Louisiana in Need of Change

The claim of sovereignty of states should not be cause to allow a state to violate either federal law or the rights of its citizens. Law-abiding individuals and families should be free to live, work, gain educations, and conduct their everyday lives with the security that their rights and safety are protected by their government.

Tucked into the southeastern corner of Louisiana is Tangipahoa Parish ("parish" is their word for "county"). At first sight it's easy to understand why people would choose it as a place to set down roots, raise their families, and live out their lives, for it is a community of stunning, picture-perfect beauty, and small-city atmosphere in the Deep South.

Louisiana Congressman Bobby Jindal has placed the state's rate of violent crime as approximately twenty-four-percent higher than the national average. Perhaps it is time to look at the causes, and seek real solutions.

Hold adults accountable for the sexual and physical abuse of children.

An article in the Daily Star detailed a study done on the rates of pregnancy and childbirth amongst ten-to-thirteen-year-old girls; it was duly noted that a large percentage of these cases involved either incest or the girls being taken advantage of by other older males. While this is appalling, what was not included in the study was the unknown percentage of boys who have been similarly victimized-- and, without appropriate early intervention, frequently continue the cycle of abuse.

There is respect, and there is subservience; and those in charge of Louisiana's schools clearly do not understand the difference. One of Tangipahoa's elementary schools, for example, considers it an "act of insubordination" for a student to address his teachers as "Miss/Mrs./Mr.," rather than the only acceptable terms of "Ma'am" or "Sir." As for consequences of such "insubordination," perhaps they would be wise to heed the words of a button worn by an employee in one of the local resource centers for abused women: "It's never ok. to hit a child." Instead, one elementary school makes it necessary for a parent to sign an "exclusion form" as the only means by which to prevent school staff from beating the child with a contraption which is basically a shortened two-by-four; another elementary school does not even grant parents that right.

Stop giving children the message that it is o.k. to break laws.

Although the United States Supreme Court stated its decision regarding any practice of religion in this nation's public schools in 1962, it was a shock to see that some of Tangipahoa Parish's schools were continuing the practice of having children recite Bible verses some four decades later; and, as of this writing, it is still an issue. Regardless of anyone's personal opinion or belief, the school districts of Louisiana do not have the right to thumb their noses at a court decision.

Protect the rights of law-abiding citizens rather than criminals.

Distressing indeed is the imbalance-- or misuse-- of power. Perhaps only those who have resided in Louisiana for some length of time are aware of the corruption which exists-- plainly stated, the lives, safety, freedom and well-being of average people are at stake when common criminals have power based on either money or kinship or both. One person, for example, was warned by Authorities that certain individuals had "such powerful connections" that neither she nor her family would be safe in Louisiana. If it sounds like a horror-story, it was: a family at risk and in danger due to a wealthy couple's "connections" within the state government and its agencies. For law-abiding citizens to be advised by knowledgeable, respected authorities, that the only way to ensure the safety of one's family is to leave the state and never return-- perhaps "when you are in our state you must play by our rules" should not be the method by which any state is operated.

Perhaps it is time to take a hard look at the crime rate in Louisiana in terms of the people who are affected by it-- not merely statistics, but human beings. Living in Louisiana should be as good as the idealistic impression one receives from its initial appearance.