More child abuse

I just finished reading an article about Shyima Hall.

Shyima is a 19 year old girl, who lives in California. She was born in Egypt and lived there until she was 10 when she was brought here to serve as a child maid. A wealthy Egyptian couple brought her from a poor village in northern Egypt to work in their California home. Her duties included waking up before dawn to iron their clothes, mop the marble floors and dust the family's crystal. She often worked past midnight. She earned $45 a month working up to 20 hours a day. She had no breaks during the day and no days off.

The family she worked for lived in a spacious five-bedroom, two-story home, which was decorated to look like a Tuscan villa. The house also featured a fountain of two angels spouting water through a conch.

Shyima though was not welcomed in the house. She was told to sleep in the garage. It had no windows, heat, or air-conditioning. After the garage's only light bulb went out, the family didn't replace it. From then on, she lived in the dark.

Shyima became a maid after her father who was a bricklayer became ill. Her mother found a maid recruiter and signed a contract that essentially leased her daughter to the family for 10 years.

Her family, of course, was poor.

At first, Shyima worked in her owner's home in Cairo. She was 9 at the time. Her mother came by once a month, not to visit her daughter, but to pick up her salary. Later when they moved to California, Shyima moved with them. But, she was never treated as family. As a matter of fact, she was treated like dirt. The kids of the family called her stupid, and that was allowed. Still, she had to wake up in the morning and serve the cretins.

Finally, in April 2002, an anonymous call was placed to the California Department of Social Services notifying them that there was a child living in a garage. A few days later the local police came and rescued the girl from the house. It took four years, but eventually the mother and father of the family were charged and a trial ensued.

During the whole ordeal the girl was ostracized by her own family.

Her father yelled at her.

She was quoted as saying, "They kept telling me that they're good people. That it's my fault. That because of what I did my mom was going to have a heart attack."

Thankfully, her owner's finally pleaded guilty to all the charges they faced. The husband was sentenced to three years in federal prison. The mother was sentenced to 22 months. Both were to be deported after their prison stints. They were also ordered to pay Shyima $76,000. The amount she would have earned if paid minimum wage.

The story does have a happy ending being that Shyima has been adopted by a new family that treats her well.

The sad part of this is that this is something that is rampant. The article reported that there are tens of thousands of children in Africa being recruited every year to work as domestic servants. Some of the children are as young as 3 years old.

Many of these servants end up in the United States and Europe. In fact, The U.S. State Department found that over the past year, children from at least 10 African countries were trafficked as maids to the U.S. and Europe. Unfortunately, because the servants are so well hidden they have no idea of just how many.

As I read this type of articles, I can't help but wonder why these types of atrocities toward children are being allowed, or better yet, tolerated. I thought the children represented our future. If so, what type of future will we have if these types of things continue to happen?

I say "we" because we are truly a global people. Although we may not like to realize it, what affects others, affects us. It is time for us, not government, to stand up against these people who use our children as slaves.

As for the mother of the family, she is back in Cairo. The last time she was spotted she was walking around in the lobby of her apartment with designer sunglasses on. Right behind her, was a little girl carrying her grocery bags.

The girl was around 9 years old.

The Wizard has spoken

When is the right time to break the news to your child?

Hey. Son. You know that fat man in a red suit and hat that you adore so much. That man you write letters to every year asking for all the newest toys. The guy we make cookies for every Christmas and leave them out on a plate with milk.

Yes, Daddy.

Well, Son. I hate to tell you, but Santa Claus is not real. Neither are the reindeer.

What?

During these holidays, I've been replaying that conversation constantly in my mind. Trying to figure out when would be the best time to tell my son the truth about Santa Claus. Being that he is two now, I don't have to worry about it. Right now, he still doesn't know who Santa is.

But, I'm sure that will change next year.

Still, it was something that crossed my mind this year.

I want to make sure I approach the topic properly. I do know that this is a sensitive and somewhat shocking revelation. I still remember when my father told me. We were standing at a bus stop on a cold and snowy day in Toronto. I can't remember what exactly provoked the conversation, but whatever it was it led to him telling me rather harshly that there was no Santa.

I was devastated.

I also quickly learned that the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy were not real either.

It was a rough time in my development.

As for my son, I think I would like to be a little more sensitive than my father was in breaking the news to me.

I'm sure that it won't be an easy conversation.

And yeah, Son, before you ask.

I'm the one who has been eating the cookies and drinking the milk.

The Wizard has spoken.

My baby is missing

"Oh, I forgot. I don't have one"

That is what, Meagan McCormic, essentially said this week after creating a stir in her community in Miami, Florida. Meagan appeared at a news conference and while in tears announced to all who were watching that her 5-month old son was missing.

Her original story was that she hadn't seen him since leaving him with a nanny.

She was joined at the news conference by the child's supposed father.

