Daddy ... it hurts ...

My name is Chris ,
I am three,
My eyes are swollen..
I cannot see.

I must be stupid,
I must be bad,
What else could have made,
My daddy so mad?

I wish I were better,
I wish I weren't ugly,
Then maybe my mommy,
Would still want to hug me.

I can't do a wrong,
I can't speak at all,
Or else I'm locked up,
All day long.

When I'm awake,
I'm all alone,
The house is dark,
My folks aren't home.

When my mommy does come home,
I'll try and be nice,
So maybe I'll just get,
One whipping tonight.



I just heard a car,
My daddy is back,
From Charlie's bar

I hear him curse,
My name is called,
I press myself,
Against the wall.

I try to hide,
From his evil eyes,
I'm so afraid now,
I'm starting to cry.

He finds me weeping,
Calls me ugly words,
He says its my fault,
He suffers at work.

He slaps and hits me,
And yells at me more,
I finally get free,
And run to the door.



He's already locked it,
And I start to bawl,
He takes me and throws me,
Against the hard wall.

I fall to the floor,
With my bones nearly broken,
And my daddy continues,
With more bad words spoken.

'I'm sorry!', I scream,
But it's now much to late,
His face has been twisted,
Into a unimaginable shape.

The hurt and the pain,
Again and again,
O please God, have mercy!
O please let it end!

And he finally stops,
And heads for the door,
While I lay there motionless,
Sprawled on the floor.

My name is Chris,
I am three.
Tonight my daddy

Murdered me.

______________________________


I found this poem on Facebook today.
It was posted back in October 2009,
and it is being passed on there since then.

I posted the poem to my wall, too.
And I added the following commentary ...

______________________________


I pass this on, because it is important.

I do not need, or approve of, the
"if you don't ... you don't have no soul!!!"
part of the original message
[urging the people to pass on the poem].
And I don't want you to feel that pressure, either.

What is described in this poem, happens every day.
All around the world.
In rich families and poor families.
To boys and girls.

Just read this poem,
and feel it.
Think about it.
And then act.

By not looking away.

By helping.

By holding your own emotions under control,
and not make those suffer who deserve to suffer the least.
It is so easy to cross that line ...
Please don't.

Instead:


Be a bright spot in a dark place.

You are needed.

______________________________

.

"PROMISES stops you in your tracks. (...) It is a movie that changes you."

PROMISES

is a stunning and prize winning feature documentary

by Justine Shapiro, B.Z. Goldberg and Carlos Bolado.

I highly recommend watching it.
You can buy the documentary on DVD
here!

______________________________

The story of PROMISES

Jewish filmmaker B.Z. Goldberg returns from America to Jerusalem, where he grew up as a kid, and starts a documentary about seven Jewish and Palestinian children, who only live 20 minutes away from each other - but due to the political situation, will never get to meet and know each other.

During the documentary, something ground breaking happens:

The children, who first describe the world they live in, defined by separation, war, brutality and death, all of a sudden utter the wish of getting to know "the other kids" ... And so, Palestine and Jewish children meet each other on one day.

They realize that, although there are many political, historical and social obstacles, that separate their two nations, there are even more (and more important!) things that connect them.

______________________________

Reviews, voices and thoughts on PROMISES ...

"PROMISES stops you in your tracks. It reminds you that children are very connected to God. It is deeply touching and disturbing to see how alike all children are and how religion turns them into each others enemies. It is a movie that changes you."
(Mike Nichols, Film Director)

"A project of love and devotion... This small film is a large masterpiece."
(The Jerusalem Post, Israel)

"Impressive, moving and deeply authentic. One of the best films about the Middle East I have ever seen. The rhythm of the editing leaves you at the edge of your chair. If I had my way, the next Middle East peace summit would start with a screening of PROMISES."
(David Grossman, Israeli author: The Yellow Wind; See Under: Love)

______________________________

Information

For more information, please visit

PROMISES' official website

Please check out

PROMISES on IMDb

______________________________

.

