Mi imperfect nation
On a given Saturday, the main newspaper in Puerto Rico could be very depressing. It was on April 10, 2010. The first page shows the news of a two year old girl who was dead when she arrived at the hospital. Her tiny body was bruised and showed human bite markings. The girl’s biological father was arrested. Witnesses interviewed said they could always hear the high-tone arguments he and his wife had most of the time, while the girl’s maternal grandfather reacted by saying that he was aware the child was being abused and that his wife – the girl’s grandmother—once called the Department of Families and Children. The information provided by the paper regarding this issue is quite ambiguous. This is my translation of El Nuevo Dia, page 4: “The maternal grandfather said that Gisselle’s mother had notified the Department of Families and the Police about an alleged child abuse pattern [in this family]. However, the following sentence states: “The Secretary of the Department of Families, Ms. Yanitzia Irizarry, said that the couple did not have a record of child abuse.” The people started to wonder, Did they ever investigate?
On the next page (5), there’s an article related to eight year old Lorenzo González-Cacho’s death. A month after his tragic the Puerto Rico Police Department was still behind in an investigation should have been concluded.
Lorenzo, a child who excelled in soccer and was admired by friends and teammates, died on March 9, 2010, after being hit in the head with a sharp object. That night, he was in his home along with his mother Ana Cacho, his two sisters (ages 13 and 5) and two men who were visiting Mrs. Cacho until well past midnight. The Cacho residence lies in an upper-middle class suburb in Dorado, Puerto Rico. It was not until Lorenzo’s younger sister noted that Lorenzo was bleeding on his bed the boy's mother realized what happened. Still, an hour and a half elapsed until Lorenzo was taken to an emergency room. People started to speculate about this case, including that the boy’s mother, Ana Cacho, might have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but this theory was discarded after the mother underwent a drug screening test which, authorities say, was negative. Inexplicably, the laboratory where Cacho went to have the tests done was vandalized a few days after she was there.
As days passed and became weeks, and still no one was arrested, the residents of Puerto Rico became even more interested and involved in this case: a young innocent boy received a mortal blow in his own home, while sleeping on his bed. What appeared to be obvious to all Puerto Rican citizens was not for the police investigators on the island: (a) at the crime scene there were three adults and three children (b) one child is now dead (c) there were no hiding or fleeing suspects to be caught; and (d) that the forensic pathologist confirmed that Lorenzo was brutally murdered.
Meanwhile, Ana Cacho hired three prominent lawyers, because she has the financial means to do so, and has remained silent.

On the other hand, the Department of Families, headed by Yanitzia Irizarry, took a long time to intervene and remove the girls from the maternal aunt's house, where they were staying, even after it was known that their mother was being questioned as a suspect. It is obvious that the girls may feel inhibited in providing information that may incriminate their own mother while staying inside the family. Now that the girls are physically separated from the maternal family, they might be able to communicate what they saw or heard that night.
The popular opinion here in Puerto Rico was that, for some unknown reason (including protecting someone that may be involved in the murder), the investigation was delayed unnecessarily. In addition, people believed that the Police Department, led by Jose Figueroa Sancha, seemed to cater a special treatment to Cacho. People seemed to agree that, if the crime had been committed in a humble and marginalized sector, the story would have been otherwise: someone would have been prosecuted earlier.

The Internet became a forum where people expressed their frustration and pain regarding what they call lack of justice for Lorenzo. After reading the opinions posted by different people in different groups, the concerns of the vast majority of the residents of Puerto Rico about this case were:

Why is Lorenzo's mother silent? Many of the women who wrote their ideas are mothers, and they stated they “would not hesitate to cooperate with the investigation” and that, instead of remaining silent, they would “scream from the rooftops all they know about the case”. The comments in the Facebook group "Justice for Lorenzo" are sometimes overwhelming: "Ana Cacho, speak up at once and be free." Or: "This Ana, to me, is a worthless mother." And: "I cannot understand this woman, she has a stone inside her chest instead of a heart."