After having police search for the boy, it was revealed that the whole thing was a hoax. The baby never existed. She made up the whole story in an attempt to lure back her ex-boyfriend.

Apparently, she told him that he had fathered her child. When he decided to come and see his baby, she told him the baby was missing. That led to the news conference where she tearfully said, "I don't even know if he's dead or alive".

Well, love, we don't know either. Being that he was a figment of your imagination.

Meagan has been charged with filing a false police report. If convicted she may have to pay restitution to the authorities for the cost of their search.

I guess she can kiss the ex-boyfriend bye for good now.

Just how desperate is that?

The Wizard has spoken.

Not 0-16

As a sports fan, I enjoy watching historic moments.

But, I really hope that the Detroit Lions do not make history today by becoming the first to go 0-16.

No, I'm not a Lions fan. I do have family members who are. I just don't want to see it happen.

Maybe, I feel sorry for them.

The Lions have suffered enough. They had to deal with Matt Millen and his horrific tenure as President and General Manager. They've had to deal with organized walkouts. They've been embarrassed on Thanksgiving.

They don't need this.

Unfortunately, I don't think they're going to be able to beat the Green Bay Packers today. Not in Lambeau. Not with this team that seems to be devoid of pride. As a person who used to play the game, there is no way I would let me or my team go out like this. You would like to think somebody in that locker room would stand up and say, "We are not going to allow THIS to happen".

Obviously, that is not the case.

I never thought I would see a team go undefeated and then the Patriots pulled the feat last year. I definitely thought I would never see a team go winless. But, the Lions are trying their best to make it happen.

Hopefully, it won't happen.

Go Lions!!!

The Wizard has spoken.

The Wiz NFL Week 17 Pics

Sunday Football
St. Louis at Atlanta - Atlanta
New England at Buffalo – New England
Kansas City at Cincinnati - Cincinnati
Detroit at Green Bay – Green Bay
Tennessee at Indianapolis - Indianapolis
NY Giants at Minnesota - Minnesota
Carolina at New Orleans - Carolina
Cleveland at Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh
Oakland at Tampa Bay – Tampa Bay
Chicago at Houston - Chicago
Jacksonville at Baltimore - Baltimore
Washington at San Francisco – San Francisco
Miami at NY Jets – Miami
Dallas at Philadelphia – Dallas
Seattle at Arizona - Seattle

Sunday Night Football
Denver at San Diego – San Diego

The Wiz's 2008 Record: 140-83-1

The Wizard has spoken

The CIA does push drugs!

Well, not those types of drugs.

But, I just read an article in the Washington Post about how the CIA is using Viagra as an incentive to gain informants in Afghanistan.

One official was quoted in the article as saying, "You didn't hand it out to younger guys, but it could be a silver bullet to make connections to the older ones. Afghan tribal leaders often had four wives -- the maximum number allowed by the Koran -- and aging village patriarchs were easily sold on the utility of a pill that could put them back in an authoritative position."

To be fair, two veteran officers stated that the use of Viagra is rare and only given to older tribal officials for whom the drug would hold special appeal. Plus, there are other things used as bribes, such as: pocketknives and tools, medicine or surgeries for ailing family members, toys and school equipment, tooth extractions, and travel visas.

Still, a friend of mine brings up a valid point. If you or I were to hand out prescription drugs without a license, we would be in jail – for a long time.

Yet, again, we are talking about the CIA.

But, I do have a question about all of this. What about the side effects?

What instructions do they give these men if they experience erections lasting longer than 4 hours?

Plus, I just wonder where do they get the funding for these goodies?

The Wizard has spoken

Married at 8

I really try not to judge other cultures. I’m sure there are things within our culture that others may disagree with.

Still, I can’t understand why some cultures condone child marriages.

I just read an article where an 8 year-old girl in Saudi Arabia was denied an annulment to end her marriage to her 47 year-old husband. Apparently, the father of the little girl arranged this marriage to his close friend to settle his debts.

The mother of the child was the one who was trying to get the marriage annulled. But, it turns out that she is not her daughter’s legal guardian. Thus, the judge ruled against her motion. She and the father have separated.

One thing the judge did do was make the husband pledge not to consummate the marriage until the girl reaches puberty. He also ruled that the girl could file for an annulment once she reaches puberty.

In truth though, how would the judge know if the husband did have sex with the girl?

I find it disturbing that the judge would even have to ask for this pledge. What type of man would even consider sleeping with an 8-year old?

That is just absolutely disgusting.

And as for the father, I just can’t fathom how he could resort to giving away his daughter to settle his debts.

I can understand being poor. But, me, I would have to find another way – even if it meant being the man’s personal slave. The girl had nothing to do with accumulating his debt. Yet, she has to pay the ultimate price.

The real tragedy about this case is that it is not an isolated case.

The Human Rights Commission reports that they are presented cases like this in Saudi Arabia once every four or five months.

That’s unreal.

The Wizard has spoken.