European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 14, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes a Page 11ann Landers dear Ann Landers a Beautiful thing happened to me recently while lunching with a Friend in a Glendale Calif restaurant. I Hope you will share it with your readers. I had ordered the roast beef horseradish and mashed potatoes. We were talking and i Wasny to paying much attention to my food. I scooped up a healthy glob of horseradish thinking it was the potatoes and suddenly a strange thing happened. I did no to choke but i  exhale. This lasted a Good minute and a half although it seemed like an eternity. I leaped out of my chair and motioned for my Friend to help me but she was paralysed with fear. I was terrified a a absolutely certain that i was dying. All i could think of was a what will my children do suddenly a gentleman rushed Over from across the room and gave me a Swift hard blow on the Back. It was like a Miracle. Almost instantly i was perfectly of. The stranger sat me Down in my chair and said a take it easy. You re just Fine  i was soaking wet and my Knees were shaking. After a few prayers i pulled myself together and went to seek my Benefactor who was seated at a one chair table. I simply said a thank you sir a you saved my life Quot he smiled the kindest smile i had Ever seen Ana left shortly after. A waitress came Over to me and with a puzzled look she said a that Man has had lunch Here every wednesday for the last 11 years. Today is thursday a Joyzelle p. Cole dear Joyzelle what a Beautiful Story. Thank you for sharing it with us. With so Many ugly things happening in the world today its wonderful to read about something so uplifting. Dear Ann Landers while sorting through some old papers and clippings i came across the enclosed article and thought you might get a chuckle out of it. Sorry i done to know who wrote it. Enjoy Ann. A Hutchinson Kansas dear Hutch in be never seen it before and i do think it s pretty funny. Thank you for sharing. Mystery solved it seems that when the Good lord was making the world he called Man aside and bestowed upon him 26 years of Normal sex life. Man was horrified but the creator refused to Budge. Then the lord called the Monkey and gave him 20 years. A but i Don t need 20 years said the Monkey. A ten years is  Man spoke up and said a May i have the other 10 years a the Monkey agreed. The lord called on the lion and also gave him 20 years. The lion too wanted Only 10. Again Man spoke up. A May 1 have the other 10years?�?� course Quot said the lion. Then came the Donkey who was also Given 20 years. Like the others 10 years was enough. Man again asked for the spare 10 years and he got them. This explains Why Man has 20 years of Normal sex life 10 years of monkeying around 10 years of lion about it and 10 years of making a jackass out of himself. Dear readers dozens of people wrote to Tell me the author of a a dogs plea Quot is Beth Norman Harris. Thank you thank you thank you. Writers discuss dealing with child abuse As both a Mother and a social worker involved in child Protection 1 Feci compelled to respond to some of the issues raised in the recent article about suspected child abuse. Child Protection workers Are the bearers of the news nobody wants to hear and must make seemingly harsh decisions when the safety of a child is at risk. We have to bring out of the closet the issues which society would prefer to leave hidden. And yes we have to question what parents often erroneously see As their rights when parents perhaps unknowingly or unintentionally violate the rights of their children Ana violate the Law. When we err we must err on the Side of caution because the Law requires us to protect victims even when they Are unable to understand or describe what has happened totem. Yet it is important to understand that there Are safety valves built into the system to prevent rampant judgment errors resulting from decisions made in a vacuum by stressed Over involved or simply under educated child Protection workers. As you mentioned in a second article each army Community has a team of professionals which investigates All allegations and formulates recommendations for Protection and treatment. These recommendations must be approved by a family judge in any Case where a child is involuntarily removed from the custody of a Parent. Throughout this process there Are numerous checks and balances which exist to protect the rights of both children and parents. As social workers we Are accustomed to daily dealings with angry indignant or hostile parents commanders and attorneys. This occurs even when we do not remove children but rather Only request that the family undergo counselling. We Are equally accustomed to dealing with denial displacement of responsibility rationalization and All of the other defense mechanisms which families use to justify or camouflage abuse. It is common knowledge that Many abusers arc excellent soldiers and Fine upstanding members of the Community. We also know that children tend to loyally love their parents and want to remain with