On top of everything, Ana's lawyers organized an odd press conference to clarify to the media and the people of Puerto Rico that the mother’s silence responds to their explicit instructions. However, the Facebook user with the pseudonym Palabras Encadenadas provided the following information: “In the practice, very few lawyers would suggest their clients to exercise their right to remain silent… which is likely to be taken negatively by the judge ... and that would cast doubt about the guilt of the accused ...

To make things worse, these internet groups circulated photos which showed Ana Cacho in a variety of social activities, mostly holding alcoholic drinks, and a in a carefree attitude.

People also wonder: why such an unusual delay in this particular case? Forum users described their feelings about this as: "Outraged ... because connections, power, and money in this case prevail over justice”. Others spoke directly to the authorities: "Mr. Governor, Mr. Secretary of Justice we have been waiting for 31 days and we still don’t know what happened to this child. The murderer is still free and we want justice ".

Another common topic was: why does social class distinction exist in the justice system? A participant wrote: “If justice does exist, it must be [delivered equally] to everyone, no one can be excluded, otherwise it would no longer be justice”.

Despite the public outrage, the Police Chief Josí Figueroa Sancha announced to the media that he didn’t foresaw a deadline for the completion of the investigation. Meanwhile, people are still demanding justice for Lorenzo, if not worldly, then heavenly: "I trust God that soon we will know who committed this horrendous crime against this little angel," wrote another contributor to the group.

In April 2010 the Director of the Department of Families was interviewed by Associated Press reporter Omar Marrero. She disclosed that in Puerto Rico “at least 200 children are abused every month,” and that many more cases go unreported. Even though the majority of the reported cases have to do with negligence (for example, not paying attention to a child’s medical problem or school progress) there are still many cases of physical and emotional abuse and even child exploitation. This last item includes forcing the children to work (in farms or family businesses) even though they are not of legal age to work—which is 16 in Puerto Rico.

Unusual Delay in The Murder Investigation of an Eight Year Old Boy

Self Image and Self Esteem

I was on the stationary bike yesterday morning at the gym, when my neighbor-cycler and me engaged in conversation. This 32 yr old woman told me she felt depressed, anxious, aggressive and generally overwhelmed. Even though she has a healthy constitution and fairly good looks, she told me she feels fat and ugly most of the time. I was honest to her and said I didn't think she has weight issues. Her husband does. It's her husband who tells her she doesn't fulfill his expectations. It's her husband that's controlling her by using against her a weapon he knows will make her weak: her issues with her self image. It saddens me that our conversation was not long enough to get her to understand that no one has the right to destroy her self esteem to the degree of feeling depressed and suicidal.

Unfortunately, psychological abuse is common in couples. You'd be surprised to learn from the Psychological Maltreatment of Women Inventory that putting down a person's physical appearance is the number one question. Other ways of psychologically abusing someone includes:

• calling names
• yelling
• swearing
• withholding affection
• not doing a fair share of household tasks
• ordering around
• monitoring your whereabouts, phone calls, etc.
• not contributing financially to the household
• not allowing you to get needed medical care
• threatening to leave the relationship
• blaming you for his or her violent behavior
• blaming you for his or her problems
• trying to convince you that there is something wrong with you or that you are crazy
• being insensitive to your personal or sexual needs

Source: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/pmwi/downloadable_versions_of_the_pmwi

If you are being abused in any way, please get help. Do Not Allow physical abuse and Do Not Let your partner control you or manipulate you in a negative way. And remember, you are valuable no matter what the perception of others is.

Anatomy 101 for Jennifer Love Hewitt

Image via Wikipedia

When Jennifer Love Hewitt appeared on the George Lopez show to talk about her book, she mentioned that one of her favorite chapters is about Vajazzling. She had a friend do it on her after a bad breakup. Vajazzling seems to be a compound word, joining vagina and bedazzled. And, yes, it is all about decorating a "lady's parts." She proudly mentioned that, at the moment of the show, she was wearing a hot pink swarosky cristal embelishment down there.

