Anon, who posted...
On 2005-10-24 00:33:00, Anonymous wrote:
Let's face it. In order for this to be exposed we need help. We should welcome those who have a passion for helping rather than pick them apart, piece by piece. They are getting involved because they see the injustice of what is going on. And we need to be understanding that people getting on board to help are not going to know the full history of this industry. They were not in a program, they did not attend Straight in the 70's. But that doesn't mean they are not going to be effective. Let's give them a chance
Yes, indeed, I absolutely agree that it's a good, good thing to have some well credentialed, well respected people w/ good contacts focusing attention on this issue. However, there's a whole, broad and fertile country between unquestioning support and picking them to bits.
I assume their intentions are entirely good, but I also assume they have as many, as large and as opaque blind spots as any other group of human beings.
Namely, how in the WORLD can anyone affiliated with
FLORIDA CFS, SFU, and mental health study, law and policy organizations claim ignorance of Straight, Inc, LIFE, Growing Together and SAFE, Orlando. It's not asif this were some arcane story that lived and died a generation ago. As recently as 15 years ago, GT was making headlines and generating litigation. And SAFE was all over the Orlando newspapers and tv news just a couple of years ago.
Sorry, I don't buy that. It just doesn't add up. So then... why are they pretending not to know about this? Why do they not want to discuss it?
Well, I can't force it out of them. But the silence is deafening.
Next question (not picking or poking, just trying to find out what's going on here) Can anyone please explain to me to which community based programs the ASTART team wants to funnel federal funding? All I can find online is that they say they have science to back the claim that these vaguely referenced programs are safer and more effective than the Synanon based TOUGHLOVE troubled parent industry. Frankly, that's not saying much. Almost anything would be.
Finally, and I think this is the biggest, most dearly defended blind spot among educators and psyche professionals and clinical staff. Sanho Tree once quipped that screening pre-school kids for anti-social behavior is about as useful as screening the Christian Coalition for sanctimonious behavior. The same can be said for highschool kids. Do the psyche professionals have an understanding, or at least an open mind to the idea, that most people really don't need any formal intervention at all?
That's not as mean spirited as some people might take it. The physical medical profession has slowly but surely gotten it's ears pinned back on that point over recent years. When I started having babies over 20 years ago, I was scolded by very good and compassionate pediatricians for things like refusal to treat low grade fever w/ aspirin, then for using aspirin instead of ibuprophen, then acetaminiphin... then the notice appeared in their waiting room informing us that it really is best to leave a low grade fever alone and only treat fevers over 101 degrees. Yeah, no shit! How about an apology for the dressing down? Silence. But ok, they've seen the error of their ways. I value action over contrition.
I'm not asking any of these questions rhetorically. I'm asking w/ the high hope of getting decent answers and even a little hope of getting unexpectedly brilliant and reassuring answers.
Will someone please try and get statements out of the team that address these concerns? Cause, so far, I've gotten exactly the same response as when I asked Sue Scheff which programs she refers to and how, exactly, she goes about ensuring their safety and efficacy. Well, no, to be fair, I'm only getting the silent treatment, not an all out attack w/ lawyers and everything. That's encouraging. But still, I think these are valid concerns and, if they want my support, I'd like to have some kind of solid response, please.
It (the Bible) is full of interest. It has noble poetry in it; and some clever fables; and some blood-drenched history; and some good morals; and a wealth of obscenity; and upwards of a thousand lies.
--Samuel Clemens "Mark Twain", American author and humorist
_________________
Ginger Warbis ~ Antigen
Drug war POW
Seed Chicklett `71 - `80
Straight, Sarasota
10/80 - 10/82
Apostate 10/82 -
Anonymity Anonymous