Society's Victim- Society's Outcast

This is a short story of someone I know and highly respect.  Her attitude is amazing, even with everything she's been through.  I've changed her name, to protect her identity.  This is a very important subject and one, I think, society should look at in a different light.  


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Mandy had been married for a few years to a man who had put the fear of God into her after their first year together.  She started drinking with her husband, mostly because he threatened to harm her if she didn't drink with him, and she was tired of being his punching bag.  Eventually, she drank by herself, just to escape and, if he beat on her- at least, it didn't hurt as much- until the next day, that is...

She was afraid to leave him, but she was more afraid for her life if she stayed.  During the times of trying to figure out which way to go as far as trying to get away from him, she endured many bruises, bloodied lips and black eyes.  Eventually, she was hospitalized because he broke her arm and a few of her ribs.  She had to lie to the doctor because she knew if she told the truth, she would be hurt worse the next time, (he was sitting right there, acting like the devoted husband whom was filled with sympathetic concern.)  She didn't have anyone to turn to as her friends, were his friends.  What one of them knew, he would know also.  She was afraid to turn to her sister for help because her sister was, and still is, a victim of domestic violence.  He continued to make her drink with him, and he also made her be the one to drive their vehicle, simply- because, he was too drunk to drive!

Mandy ended up with a couple of DUI's, (Driving Under the Influence,) along with Public Intoxication, and she landed in jail.  He, of course, got a ride home in either a police cruiser, (depending on which cop was on duty,) or a friend was called, and the officer waited with him until his friend showed up to take him home.  He never bailed his wife out of jail and he never went to court with her over these charges.

After these couple of times of spending time in jail, Mandy summed up the courage to leave him once she was released and never looked back, but her record is now blemished for quite some time ahead of her.

She's been trying to get a good and decent job, one with benefits of medical, dental, and vision insurance along with better pay.  With the places she's applied to, background checks and, "pee tests," are required.  She always aces the pee tests, but when it comes to the background check, and since she's had the DUI's and Public Intoxication charges, guilty judgments- well, gainful employment is just a dream for her.  She no longer drinks, and hasn't for quite some time now.  She's still being courageous with not going back to her, now ex-husband, even though, she still has to watch her back.  She has come so very far in her struggle to make a better life for herself.

Not only was she victimized by the one who promised to love and cherish her, but she is currently being victimized by society and their back ground checks. 

On a final note- before she has applied to these various places, she has explained to them what might come up on their check and why.  They tell her to go ahead and fill out her application.   Needless to say, she's never hired...

Mandy is a survivor however- she works at a minimal wage place and accepts what is dealt out to her.  She says, "I'm a patient person and I have patience beyond expectation.  Eventually, things will get better for me."

Native American 10 Commandments

When a person becomes a survivor, after all of the hell they endured during their life-time, they come to a quiet place of trying to make sense out of what is right and what is wrong.  In their quest of searching for the answers, the answers come simply- not heavy on the heart, (as churches establish.)

The quest of wanting to know the true self- the inner self, brings them back to what had been established long ago during the time of when the Indian Nations reigned.  This is their legacy- one of which, we all should follow with simplicity. 

 Native American 10 Commandments

1.  The Earth is our Mother,
     care for her.

2.  Honor all your relations.

3.  Open your heart and soul
     to the Great Spirit.

4.  All life is sacred; treat all things with respect.

5.  Take from the Earth what is needed and nothing more.

6.  Do what needs to be done for the good of all.

7.  Give constant thanks to the Great Spirit for each new day.

8.  Speak the truth; but only of the good in others.

9.  Follow the rhythms of nature; rise and retire with the sun.

10. Enjoy life's journey, but leave no tracks.

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It is felt via many- this is the true nature of the 10 Commandments that were set from long ago for us survivors to follow.  If we can come to peace with these and ourselves, then all problems will, and can fade away.  It is possible to be a happy survivor...  

-S.L. Smith 

Hitting Home- Discovery Channel Hostages!

Police: Discovery Channel hostages were ready to make a break for it when gunman was shot


By SARAH BRUMFIELD and KATHLEEN MILLER , Associated Press


SILVER SPRING, Md. - Police had been negotiating with James Jae Lee for several hours and intended to keep him talking for as long as it took to safely resolve the standoff at the Discovery Channel's headquarters. Inside the lobby, Lee's three hostages had no intention of waiting.

As the two Discovery employees and a security guard got ready to make a break for it, officers moving in on Lee heard him shout and then a "pop" that they thought might have been gunfire or a homemade bomb detonating. So they stepped out from behind a wall and shot him dead, ending the drama that unfolded Wednesday at the cable network's complex just north of Washington.

It turned out that Lee was armed with starter pistols, police said Thursday as they revealed new details about the culmination of Lee's yearslong crusade against the Discovery networks, which he faulted in fanatical Web posts for offering programming that promoted overpopulation.

But Lee, 43, was also carrying homemade pipe bombs, one of which went off when he was shot. Capt. Paul Starks of the Montgomery County Police department described the devices as canisters of propane with pipes around them. He said inside the pipes were shotgun shells or pellets.

Authorities found and detonated four more devices Thursday at a home about 3 miles north of the Discovery building. The owner of the house called police and said Lee had stayed there, according to Montgomery County Police Lt. Robert Bolesta.

Investigators were trying to determine whether Lee had a car or a truck.

Authorities had been negotiating for roughly four hours Wednesday afternoon when the tactical team opened fire.

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This story hit home with a lady who works where I work, and who sits in front of me on the line.  She told me yesterday, her son, Lane, works for the Discovery Channel and had gone out to lunch with co-workers.  One co-worker offered to pay the bill and his card was declined.

During the attempt of all fellow workers, whom were there to help scronge their pockets and pay for the bill, this person had gone into the Discovery Channel Building and started holding people as hostages.   She also told me, that if everyone from this particular party of employees, had been just one minute earlier, they all would have been held too.

I told her, God was was looking out after her son and the others of their little lunch party group.  To me, how much more intervention does it take for people to realize, there is always a reason why things happen- however, it's not just for us to understand at the time?

God works mysteriously in DV's situations too.  If all fails according to our plans, it's just a greater plan from the heaven's above- you just need to accept the signs and go through your day accordingly.  -S.L. Smith