After reading this vajazzling term for the first time, I started to wonder how in the world could swarosky cristal stickers could be applied to a woman's vagina and how is it visually appealing, taking in consideration that the vagina is located inside the body. By definition,
the vagina is the muscular tube that connects the uterus to the outer part of a woman's genitalia, the vulva. So, again, how is it possible to apply anything decorative in there. Well, I thought, maybe it is like wearing a piercing in the tongue, most likely used to give pleasure during oral sex than to be seen. So... I investigated the topic by going to vajazzling.com and watching a video from "Completely Bare" a waxing salon in New York. This is what I learned: first, the vulva is completely waxed (a brazilian wax), then, the decorations are applied with glue. They are supposed to last five days or so.

I am a pretty modern woman and I would even vajazzle for a special occassion, such as an anniversary. Why not? But, the point here is that someone got the anatomy parts incorrect. Vajazzling is done on de vulva, on the outside, not on the vagina.

For decades (or centuries) people have used diminutives and cute names whenever the private parts are mentioned--"down there" is a common euphemism. This only leads to both, confusion and taboo. The parts of the reproductive system are often presented and talked about incorrectly. After reading the book The Portable Pediatrician for Parents, I learned how important it is to educate ourselves and our children when referring to our reproductive organs, both internal and external. Women have vulvas, vaginas, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and eggs. A man has a penis consisting of a glans, neck, shaft and root; plus scrotum and testicles. Internally, men have vas deferens and seminal vesicles and a prostate.

In conclusion, my only disagreement with vajazzling has to do with the ignorance it implies about the human body.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Video: Jennifer Love Hewitt Reveals She Bedazzles Her Vajayjay (shoppingblog.com)

Pre-menopause? Perimenopause? Menopause?

This is a great article, and it helped me clarify my questions!
http://www.enotalone.com/article/3302.html

DocTort and the Other Robots

"Behind the fog, the dirt, once you clean it, we did a great job [in Haiti]. The people were very thankful when we left". Dr. Pedro Tort, Orthopedist.

El Nuevo Día Newspaper Reads Today:

The publication of photos on the internet, where Puerto Rican doctors [helping in Haiti] are posing with alcoholic beverages [and weapons in their hands], coffins, [as well as photos of naked] injured patients, resulted in the destitution of a renown politic [who is also a medical doctor], caused domestic and international outrage and could result, in the worst case, in the dismissal of the doctors involved.

This group of Puerto Rican doctors never imagined that the photos taken during their stay of four days in the Dominican town of Jimani, on the border with Haiti, would be posted around the world and earn them the condemnation. Some [doctors] asked for forgiveness.

Translated from: By Alba Y. Muñiz Gracia / amuniz@elnuevodia.com

There is no doubt in my mind that the medical doctors, sent by the Senate of Puerto Rico to relieve the pain of at least a few patients--of the thousands of people who are still awaiting to be seen-- had good intentions and used their best knowledge with the least resources. They definitely proved their skills in Surgery, Orthopedics, and General Medicine.

Unfortunately, that's not enough. Earning a Medical Doctor diploma requires a lot of knowledge: Biology, Chemistry, Math, Anatomy. Anybody that is either intelligent or persistent enough can learn all that at the Medical School. Common sense, on the other hand, as well as empathy, and ethics are learned well before someone even enters the University. Values are learned through the process of socialization. Without them, a Medical Doctor would be nothing but a state-of-the-art symptom-checking-disease-treating machine. A Robot. Dr. Robot.

Most people, when looking for a Medical Doctor for routine exams or treatment of a chronic condition, will decide for a professional who, not only is knowledgeable, but also empathic. This is important for patients, especially when they are in danger of death.

Over my 10 years of working for the San Juan Health Department (1992-2002), I learned to respect the Medical Profession. The San Juan AIDS Program started in 1994 with the mission of giving the best medical care available to the medical indigent patients of the San Juan Metropolitan Area. There I worked very close to the Medical Director and his staff. They were special people. Even though I've been away from them for a long time, I can still remember their quality.

• They took their jobs seriously. Back then, many people were prejudiced against AIDS patients. These doctors were not. They weren't scared and really wanted to make a difference. They wanted to evolve both professionally and personally. Doctor Candelario Sosa, the visiting physician, and his staff of two nurses would drive to the homes of patients who were too sick to come to the clinic, even though it meant going into the worst neighborhoods.
  




• They were bright. They could explain the most difficult diagnoses and illnesses in plain language, and could give the best advice ever.
  




