Read it and weep

Literally.

First, there's

this

PEORIA —
Two teenage parents pleaded guilty Monday to abusing their 5-month-old son, causing several rib fractures, fractures to the infant's leg and bruising. Chamberlain said more than a dozen ribs were fractured. The child also had a bruise on his face, apparently from Luncsford biting him. The fractures to the ribs, wrist and legs occurred over about a month.

Then I come home and find

this

posted at

Leslie's

A Bakersfield father is accused of biting out one of the eyes of his small child and similarly mutilating the other eye, leaving the child blind.

Biting the child's eyes out.

Honest ta gawd. I simply cannot fathom....like Leslie said, words fail.

Both of these incidents brought to mind another local

case

The 5-month-old was dropped off at his parents' house on Feb. 4, strapped into his car seat. Eight days later, he was found in the same position, said Peoria County State's Attorney Kevin Lyons during a bond hearing for the parents.

"He died from starvation due to neglect from these two defendants, his parents," Lyons said. "It's the worst case of child neglect we have seen since the turn of this century."

I can't think of a punishment bad enough for people that do horrible things to kids. I have no sympathy. No empathy. No understanding. I don't care if they're poor and uneducated...if they're immature and irresponsible and ignorant.

I simply cannot understand how a person could be so cruel...so inhumane to a helpless baby. Can. Not. Understand.

Most animals treat their young far better than some humans do.

Now here's your public service announcement for the day.

If you suspect child abuse in Illinois, REPORT it by calling 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873)

It's easy to pick up the phone and call. Because I'm a "mandated reporter", I've had to call several times. The people that man the hotline are nice. They'll ask you to tell them what you've seen or heard...all the details. If they feel the situation is serious enough, they'll send an investigator ASAP.

"People who report alleged child abuse or neglect in good faith cannot be held liable for damages under criminal or civil law. In addition, their names are not given to the person they name as the abuser or to anyone else unless ordered by a hearing officer or judge. Members of the general public may make reports without giving their names."

More from the Illinois

DCFS site

You should call the child abuse hotline whenever you believe that a person who is caring for the child, who lives with the child, or who works with or around children has caused injury or harm or put the child at risk of physical injury as defined in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. Some examples include:

* If you see someone hitting a child with an object.
* If you see marks on a child's body that do not appear to have been caused by accident.
* If a child tells you that he or she has been harmed by someone.
* If a child appears to be undernourished, is dressed inappropriately for the weather, or is young and has been left alone.

And, yea...like Leslie pointed out, sometimes the system fails. Spectacularly. We always hear the horror stories about how badly the system fails. More times than not, it doesn't fail. We rarely hear about those successes, do we? But it can't work at all if we don't use it. If we can save one innocent life...if we can save one baby from suffering...then it's worth it, isn't it?

Each of us, as human beings, need to take a little responsibility. We need to be a voice for those that don't have one. BE curious. BE nosy. BE pro-active.