THE CURE

THE CURE

USA 1995

______________________________

Directed by

Peter Horton

Written by

Robert Kuhn

______________________________

Starring

Brad Renfro

Joseph Mazzello

Diana Scarwid

Annabella Sciorra

______________________________

Dexter, age 11, who has AIDS, and his next door neighbor Eric, a little older and much bigger, become best friends. Eric also becomes closer to Dexter's mother than to his own, who is neglectful and bigoted and violently forbids their friendship upon learning of it.

When they read that a doctor in distant New Orleans claims to have found a cure for AIDS, the boys leave home on their own, planning to float down the Mississippi river and find him.

(from THE CURE on IMDb)

______________________________

.

Amazing Find: The Reign of Kindo

I discovered this band today, and their music really captivates me:

The Reign of Kindo

Gee, what can I say - better take a look
and let the music speak for itself.

Hope you enjoy!

______________________________

.

The saddest anniversary ...

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep

I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints in snow
I am the sunlight and ripened grain
I am the gentle Autumn rain

When you awake in the morning hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight
I am the soft stars that shine at night

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep

______________________________

April 19th 2010

Kelvin, or Kel, as he always called himself when we were messaging on YouTube, died exactly one year ago. I only knew him for seven weeks, but his death nearly crushed me.

Nothing makes sense, with the abrupt and tragic end of a life that was still at the beginning of everything - the passing of a 13 year old boy, who had been through so much before, and who, then, finally was on the threshold of good things that would have begun happening for him. It was his chance to make a fresh start, and to become happy again ...

One year has passed, and I know that I will never really be at peace with what happened. But I also know something else ...

Kel has not passed for good. I know we will meet again some day, and I know that, until then, Kel is there - in everything good and beautiful that I see, and in the memories I have of him ... and in my heart.

The lyrics of Libera's wonderful song DO NOT STAND AT MY GRAVE AND WEEP say so much of what I believe and know. And this is why I decided, long ago already, to upload a video made from this song on this saddest of all anniversaries.

I wanted to express these thoughts that keep me going every day (although it is hard ...), and that I want to share with everyone out there.

I also made this upload in memory of another boy - Stew, who was one year younger than Kel, and who died only five days after him.

I have found a good and precious friend in Stew's older brother Mike. And I am sure that, just as Mike and I have become friends, Kel and Stew are now good friends, too ... and that they wait for us, and watch over us, until we will finally meet each other again.

______________________________

Addendum

On August 6th 2010, Mike died in his sleep, from a cerebral haemorrhage. He was only 17 years old. There are no words to describe how I feel about this ... but now, the video that I made is also in memory of my friend Mike.

______________________________


My video and blog for the second anniversary of Kel's death day:

Two Years

My video and blog for the third anniversary of Kel's death day:

Don't

______________________________

.

Jaylen Arnold and Dash Mihok live on Toginet Radio

This is a three piece video I made from an interview, that nine year old anti bullying campaigner Jaylen Arnold, his Mom Robin Arnold and Jaylen's co-campaigner, Hollywood actor Dash Mihok, gave on February 24th 2010, on the show

LEARNING AND LAUGHTER WITH LOUISE

on Toginet Radio.

Jaylen, Dash and Robin talk about Tourette's, about Bullying and about what Jaylen's dream is:

To end bullying, once and for all!

______________________________

Please visit Jaylen's official website and get the latest news on Jaylen's campaign work, read Jaylen's blog, and register as a forum member, to exchange experiences, thoughts and ideas on Tourette's, Bullying and much more.

You can also go there to personally support Jaylen's cause, by making a donation, and get your own BULLYING NO WAY wristband!

Please also check out Jaylen's YouTube channel and subscribe :-)!

Jaylen was featured on CBS News this year - please check out the video !


If you want to get the latest news about Hollywood actor and Tourette's / Anti-Bullying campaigner Dash Mihok, check out his official website!


Check out the trailer to Dash's latest movie LIFTED.

______________________________


This three piece video was made by
Michael / True
aka Truedantalion / Kelvinwontcry2


______________________________

.

Day Of Silence (4/16/10)

This is a video made by Alyx,

who runs an awesome channel on YouTube:

AlyxJW

There, he documented his fight against Leukemia,

which he finally won.

In this video here, Alyx spreads a great message.

Maybe you want to join in?

April 16th is the day ... Shhhh!

.

In Memory of April