America Oh America...land of the free...unless you are a child...

America, Oh America...Land of The Free...Unless You Are a Child...

America, along with third world country, Somalia are the only two nations that have refused to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which rules out life sentences with no chance of release for crimes committed before the age of 18.

America, oh America, a country that claims to be a progressive force for human rights...But what do they really mean? The human right to own a gun? Jordan Brown an 11-year-old boy legally owned a children's rifle and it was with this weapon he allegedly shot in the back of the head and killed his father's girlfriend and her unborn child (who died as a consequence of the mother's death).

The evidence to date indicates Jordan Brown is guilty. If so I don't doubt that it was intentional, I don't doubt that he knew by shooting her in the head he would be killing her, and I also don't doubt he knew what the consequences were (whether he understood them fully is another matter). At the time I don’t think he cared, goverened instead by forceful emotions raging in a young mind not equipped to deal with them.

What interests me is what drove this child to do this and what were the failings in the home or society that led to it.

I often wonder that if parents were held responsible for their child’s actions, whether there would be less child crime? Certainly families with problems would be forced to seek help. So I ask shouldn't the responsibility of a child’s crime be shared when a child is the responsibilty of adults and the state at large?

If children were fully responsible than why are they not given the right to drive? Why don't we have mini cars out there for kids? Sound ridiculous right? But driving a car is like riding a bike when you learn how, it becomes easy - second nature. Surely the reason why there are not cars for kids on our busy, dangerous roads is that there is an obvious need to protect children, who are vulnerable and not just because of their smaller size but because they have yet to learn and develop the necessary emotional and mental skills required for the responsiblity of driving.

How about alchohol – isn’ it bad for humans as a whole? If children are deemed responsible enough to own a gun then why not give them a bottle of whisky and advise them when it is appropriate to drink, telling them a glass on special occassions is ok? And sex. Why not make it legal for children have sex with each other. It feels physically good at any age. All the bits work and children experiment with themselves and other children as a normal part of development. So why not encourage it and have pajama parties where adult accessories are provided. Obscene right? As obscene as giving a child an adult accessory like a gun!

There are very strict rules about the need to overtly protect children from sex , so why in Gods name would you legally give a gun to an 11-year-old boy. It just blows me away... What would it take for America to irradicate its gun law...a text from the Bible saying so...in the same way as sex – virginity inparticular - is Godlified perhaps?

Ok, say Jordan is guilty of double murder. Should he go down forever and never have the chance to redeem himself?

Most of you will remember the Bulger case: the horrific, senseless torture and murder of three year old Jamie Bulger by two ten year old boys. It was reported that the accused children came from broken down, dysfunctional homes. Many children do and do not murder. These children were failed. At the time of sentencing there was an uproar and the British nation was divided about the sentence given to these children. Most people reacted from an emotional stance of – Off with their heads - Reactions are frought with ego and do not serve the greater purpose.

Over all these children had a lot to answer for but who else did?

These children served their time and years later upon release one of the boys was accused of another crime...Many people threw their hands up in the air with an “I told you so”, reinforcing the need for harsher sentencing. Should both boys then have spent their lives incarcerated? Is reform really possible?

Personally I believe, absolutely yes! Should the parents share the responsibility for their children’s crimes? Absolutely yes! Should society share the responsibility for a child’s crime? Absolutely yes!

But what then in cases where a child comes from a good home and crime free neighbourhood? Who shares the responsibilty then? Maybe the kid was a bad apple...or maybe he just had a bad day...but in America where the kid is legally given a gun, isn't the state now responsible? Wasn’t it them authorising this child to own and use a weapon before the child had developed enough to find another way to resolve his problems. As we know many adults don't find this way but shouldn't we be giving children the chance?

Instead of ripping Jordan Brown of his rights perhaps America, oh America, should stand as tall and proud as the Statue of Liberty and hold the torch for the freedom of its children...free to not be incarcerated for life....

