I was going to tackle head on some of the most pressing issues of our time, but when I read this column I realized that controversial issues aren't going anywhere anytime soon. This boy didn't have that luxury.
I came across this CNN column written by Bob Greene:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/07/03/greene.boy.missing/index.html?npt=NP1
Please take the time to read this column. It's devastating and heartfelt, but I feel this is something that should be brought to the attention of the public. It warrants just as much attention as the Casey Anthony trial.
This column asks the question:
"Why did no one miss him? Why didn't anyone seem to even notice he wasn't around?"
Christian was 13, old in dog years, and he lived in a dog crate.
While I disagree with forcing an animal to live in the confines of a cage, many end up doing so. Christian wasn’t a dog. He was a little boy.
Innocent.
He probably felt a lot older, having been forced to live in a cage with nothing but a diaper. Perpetually hungry and thirsty. I can't imagine what he must have been through at the hands of the ones that he called mother (step-mother) and father.
Confined in a cramped space with no way to relieve yourself. You can’t stand up, you can’t stretch to ease your stiff muscles. The agonizing pain of hunger gnawing at your insides and no drop of liquid life within reach.
This isn’t a sad story about life, and it’s not about taking things for granted. It’s about an innocent child that could have been saved if someone had only asked the question, “Why did no one miss him?”
The soul of an innocent child stripped away from the confines of this world by the hands of those who were supposed to love and cherish him is an unforgivable act.
A memorable quote comes to mind. “I’m too old to lie to myself and call it honor,” from The Great Gatsby. I don’t have delusions of the evil and corrupt things that can lurk in the hearts of men, but I do believe most people are innately good. I won’t lie to myself and say sad and devastating events don’t occur, but this is something beyond the corruption of a nation, beyond the actions of many. It was the actions of few that brought this heinous crime to occur. All because no one asked the questions. Christian Choate's body was found in May, encased in cement and buried in a shallow grave in Lake County, Indiana. Recently released evidence has granted us a glimpse into his miserable life. He was regularly beaten, and his hands were chained to the top of the cage.
His father and stepmother, Riley Lowell Choate and Kimberly Leona Kubina have been charged with murder, battery, neglect of a dependent and criminal confinement. They have pled not guilty.
Christian was killed more than two years ago, and no evidence exists to indicate anyone was searching for him. According to recently released documents, Christian left a legacy, one, I hope, will serve as a reminder to us all (taken from CNN: Opinions):
His words reveal a devastated, depressed child whose innocence was stripped from him long before society forced it from him.
We should always investigate into allegations of child abuse and neglect, and remember that a child is much more than a checklist on a form.
While little information exists because the media has not asked the right questions, remember not just his story, but the power of words. Your words are a legacy, whether they remain stuffed in a file box or strewn across the far reaches of the Internet. The power of words can bring whole nations to their knees.
I came across this CNN column written by Bob Greene:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/07/03/greene.boy.missing/index.html?npt=NP1
Please take the time to read this column. It's devastating and heartfelt, but I feel this is something that should be brought to the attention of the public. It warrants just as much attention as the Casey Anthony trial.
This column asks the question:
"Why did no one miss him? Why didn't anyone seem to even notice he wasn't around?"
Christian was 13, old in dog years, and he lived in a dog crate.
While I disagree with forcing an animal to live in the confines of a cage, many end up doing so. Christian wasn’t a dog. He was a little boy.
Innocent.
He probably felt a lot older, having been forced to live in a cage with nothing but a diaper. Perpetually hungry and thirsty. I can't imagine what he must have been through at the hands of the ones that he called mother (step-mother) and father.
Confined in a cramped space with no way to relieve yourself. You can’t stand up, you can’t stretch to ease your stiff muscles. The agonizing pain of hunger gnawing at your insides and no drop of liquid life within reach.
This isn’t a sad story about life, and it’s not about taking things for granted. It’s about an innocent child that could have been saved if someone had only asked the question, “Why did no one miss him?”
The soul of an innocent child stripped away from the confines of this world by the hands of those who were supposed to love and cherish him is an unforgivable act.
A memorable quote comes to mind. “I’m too old to lie to myself and call it honor,” from The Great Gatsby. I don’t have delusions of the evil and corrupt things that can lurk in the hearts of men, but I do believe most people are innately good. I won’t lie to myself and say sad and devastating events don’t occur, but this is something beyond the corruption of a nation, beyond the actions of many. It was the actions of few that brought this heinous crime to occur. All because no one asked the questions. Christian Choate's body was found in May, encased in cement and buried in a shallow grave in Lake County, Indiana. Recently released evidence has granted us a glimpse into his miserable life. He was regularly beaten, and his hands were chained to the top of the cage.
His father and stepmother, Riley Lowell Choate and Kimberly Leona Kubina have been charged with murder, battery, neglect of a dependent and criminal confinement. They have pled not guilty.
Christian was killed more than two years ago, and no evidence exists to indicate anyone was searching for him. According to recently released documents, Christian left a legacy, one, I hope, will serve as a reminder to us all (taken from CNN: Opinions):
- • "Christian often stated he was hungry or thirsty."
- • "Christian wrote of why nobody liked him and how he just wanted to be liked by his family."
- • "Christian stated that he wanted to die because nobody liked the way he 'acted.' "
- • "Christian wrote of how many times he had to steal food or use the bathroom in his place of confinement."
- • "Christian wrote of how he was 'let out' to clean or vacuum but then had to go back to his 'place' (the dog cage) immediately afterwards."
- • "Christian wrote of how he had nothing to do and if he asked for something to do he was given a piece of paper and a pencil."
- • "Christian wrote of how everybody else was outside playing but he was not."
His words reveal a devastated, depressed child whose innocence was stripped from him long before society forced it from him.
We should always investigate into allegations of child abuse and neglect, and remember that a child is much more than a checklist on a form.
While little information exists because the media has not asked the right questions, remember not just his story, but the power of words. Your words are a legacy, whether they remain stuffed in a file box or strewn across the far reaches of the Internet. The power of words can bring whole nations to their knees.