Monday, February 22, 2010

Predators In Our Schools

Her lips were as soft as pillows. Her breasts were as sweet as honey. After weeks of observing him from afar, she devours him with her lustful ways overwhelming him with her sexual power. It sounds like a chapter from a romance novel. Unfortunately, it's a scenario played out in real life for a 17 year old male student who was seduced by a female teaching assistant from his high school. According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, early this year Pike High School teaching assistant Taine Abdullah picked up this student from his home and they went to see a movie. After the show she gave the young man a fat, juicy french kiss then dropped him off back at home. When I was in high school a french kiss from a girl would set a boy's body on fire. Imagine how this kid's hormones felt after that surprise at the end of a date with a fully developed 40 year old woman. The macho, earthy, human side of me is tempted to say, "Not bad young fella. You've had a cougar experience and survived." Then I remember the boy is a student and this teaching assistant is supposed be a mentor. The father in me says, "We must protect our children from these predators."

"I don't want anything to happen to her because I love her." That's what a teenage girl told Metro Police after her basketball coach was arrested for child seduction last December. Sarah Strahm was hired by Pike High School last spring to turn the program around. She came from Ben Davis High School which was fresh from an undefeated season and ranked as the number one girls hoops team in the nation. By all accounts the Pike girls really responded to Strahm on the court. The were playing better than in previous years and seemed poised to return to a being a respectable program. Detectives claim Strahm had sexual contact with the victim on five occasions. Across town at Warren Central High School two swim coaches Seth Sexton and Matthew Brown were arrested in January. They were accused of having sex with two different girls on the swim team.

The number of Indiana children who were victims of maltreatment in 2007 was 18,380 according to the Administration for Children and Families a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. From that number 15.6% of the children were also victims of sexual abuse. The recently reported cases of adults, specifically, coaches and teachers having sex with Hoosier children shows that parents must show more diligence. Parents are called upon to do a better job of knowing the types of adults their children are around at school and during other activities. In most cases of child seduction the adult is someone the victim and even their parents trust. Parents must have open communication lines with their children so that when red flag activity or conversation starts between an adult and their child they can intervene before it goes too far. Many of us have the good touch, bad touch discussion with them when they're in grade school, but what about the more sophisticated forms good touch, bad touch that takes place in high school. We must talk to our girls and boys about inappropriate conversations, emails, text messages and photos that adults should not exchange with children. We must return to being overly protective as we were when they were young. Doing so could save our children from predators.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Toyota Turmoil


Another day and another recall by Toyota Motor Sales. One week after an all out media blitz to assure customers that Toyota is still a trustworthy brand; the automaker is apologizing to its public once again. This time the fault is with the anti-lock brake system (ABS) in the 2010 Prius. According to Toyota some owners report inconsistencies when they brake on rough or slick surfaces. Around 133,000 Prius vehicles are being recalled so that a software update can be made to repair the anti-lock brake system in the 2010 Prius.

In an article submitted to the Washington Post Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Company, issues an apology, “When consumers purchase a Toyota, they are not simply purchasing a car, truck or van. They are placing their trust in our company.
The past few weeks, however, have made clear that Toyota has not lived up to the high standards we set for ourselves. More important, we have not lived up to the high standards you have come to expect from us. I am deeply disappointed by that and apologize. As the president of Toyota, I take personal responsibility. That is why I am personally leading the effort to restore trust in our word and in our products.”

This is the latest in a series of Toyota recalls involving tricky floor mats and sticky gas pedals. Consumers who don’t own a Toyota may be leery of buying one now. Those who do own one have serious cause for concern. A lawsuit being filed in a U.S. District Court claims certain Toyota car buyers have lost part of their resale value due to the recalls. A lawyer involved in the suit wonders how customers can be certain problems from past recalls have really been fixed. Toyota President, Mr. Toyoda claims 80% of all Toyotas sold in the United States during the last 20 years are still on the road. American automakers like General Motors are not shedding tears for their rival. These major problems come when for the first time ever Toyota has posted an annual loss. You can bet your next “Low Down Payment” that we’ll see a slew of anti-Toyota commercials and sales promotions in the weeks and months ahead.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Football: It's Just A Game


Big Afro, smart and articulate these words describe wide receiver Gene Washington of the San Franciso 49ers. Crafty, tough, smooth and excellent hands describe the skills that made Washington a great football player. Long before he was the Director of Football Operations for the NFL, Washington wore #18 with pride on his way to four consecutive pro bowls from 1969 t0 1972. In 1970 I fell in love with the game of football and the 49ers, largely because of him. When San Franciso lost the NFC Championship game to Dallas two years in a row I was devastated. I became an official Cowboys hater. Growing up in Central Indiana I usually saw a heavy dose of the Chicago Bears and the Cincinnati Bengals. However, my heart was in San Francisco. Whenever they were on television in my area I was glued to the game.
The Jets are going to lay licks on Payton Manning, force the Colts to run the ball and fall to Cinderella. The ghost of Joe Namath or Joe Willie himself is going to show up and give the Jets a repeat victory over Indianapolis. With all of this madness going on I was fully engaged in watching the Colts play the Jets for the AFC Championship. As I settled into the game I noticed my teenage son wasn’t around. He was in his room talking on his cell phone, texting or using the web cam to communicate with friends. I found it odd because he’s a football player who loves the game. I couldn’t imagine why he wouldn’t be totally into his hometown team playing for a chance to reach the Super Bowl. At half time I went to his room and asked why wasn’t he supporting our hometown team by watching the game? He said, “I like the Colts but they’re not my favorite team.” “Well, who is your favorite team?” I replied. To my surprise he said, “Daddy, I don’t have a favorite NFL team. I have a few teams that I like, but no favorite.” Needless to say when the Colts took an “L” at the hands of the Saints in the Super Bowl, I wasn’t surprised when my son showed no emotion during or after the game. No one can remove the 49ers as my favorite team in my heart, but in my mind my hometown Colts had lost a game they were supposed to win. My son’s disposition reminded me that as much as I love football, it's just a game.