In my opinion, the public does not know as much as we think they do. Over the past few years I have approached literally hundreds, or more, people about this issue. Out of all of those people, literally only a handful of them knew anything about this industry. And I mean nothing. That is what frightens me most.
The people who did know something were ones where a child had died in a facility that they heard about on their local news. They don't, however, understand the industry, they don't know what we know. Because we are so involved, because we study this daily, because we are passionate, because we read every article that comes out, because we see every single show that comes out about this - we know! They don't.
Think about shows like 48-hours, Montel, and so on. They come on once or twice and that?s it. We need more. We need a movie that hits the big screen, one that people can rent from their video store and that they can buy. One like the French documentary that is coming out. That, folks, would be great as a big-screen movie.
We need to get the word out to the public. Having informational websites is a useful tool because the more people link from one site to the other the more hits that will show up when parents are searching for help for their kids.
Parents need to find advocate sites, they need to see there is another side to this story. They are being fed lies and promises. Promises that are not kept. I suppose if you want your kid to be tormented then you would buy into it knowingly, but most parents don?t want that. They?re looking for help for their child, not for someone to abuse or kill their child. Really, think about it.
Working together is another positive tool. I find too many people who are supposedly trying to fight against this industry bickering amongst themselves and trashing others when they should all work together.
The arts is another tool. Plays, songs, poems, videos - why can't kids go to their high school professors and propose they do their video production project on this topic? Our high school is considering it. College students are writing papers about this, so when they do, and others read them, they become educated about the industry.
The very important thing that people need to know is that this is very much a for-profit industry, they are misleading, and they do not provide to parents what they promise. Their idea of "tough love" is "tough" - they forget all about the love. People need to understand that.
Anyway, those are just a few suggestions. Being logical and level-headed is important as well. Working with our own local legislators, trying to get local attention, trying to write articles for newspapers, magazines, etc., is another good tool. Writing books, what about pamphlets that are handed out at doctor's offices? Pediatrician's offices would be a good start.
Our government? Now that's a whole 'nother ball of wax that I can't even beging to cover here, nor to fully comprehend. Other than $$$$. And the fact some people think they're doing society a favor, getting punks off the streets. Little do they know most kids who go to these programs are normal kids. Teens in general are a pain at times, we all were. That doesn't mean they should be locked up and tortured. Ya, there are some who do bad things. But there are plenty of adults who do a whole lot worse. No one is able to hire thugs to abduct them and lock them up with no due process.