• They were patient. Long ago, being an AIDS patient meant having a death sentence. (Fortunately, it is no longer so). The San Juan AIDS Program medical staff were prepared to help patients in crisis; they understood human nature and never (ever) believed they were superior to anyone else.
  




• They knew the patients by name. It didn't matter to them whether the patient was infected with HIV as a result of intravenous drug abuse: this patient was a valuable person and deserved respect.
  




• They kept up to date with the latest scientific breakthroughs. There was even a Clinical Trials Unit at the Program.
  




• They listened.This allowed them to understand what it is like to have AIDS; what the side effects of medications feel like, individually (not from a book). But most important, it allowed the doctors to encourage AIDS patients to pursue their dreams in an era where it was so hard to be so sick.
  

Unfortunately for the Haitian, they had no choices. They couldn't say "I want to be seen by Dr. Jones or Dr. Smith, because he is so kind." They had no choice but allowing DocTort and the other Robots perform surgeries one after another, because if they did not, they would die. Death was imminent. They even thanked DocTort for not allowing them to die. «Merci de ne pas me laisser mourir"

On the other hand, DocTort and his colleagues thought it was so much fun to take pictures of a naked young woman lying on a stretcher, or appear on photos while pointing to caskets and laughing, or holding amputated, necrotic limbs as if they were toys. Aha. Medical practice should be 0% foggy, Mr. DocTort. There should be absolutely nothing to be cleaned.

Help That Does Not Arrive

Image via Wikipedia

NOTE: This article appeared on El Nuevo Día on January 20th. It was written by Silverio Perez, a local entertainer, musician, engineer, singer and motivational writer. He also supports the independence ideology in Puerto Rico.





Even if I do not agree with the writer's political ideals (I believe Puerto Rico should become a state of the nation), or the tone of his writing, I do agree with the essence of what he has written. It hurt, because what is being said is hard to admit. I love the U.S., consider it my homeland. It made me think about what the grandiosity of a nation should really be. Thank you, Silverio, for this article. I believe it is edifying.





Thanks to the Fathers of our Nation, who created a democratic system of government, in which we can all express our feelings, make public criticism or simply point out what is wrong. God Bless America and all the readers.





Spanish to English translation by: http://www.translate.google.com/ Final translation revised and edited by MOI...



Original Source El Nuevo Día: http://www.elnuevodia.com/columna/661586/





Title: The help does not arrive








No. It's not because of the violence of desperate Haitians that relief, antibiotics, doctors and food has not arrived where it is needed. It is simply because the "civilized" world, lead by the U.S., [just] doesn't know how to help.





[The US leaders] know how to invade, how to attack, how to control nations and peoples, but when it comes to helping and aiding the helpless, urgently moving [to a devastated area] they are illiterate.





They tangle in a sea of procedures and bureaucracies; people die while they are trying to figure out what to do [every time] military orders are not [specifically] given.





The shameful situation faced by George Bush with Katrina is now happening with [President] Obama. He has the best of intentions, but when trying to execute [anything] he is undermined by the permanent military government and bureaucrats who swallow [any intentions to help].





Despair has taken over the streets of Port au Prince. Anderson Cooper, who has become the conscience of the true American people, has been for days on CNN asking why help does not arrive. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, also of CNN, has transformed from a reporter to an emergency surgeon and the world can see on his face the outrage at the lack of doctors who are waiting on the border or at the airport for someone to give them orders to start doing something.





The inability of the United Nations and the United States in organizing aid to a country in which the physical and political structures have collapsed is shameful. Simply, they can't figure out how to rescue others on time.





How come we don't see in this [Haitian] scenario the magnificent helicopters we see every time we watch a movie, or the news about the Afghan or Iraq invasions, but this time bringing the needed help, medications, food, shelter and medical personnel? How is it possible that the armies have not been able, after a week of tragedy, to repair roads and airports to facilitate the arrival of help?





No. It is not the violence in Haiti which delays the help, as the press says today. It is the inability to function in times of peace, [since the American nation is] accustomed only to the war. Let's denounce this inability, with all the strength of our throat, so it does not happen again.

End of Article.