Derrion Albert-Chicago Cries For You!

For the second day in a row-The City of Big Shoulders-The very Windy City, sheds tears and they are not tears of joy. We are crying out for the life of a young boy who is now dead! This Chicago Public High School boy joins a very sad statistical list. This one no one wants to be on-but now Derrion is on it!

Why? Why did Derrion have to loose his life? Two opposing groups within the Fenger HighSchool decided to fight. Derrion was not part of these groups-he was an innocent bystander- when he was severely and fatally attacked, and kicked and then finally hit continuously with  a wooden rail-road tie! Where in the world are these boys’ hearts!  Don’t they realize that they could kill a person by hitting them and kicking him and hitting him with a rail road tie? Has our society desensitized them? What can we do to change this? 

Many have marched, protested, and had memorials and vigils-what else can we do? These boys that have been arrested know that they have been identified by the taping of the fight. They know that they are facing life or perhaps the electric chair (even though the State of IL has suspended them, I think the crime would fit the punishment). Parents where are you?  Please try to keep tabs even on your high schooler-it is important for you to know their friends, to know where they are going, and to give them rules to live by.  Take them to church. Talk to your teenager, value them, and tell them you actually love them. Stake your claim to your child; take back your child! Let them know that the family is so much more important than any gang ever period!

Derrion Albert was only 16 years old!  He was only just beginning to live-he was an honor roll student who cared about life,God, his parents and family. A decent, loving, caring human being was being raised and all the right moves were being made. Now that CNN has brought the story to the world, witnesses are now coming forward to coobberate the video. At this point an 18 year old,a 17 year old, and a 16 year is being charged as an adult. And there may be as many as 7 young teens charged in all.

Chicago and now the world, says a silent prayer in their hearts for Derrion Albert-a young boy gone way too soon amid violence,mayhem and madness!

Stop the violence and hang on tightly to the ones you love.

Just my thoughts, just my opinions, and always in a conversationaltone.

Mary Caliendo

Thank you CNN for bringing the story to the world, but let’s cut the video now-we don’t need to see it any more!

Blagojevich Smarter Than You Think!

Blagojevich called the Democratic parties bluff!  Yes, he appointed Roland Burris. And he told everyone on the onset that he would not appoint the seat.

For his efforts the beleaguered Governor Blagojevich appears to be able to put another tally in his win column! He is smarter than the average bear, and has out-foxed them all!

Roland Burris; it looks like will be seated. Too bad for him, he missed all that fan-fair!  Burris has an outstanding record and is beyond reproach.  And in fairness to Burris alone, the Democrats are coming to the side of the 71 year old’s appointment.  Well being fair to Burris, is this fair to the citizens of Illinois?

We hope so; tough and hard-hitting Lisa Madigan came out and stated that  the Secretary of State does not need to sign off on the seat that this is nothing more than a rule; not law!    We will see what will happen in the nearest of futures as the new session is starting and newly sworn in senators will be present. So a trial can only begin after the fan-fair of the presidential inauguration!  That will be in late January at its soonest!

Impeachment for the governor should be done, before the inauguration! What’s your thoughts??

 

Just my thoughts, just my opinions, and only in conversationalTone.

Mary Caliendo

Blagojevich On The Job/Madigan Says Impeach!

Hard hitting Lisa Madigan came out today and filed with the Illinois Supreme Court! This us an unprecedented move.  She is the lawyer for the State of Illinois and is asking the Supreme Court to place Blgojevich on a Temp. Disability leave from his position as Governor of the State of Illinois. She is matter of fact that this is the best way to move forward and that the state of Illinois can continue to conduct its business. in the interim, she is asking the Supreme Court that the Lt. Governor Pat Quinn to step in and govern the state.

Reporters even asked Madigan if she was setting up shop for herself to run for the Senate seat. With a small chuckle Ms. Lisa Madigan said sternly that she is happy being the lawyer for Illinois and has no intentions of moving to the Senate or other. She is content where she is.

And personally I think she does a great job. She is right on top of this and calling for Governor Blagojevich’s impeachment is the natural progression of a matter such as this. But until that time the the governor is proven guilty, any move now must be temporary in nature. We are all innocent until proven we are not. The Governor will not be excused from ceremonial duties.  In other words, he can conduct openings and picture opportunities, memorials,etc. 

I am not sure that anyone may want a ceremony done by the governor at this point. Somehow until or if he is proven not guilty, everything seems so tainted.

Just my thoughts, just my opinions, and always in a conversationalTone.

Mary Caliendo

Update on Dogfight Post

Just a short update on the post filed on the dogfight bust.  The two dogs in that dogfight had to be euthanized.

That is all.

Just my thoughts, just my opinions, and always in a conversationalTone.

Mary Caliendo

Dogfight Busted In Chicago

Thank you Chicago Police, and the Cook County Sheriff for staying with an investigation and busting, in the act, a dogfight in the Englewood neighborhood!