Article 37 UNCRC :

States Parties shall ensure that:
(a) No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Neither capital punishment nor life imprisonment without possibility of release shall be imposed for offences committed by persons below 18 years of age;

http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/treaties/uncrc.asp#One

CRIN – Children’s Rights Information Network

Which city now...Istanbul or London?

So it's been 4 years and 4 months since my arrival to Istanbul. I came with no expectations other than to have a change, spend time with my mum and write....well all three of those have been achieved.

The change from London to Istanbul was HUGE! Hills instead of flat landscape, sun instead of rain, tasty food instead of processed shit, the Bosphoros as opposed to the Thames....

Then there were the things that surprised as being somewhat similar to London: great nightlife and fun and funky young population where everyone is a toker! That took me by surprise!!!

There was stuff that grated me too...like the fact that if I wore a miniskirt I was at times called a whore; grown men taking a detour just to come and stare at my crotch (if I wore leggings); children talking to their parents rudely, parents taking that shit; men talking to women rudely, women taking that shit...

The overall lack of rights, inequality all round from gender to socio economic status and even region was not a surprise, but nevertheless left a nasty taste in my mouth that even a good kebab couldn't irradicate.

Then there is the money...Unlike the rest of Europe, Turkey is flourishing right now, businesses are thriving and Istanbul is becoming a city that people are talking about. Business, culture, heritage, food, nightlife....Istanbul has it all...

Such a diverse city....even if it is a paradox at times...For example it has an accepted tranny population and unaccepted gay population; a large amount of accepted prostitution and unaccepted exposure to sex in TV and media; an accepted amount of adultery for men and unaccepted adultery for women; drink driving, driving without seatbelts and backsheesh if you get caught by the police - totally acceptable; straightening out a recklass driver, asking someone to not drink and drive and wearing a seat belt - totally unacceptable...

So it's been a trip!

On a personal tip I achieved a shit load but everything is still hanging....I wrote two books, but still looking for an editor and publisher....got married, but still waiting for it to feel real....became a yoga teacher, but still waiting to teach...got script ideas, but yet to write the script...

There needs to be a shift. Will the new Chinese Year of the Rabbit bring that?...2010 Year of the Tiger was fast-paced, at times volatile, full of unsettling change...The Rabbit year is sensitivity, diplomacy and a slower pace...a time to catch my breath I hope and be the year to lay new foundations.

Overall stanbul has given me so much...time with my family, beautiful friends, a beautiful new love, the time and creative freedom to write....But now what am I going to do with it all?

Do I need to move back to London to truly unwrap all these gifts...Will I find editors, agents and publishers more easily in London? Will my film connections over there inspire and help me? Will I be taken on by my friend as a yoga teacher at her school? Will my marriage have more chance of survival?

Some people say it is the person and not the place that makes it happen...Although I believe that to be true, an environmet can draw out different qualites and strengths. I leant this very quickly the year I went travelling around SE Aisa.

Back in 2000 each country enlivened me in another way: Thailand was fun and frollicking and also exposed dark hidden secrets that lay buried within; Cambodia was dark, haunting and beautiful - it was my reflection at that time; Loas the lesson in love - karmic painful lessons; India, oh India, my fire became lit in a place that never let me burn. I shone when I danced and my shakti shook me up. The child angels came to my rescue - buoys to my drowning heart; Bali was sexual and tropically - kind of of like my sister D who came to holiday with me at that time and Australia showed me that despite how far I had come there was still a long inner jurney to embark on...

The countries revealed me to myself and since we are all one and the same thing the places were really also only me - The Ego -the biggest illusion sees what it wants - The heart the only real source can burn that.

So yes a person is the one to make it happen AND a place can help. Through self awareness the heart becomes freed from the clutches of the ego...then the force becomes surrender and the happen happens anyway.

So I ask, which is the right place for me now, for the ‘make it happen’ to become a happening?