I smiled and cried simultaneously, as I watched Jaycee Dugard's recent interview with Diane Sawyer. After weeks filled with the freakish Casey Anthony circus, I hope that people took a long pause away from the Anthony media coverage to focus on the truly awe-inspiring, magnificent mother that is Jaycee Dugard.
Jaycee Dugard, living in conditions that would turn most people into an emotional cripple, survived in no small part due to the strength of the mother's love she has for her daughters and the love instilled within her soul by her mother Terry.
In contrast, while Jaycee struggled to watch over her daughters, determined to protect them as much as possible from the evil that held them captive, Casey Anthony was living the good life, giving little thought to the fact that her daughter was rapidly disappearing in a murky Florida swamp. Dancing and smiling, Casey's behavior was stomach churning, and defied all we as human beings expect of a loving mother. Quite frankly, I've seen stray cats be a better mother than Casey Anthony. Caylee deserved better; she deserved the love and devotion of a mother like Jaycee. If we can be thankful for anything to do with Caylee's murder, at least she is now in a place where nobody can ever harm her again and oblivious to the injustice left behind. However, there are children -- alive for the moment -- who at this very instant, desperately need our country's attention and swift action.
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the U.S. Department of Justice reports that 797,500 children are reported missing in a one-year time span; at least 100 of those children end up murdered. In addition, 5 children die every single day in the U.S. due to child abuse. Isn't it time that we as a nation give these needless tragedies the attention they deserve? If the media can talk nonstop about one case for weeks on end, can't they do the same for all of the others?
Instead of dancing, Jaycee Dugard has decided to fight for change. She has started The JAYC Foundation to assist individuals and families recovering from abduction and traumatic experiences. One of the most touching aspects of the foundation comes in the form of a little pine cone. During her last moment of freedom, Jaycee felt the sharp edges of a pine cone underneath her body before being snatched away for 18 years. To her, that pine cone became so symbolic of freedom, that today she wears one as a necklace. For those able to donate 75.00 in support of this important cause, you can own one too, and show the world that you care about this issue beyond tawdry, Anthony style, headlines.
Caylee's Law
"A Stolen Life" by Jaycee Dugard