Shaniya Davis and the world we live in

Now that Shaniya Davis’ body has been found, the chorus of “what is this world coming to?” has begun.  Before you sing your part, I’ve got a quick story from my last trip to Atlanta.
I was in the barber shop, watching another rousing edition of the evening news.  I say that because Atlanta has, without question, the most depressing evening news I’ve ever seen.  It’s the big reason I’ve watched very little local news since my freshman year of college (leading to more than a few awkward conversations with local news personalities who don’t understand how I could possibly not know who the hell they are).  I do remember that great story the day the dudes tried to set it off at Chuck E. Cheese in ’97, and thinking how mad they would have been had they got home to find they jacked up a dozen sacks of tokens.  Other than that?  Not worth it.
Home invasion here.  Murder there.  You name it — if it would mess up your mood, it was on in the first 15 minutes.
Now, this was the day of the shootings at Fort Hood…and the Atlanta news still beat that in terms of depression.
So I sat in the chair, and I said to the barber, “it seems like every time I come back here, things get wilder and wilder.”
I’ll never forget his response.
“No it’s not.  Only thing wilder is the news.”
He’s right, in large measure.  The crime rate isn’t that much different than it was before.  I have to admit that part of the reason Atlanta seems wilder to me now is that poor people that used to jack each other have started breaking into houses in my parents’ neighborhood.  That’s got a way of making things seem a lot worse.
There are some horrible things going on right now.  Know why?  Because they’re a continuation of the horrible things that have happened forever and ever and ever.  The saddest thing about what happened to Shaniya Davis is that this isn’t new.  This isn’t something to make us take inventory of modernity.  Remember — yesterday’s victims are tomorrow’s predators.  This is a cycle, not a shift.
Don’t be a fool for the 5 o’clock news.  Only thing good about the good old days is that they’re old.  This was another terrible thing to happen in a world that’s got a terrible side to it. We just know a lot more about that side than we used to.

8 thoughts on “Shaniya Davis and the world we live in”

  1. YOU RIGHT THE NEWS NOW DAYS JUST REPORT THE THINGS THEY WANT YOU THE KNOW NOT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW LIKE IN THE OLD DAYS,IT’S A SHAME THAT THE NEWS NOW DAYS TRY TO GET RATINGS REPORTING THE BADS THING NOT THE GOODS THINGS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK PEOPLE.

  2. It’s the snake eating its own tail.
    I contend that children see far more violence and criminal action on tv that isn’t movies or video games. The most consistent sources of negative, damaging images come on network television.
    Watch network television at 9 or 10 any given weeknight and every show is about someone getting murdered, or raped, or both. CSI, NCIS, Law & Order, Cold Case, Without a Trace, etc., etc. are all about people being killed in the most grizzly way possible.
    Then, wait till 10 or 11 when the local news comes on and it’s those stories brought to life, only far worse.
    But, you can rest assured that they’ll balance it out with weather, sports, mindless entertainment coverage and then wrap up the night with puppies so no one feels bad before hitting the pillow.
    Surefire way to keep people’s minds in the negative in a national method.
    I don’t watch the local or network news ever. At most, I’ll catch some stuff on PBS or BBCA.

  3. Bo, I don’t know what to say. I heard Russ Parr say this morning that maybe God knew what this little girl was going through and to somehow ease her suffering, he took her away from us…..sounds reasonable to me because at this point nothing else seems to make sense. I tear up when I think her and it’s worse when I see her pictures and I even feel sorry for the accused because who knows what their past was like to lead them to this. I have to trust that at some time, God will sort it all out, but until then, I pray that little Shaniya is safe with him, safe and as happys as she looks in her pictures.

  4. Alma Breckenridge

    It is extremely notable that the body of Shaniya Davis was found under bushes of Kudzu plants (Pueraria lobata). The Kudzu has been, generally labeled a weed, a noxious weed, due to its uncontrollable growth which chokes surrounding vegetation. It is a vine genus; it trails, it climbs and coils. Southern states, including North Carolina, where the vine grows sporadically, attribute such names to the coiling invader as, “mile-a-minute”, vine and “foot-a-night,” vine or, “the vine that ate the South”. Would it be presumptuous to apply an analogy of this aggressive vine to the increasingly incessant nature of horrific crimes against children? It seems the attempt is worth the analysis. Could there be a message being given to us? Is the message from the body of a presumably mutilated, raped, defiled, disrespected and deprived-of-life, 5 year old girl, found under weedy bushes of such an uncontrollable nature? The environment in which young children live is completing its cycle in becoming the vine from a most evil, vile state of dementia. The winding, trailing, coiling perpetual cycle of existence – a weed, choking decency, care, nurture and concern for children from their supposed guardians and care-givers; making love for the young alien and unattainable. Parental negligence, adults and even young people contribute to creating coiling, climbing, out-of-control, criminal danger zones consistently voiding any breath of comforting life and living from babies unable to defend themselves.
    Alma Breckenridge
    • Sammy Rose Saltzman, Shaniya Davis’ Little Body Found Near Deer Carcasses in Trash
    [November 18, 2009 11:35 AM]
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kudzu.

  5. Bo, you hit the nail on the head about ATL’s depressing local news!! I can’t bring myself to watch. Its too outrageous. There’s never any sense of wellness or resolution — only thing more sad than the crimes is the inability of the authorities to keep up with the criminals and the botched up way in which the journalists present their slant on the story!
    *shaking my head in thought about Shaniya, her friends and family* I can’t wrap my head around it yet.

  6. she was the most pretty and she did nothing too him and i hope he gets what he get same with the mother i hope she get her child that she support getting took from her because she done too her daughter the is so sad , i am so mad at her mother put her in that station that she was in and she could get out so should put her child in at type of station because hurt child was not right he should let the child along she did nothing to nobody and i think she was the most pretty and smart child that i know right but she some different with god and i hope god is taking care of her right because i thing she not have been put something like that . he things it is alright but it is not for him or her because they had too done too that most pretty five old girl and shaniya davis u a in my prays and i will pray u that god will take care of u in heaven i LU Erica Lejeune

  7. but i hope what he gets because they both should have put her in that station ,she should leave the drugs along because will put her down the worry path and led her the worry away need too think about what they put their self into and child. for the child safe because u would not if he killed and rape your own child so yall ladies because he is the more sick person i never see. lu shaniya davis with all your pray and lets pray for because she is with god right now in heaven with the angels. but i lu shaniya davis because u was most prettys and most sweet loving gurl ever see her never and with in my heart.

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