them even at the risk of being injured. There Are numerous other factors which research brings to our attention. For example children who have emotional or behavioural problems Are at a much greater risk of abuse than other children. Further children arc known to routinely retract or recant their original reports of abuse once intervention takes place due often to their love for their parents and the fear of possible retaliation. In Usa eur alone at least three children Are known to have died at the hands of their parents during the past eight months. The process of prevention has to begin somewhere and it must begin with those of us who know that Early detection and protective intervention Are the Only Means by which we can successfully avoid tragedy. A name and location withheld. While i am not familiar with the Case discussed having myself been a victim of child abuse and now a military policeman i am acquainted with the ins and outs of such investigations. The question was raised in the Story should the military step in when a child Speaks out and says that he or she has been abused even if the Parent gives his or her reassurance that no abuse Ever took place. The answer to that is simply yes. It should also be noted that people lie. One cannot off hand just take the word of an individual when there is physical evidence to substantiate a complaint of any kind. That is Why the military has in its ranks social workers investigators and doctors who Are trained and have the experience to through a logical process determine which cases Are valid and those that Are unfounded. Complaints of abuse Are normally reported to the maps by a school nurse or a doctor at the local dispensary. Such complaints arc initiated after noting unusual Marks or bums or statements Are made by the child. The desk sergeant contacts the my investigator mp1 who contacts the complainant and verifies the information provided to him. Soon after he interviews the child to find out specific details. After the child has been interviewed and observations Are made As to the child s appearance the investigator will notify the sponsor that he is taking his or her child to the dispensary to be examined by a doctor the physician checks the child according to what Type of abuse and determines whether or not abuse has taken place. If the doctor opines that abuse has not taken place the Case is listed As unfounded and that is the end of the my investigation. However if it is substantiated the Case will be turned Over to the criminal investigation division cd d. The suspect will be summoned to the Field office where he of she will be interviewed. An my report will be made and the appropriate paperwork Wilt fee sent out to the suspect s Chain of command. The Case itself is turned Over to social services. Social services has what is called a f am ent committee it is made up of several individuals who review abuse cases and determine what action if any will be taken. The whole investigative process shows that the military is dedicated to finding the facts of these incidents. It is the Job of investigators doctors and social workers to Weed out real cases of abuse from those that Are unfounded. This process protects those who arc unable to protect themselves. It assists by providing counselling to individuals who have trouble with abusing their loved ones and for those who Are victims of such violence. And it defends the Legal rights of those who would normally have no voice of to Cir own in such matters. It is a sad fact of society that children must sometimes be protected from their parents but unfortunately it happens More often than most of us including myself would like to think. The article did not name the number of times children have been removed from abusive environments nor did it provide any indication of just How Many parents were helped by the programs already instituted by the service. Army Community services acs provides Many programs to Slop the Cycle of abuse before it begins. There arc stress management classes and they Are working very diligently to Edu cat the Community on what exactly is abuse and How All of us can prevent it. Social services arranges Foster care for children who need to be removed from such environments. If a child has been abused get them into counselling. There is a tendency to say after All has been said and done a Well lets move on and try to forget what  counselling will help them Deal with the pain embarrassment guilt Ana confusion that will follow. Many children Teel that the entire situation happened because of shortcomings of their own. Counselling will help heal the wounds and avoid a lot of undue chaos in years to come. Lastly if someone is aware of an abusive situation taking place please Contact the local my station. The Cycle of abuse cannot be stopped if it goes in reported. A name withheld Hanau West Germany european edition col Gene a Townsend usae commander editor in Chiel it. Col Suzanne l Phillips Usan a Deputy commander editor in chief Marie Kominicki meet Proctor Deane 0. 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