Caged Children: A Societal Issue?

Can someone please tell me what is wrong with the people of today's society? I'm not saying I'm a saint, because believe me, I'm not. But who in their right mind puts their child in a cage? Perhaps that's my answer right there; someone who isn't in the right state of mind. There have been recent stories on different news channels that showcase mothers and parents locking their children within cages. Both CNN and FOX news have had related stories pertaining to severe cases of child abuse and often child neglect. Why can't these people buy a pet to put in a cage, like a gerbil or a hamster?

The most recent case of this ludicrous behavior by a parent that I became aware of came from CNN's online news database. According to them, a woman named Brenda Sullivan was sentenced to 20 years behind bars (thankfully) on Thursday May 22^nd for keeping her 17 year old son caged in her home. I'll give you a moment to process that. Her seventeen year old son-how despicable is that? To add to the grotesque factor, it is also reported that the teen weighed 49 pounds when Child Welfare workers found him in 2005, in what appeared to be a cage. Sullivan's other two children, 13 year old twins, testified to have undergone the same treatment. Some people, like her defense attorney Charles Fletcher, believe that prison is the wrong place for her. My question to you dear readers is why? Is it because she is mentally unstable, not fit to raise even a hamster, let a lone her own children? Perhaps a mental institution would be better for her. We'll have to let the courts decide that one, after her appeal has been filed. Until then, it's her turn to experience living in a cage.

The second case I came across that put the same nasty flavor in my mouth is from FOX's online news database. According to them, a couple, Michael and Sharon Gravelle, were sentenced to 2 years in prison for forcing some of their 11 adopted children to sleep in wire and wooden cages. Although the parents claim that they only kept the children in these cages to keep the children safe, many of the children testified to a completely different story. According to FOX news, one of the children testified as saying they should be imprisoned "for as long as my siblings had to be in cages." Sadly, some of the children suffered from problems like Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and a disorder that left them wanting to eat nonfood items when they were removed from the toxic environment. The couple thankfully lost custody of the children in 2005, which are currently living amongst different foster families.

Again, what on earth could drive a human being to treat their own child in such a cruel and degrading manner? Adopted or not, this is an extremely disgraceful common occurrence that needs to be addressed for society's sake. People like Brenda Sullivan and the Gravelle's need to be made example of, and the measly prison sentences each were given are no comparison to the years of therapy and treatment these children will need to undergo in order to function. Obviously child abuse is a massive problem impacting the lives of thousands of children every day. Whether cages are involved or not, we need to find an answer that will help combat this issue immediately. Think about when it comes time to stroll into the voting booth for the upcoming election.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/05/23/caged.teen.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,252397,00.html?sPage=fnc/specialsections/lawcenter