Thank you for staying with the month long investigation. It was said in an interview that the Sheriffs involved in this investigation were shocked upon finding the awful scene. “The ring” measured 10′ x 10′, and then dog were hung and dropped into the ring. When the sheriffs arrived one dog was completely cowering in a corner, and it was so injured that it could barely stand up! They took that one out on a stretcher.  Fifty people were in attendance to watch. And in this audience was a one woman and she was pregnant, a 13 year old boy, and a 15 year old boy!  It is an appalling thing to begin with, so why would someone bring their child or admit a child into this kind of world?!

Three men were charged with felony dogfighting. These were the people who put on the fight. They found other evidence, such as a tackle box filled with steroids,IV drip bags,syringes, amphetamines, and get this a staple gun, to repair a gaping cut on a dog so it could continue to go out and fight!

This is not okay to do, or attend. This is a desensitizing sport. If a society accepts this type of behavior, I think it only elevates to the next level. Of course to humans. I think that is most likely why their is such a lack of care for the next guy.  The ease into killing of humans.  The total desensitizing of our young children coming up. In this particular audience there were 2 children present. Obvious street smart type children, but even if they did not want to be there, can you imagine the sounds in there? How about the smell? This is similar to the kids that recently tapped themselves and put  it on youtube the kicking/football incident of the little kitty!   It is not funny to hurt animals, it is not funny to hurt people!

I struggled whether or not to write this post this morning. I felt compelled to write it in the end. My stomach is churing. My heart breaks as I think to myself,  Why? Why do they have to do this?  What is wrong with this world?

Then I think of Michael Vick, is he getting out soon? Maybe.  Maybe with the next set of charges- he will go right back in. I hope that those who looked up to him will realize the brutality of what is taking place. And the brutality that got him there to begin with.

Then suddenly I think of Jennifer Hudson’s nephew, and the fact that he was gunned down at the age of seven, and I think what kind of monster does this?

Did these three guys look into the eyes of these dogs and say, I am sorry I am an animal! I doubt it!

Sad. So sad.

Just my thoughts, just my opinions, and always in a conversationalTone.

Mary Caliendo

Hudson Family Murderer-Staying in Prison!

Update!   William Balfour, who is the person of interest being held in prison went before the parole board this morning. He has already admitted to being in the Hudson household the morning of the deaths of Jennifer Hudson family members!  Well it was said up until yesterday that if the board did not think that Balfour violated his parole, he could be set free!!

Balfour went before them this morning and they felt that he had definitely violated his parole so therefore he will remain in prison!   Now if the Chicago Police can string together the evidence, perhaps  we could see that he would be charged with the murders!  He may or may not have acted alone, but this case is considered a high-profile case and we can only hope that it will be resolved soon.

He will now have to go before a larger prison parole panel, and they will have the final say and that will take place on December 3, 2008.

I think it was an extremely heinous crime and I think that no matter who did this the death penalty should be given.

Once again my thoughts and prayers go out to the Hudson Family and Jennifer Hudson. No one ever deserves to be murdered in cold blood and especially an innocent child of just seven! Whoever is responsible for this crime will surely rot in hell one day!

Just my thoughts, just my opinions, and always in a conversationalTone.

Mary Caliendo

Hudson Family Murders/Chicago Crime Problem

Although Mr. Balfour is the person of interest in this case, and is being held on a probation violation right now, the Chicago Police have not arrested him as of yet.  It has been theorized upon finding the suv the next day, that perhaps there was another person involved. It is just a rumor being circulated by word of mouth. Also breaking news as of last evening,police released finding some evidence in the brush near where the suv was found. Again, it was not released what it was that was found. But everyone thinks it could be the shooters gun. We all hold hope that it (evidence) will lead us to Mr. Balfour or another. This is such a tragedy of great magnitude. This is really tough for people to go through. I do not understand what can bring a person to do this, and exactly what was that person thinking when they looked into the eyes of that child?

In Chicago here of late and all through end of school year this past summer, it has been terrible here!

Chicago as a city has surpassed both New York City, and Los Angeles in the number of deaths (killings) for the year. It seems to me that we were once a very nice city to visit, on the list of top ten destinations in the world. Wow that was a great honor. I am sure at this point we are no longer on that list. It seems that the younger children are the ones who have topped out that record. The so called “gang” related shootings, and kids with guns making rash decisions.  We need to do something to get rid of the guns. Police Commissioner Jody Weiss has professed putting  more officers on  street patrol  in the neighborhoods and is asking everyone to take part in the reporting on those who keep secrets, and come forward with things that one has seen. Our numbers have never been higher.

Chicago has a gang and violence problem. We as a city need to take back our neighborhoods,keep the pressure on by having a known force there out on the streets. A force that can befriend those in the neighborhood and take the streets back at a grassroots level. Also by having made these relationships I feel that people in the neighborhood will be more apt to say they saw something if they knew that they were helping out and that they would not meet with reprisal in any way. The street is tough.

I am not sure how we are going to host the Olympics, I think that this may be one more nail in the coffin; with such high numbers I don’t think we stand a chnce!

Just my thoughts, just my opinions, and always in a conversationalTone

Mary Caliendo