but the people with the real power, such as drug cartels and others that influence politics with money. That type of revolution sounds a bit too much like the Russian revolution and I can't see that working. I saw on your profile you agree with communism but if there is a violent revolution which it seems is possible from what you describe then it won't work. Nonviolent protest with American support, yes you may hate the idea but there are plenty of American groups that would support the cause.

Persuading the American government tho is another story.

 

[Azraellod]

I'm always skeptical of people's views toward the death of younger people. Is there such a difference between 17 and 18 years of age? A teenager dies, and we're up in arms. An 18 year old dies, and it's just another tally on the board.

I think people feel sorry for the death of younger people, because everyone else does.

hmm, i think in the same way about this sort of thing. im not really sure about the sheep thing, but everything else i will agree with.

 

[fulano]

This won't change until there is a revlution against not only the government but the people with the real power, such as drug cartels and others that influence politics with money. That type of revolution sounds a bit too much like the Russian revolution and I can't see that working. I saw on your profile you agree with communism but if there is a violent revolution which it seems is possible from what you describe then it won't work. Nonviolent protest with American support, yes you may hate the idea but there are plenty of American groups that would support the cause.

Persuading the American government tho is another story.

Eh, I think you are making a bit of a leap of logic in there. While I am in favor of the ideas of communism, ideally speaking, I'm also a realist, and pert of being a realist is me notbeing in favor of violent revolutions unless the situation becomes just untennable, and we're just not there yet.

I do not advocate violence or confrontation in any way. I think pacific means have a long way to go before we run out of options. What I fear is that something like Iran will end up happening here. It almost happened in 2006 after the general election(just watching the news these days hits close to home) had it not been for the social movement that began just after the whole thing was done with. But yeah, I do see people going off the deep end in a matter of years. The problem here is but a symptom of a bigger problem, and when we throw drug cartels in there the situation gets even more confusing.

It's because of violent assholes like Stalin that killed millions of people just for peanuts that a good idea got demonized here in the west, but oh well. I'm not expecting to convince anyone here.

Also, I have nothing against americans. I've been called a spic here and there but the majority has always been nice and respectful to me, and I don't have a black or white mentality view about things, much less a group of people. There are progressive and conservative organizations over there just like everywhere else, and I happen to like a number of american ones.

Agreeing with the actual ideas puth forth by communism doesn't mean I have to become a blind sheeple.

 

[a stranger]

I'm always skeptical of people's views toward the death of younger people. Is there such a difference between 17 and 18 years of age? A teenager dies, and we're up in arms. An 18 year old dies, and it's just another tally on the board.

I think people feel sorry for the death of younger people, because everyone else does. Just being a big old flock of sheep. Or hey, I could just be a non-emotional bastard.

Make yourselves feel better and go with the second option.

i agree with you but i think that people think that people under 18 are still childern while 18 and above are aldults

 

[Chiefmon]

Damn, that is just horrible. If anyone dares to make a dead baby joke, I don't know what I'm gonna do.