[MD] Pirsig the Prophet

[MarshaV]

At 12:31 PM 8/23/2007, you wrote:

> > >      [SA previously]
> > >      Now... take this safe place, and the
>first-hand
> > >experience that I've been able to share.  This
> > >experience that really happens, and this happens in
> > a more managed environment (such as turning the air
> > >conditioner on when it's hot outside); and transfer
> > >this 'safe place' to the rest of the country.  This
> > >'safe place' is a good jumping off point in
> > >understanding why this country has social problems.
>
>       [Marsha]
> > For me that safe place was in my home, in my room,
>in my head.  I'm > not sure what you mean when
>transferring this to the country's
> > social problems.   I'd like to know what you're
>thinking.
> > Meine Gedanken sind frei (My thoughts are free),
>
>      Firstly, why we provide housing, food, and
>clothing for these residents is to get past the
>problems that would arise with trying to get these
>children to earn these basic needs.  They have many
>other problems that we need to get to.  I can't see
>not giving them housing, food, and clothing and on top
>of that wanting them to handle the other problems in
>their lives.  I bring this up for a reason.  So, your
>safe place was in your home/head.  Glad you had/have a
>home with a room.  I'm glad I do too, and that its'
>safe.  These are real people as follows:
>
>
>      Resident 1:  Brothers were killed by rival gangs
>near her home.  A friend of hers recently was seen
>hanging on the front porch by a rope.  She killed
>herself.
>      Resident 2:  Has been to 17 different placement
>and foster parent housings since she was 3 years old.
>      Resident 3:  Both parents in prison.  She lived
>house to house and at times walking the streets at
>night.  Ended up with a drug dealer boyfriend that had
>a baby with another female.
>      Resident 4:  Parents divorced.  She has something
>organically degenerative about her.  When 4 years old
>she began banging her head against the wall for no
>apparent reason.  Tried to kill herself with a bag
>over her head at age 6.  She says she was raped in her
>house by her mothers current husband.  Broke her
>mothers jaw with a kick to her mother at age 6 or 8,
>etc... etc...
>      Resident 5:  Mother dead at 2 years old.  Father
>left her in early teens with her grandmother.
>Grandmother couldn't handle her, and her sister took
>her in.  She drew a knife on her sister.  Sister
>called cops.  Cops showed up and asked her to put
>knife down or they would mace her.  She put knife
>down.  She is newer, so I don't have much information
>on her.  I don't think she has been able to figure out
>what happened to her that much either.
>      Resident 6:  Stole a car.  Has no father around.
>She seems to have the most potential for a possible
>positive future.  Her grandmother, mother, aunt,
>uncle, and others visit and talk with her often.
>
>      These situations are so chaotic.  Nature has more
>structure than this I believe.  Notice who has the
>organic family structures and who doesn't.  Notice who
>would feel safe at home and who wouldn't.  Notice
>these are teenagers with the usual teenager events to
>deal with on top of that all these added burdens with
>not much of a support system in place to help them
>with these overwhelming events in their lives.  Their
>minds are shot for the most part.

SA,

This sounds very sad.

Marsha