According to the Dade Homeless Trust, approximately 1800 homeless children currently find themselves bounced between the county's various shelters and the streets. For these children, lasting bonds of friendship are impossible; nothing is permanent. A common rule among homeless parents is that everything a child owns must fit into a small plastic bag for fast packing. But during their brief stays in the shelters, children can meet and tell each other stories that get them through the harshest nights.

The homeless children's chief ally is a beautiful angel they have nicknamed the Blue Lady. She has pale blue skin and lives in the ocean, but she is hobbled by a spell. "The demons made it so she only has power if you know her secret name," says Andre, whose mother has been through three rehabilitation programs for crack addiction. "If you and your friends on a corner on a street when a car comes shooting bullets and only one child yells out her true name, all will be safe. Even if bullets tearing your skin, the Blue Lady makes them fall on the ground. She can talk to us, even without her name. She says: 'Hold on.'"
A blond six-year-old with a bruise above his eye, swollen huge as a ruby egg and laced with black stitches, nods his head in affirmation. "I've seen her," he murmurs.
No one knows why God has never reappeared, leaving his stunned angels to defend his earthly estate against assaults from Hell. "Demons found doors to our world," adds eight-year-old Miguel, who sits before Andre with the other children at the Salvation Army shelter. The demons' gateways from Hell include abandoned refrigerators, mirrors, Ghost Town (the nickname shelter children have for a cemetery somewhere in Dade County), and Jeep Cherokees with "black windows." The demons are nourished by dark human emotions: jealousy, hate, fear.

One demon is feared even by Satan. In Miami shelters, children know her by two names: Bloody Mary and La Llorona (the Crying Woman). She weeps blood or black tears from ghoulish empty sockets and feeds on children's terror. When a child is killed accidentally in gang crossfire or is murdered, she croons with joy. "If you wake at night and see her," a ten-year-old says softly, "her clothes be blowing back, even in a room where there is no wind. And you know she's marked you for killing."

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/1997-06-05/news/myths-over-miami/

thanks for sharing.

that was one of my favorite songs, back in the day. The video was very compelling.

the video in your comment was very compelling too.

children, and young people in general, need attention - a lot of it.

I realize that many adults are too busy working to spend time with their children. But, for those who can choose to work less, having a few extra dollars for a nicer car or a bigger house will not help you if it means that your child will have no one to turn to when he or she needs it most.

The solution to much if not all of these problems is education and Americans should not wait for "the state" to provide it.

Adults must educate themselves, educate their children and when they're done doing that educate their neighbors and keep on going.

That's one of the first things Huey Long accomplished in Louisiana back in the 30's when he was governor (before they assassinated him) - he took on the problem of illiteracy and he accomplished wonders.

Learning never ends and we have a lot of catching up to do if we ever hope to restore our communities from the ravages of ignorance, violence and destitution.

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"Money" has no value - people do.

living in California.

She doesn't live there now, but she may go back. She used to work at Universal Studios - lots of Mexicans and African-Americans work there.

What was shocking - [eventually she became familiar with] - a young man or teenager who lived in places like South Central and Watts, would stop showing up for work. One of these young ones my sister knew really well - I can't remember his name.

The news that they were killed - usually by drive-by shootings - were quite common. One minute a guy was working - the next he was gone, not to be seen again. His work station would be empty - eventually taken by someone new. Very sad.

This would occur once , maybe twice a year - this scenario at my sister's former employment.

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As for working mothers...I am not totally against them - if they can work out of the home or create hours where they will be home for their kids.
I like what you say, above, qrs, because you are right.

Where I work....well, it has its own drama----there is a working mother whose kids and ex call all the time. I laugh quietly when she gets very mad and starts yelling at them to stop calling. In other places I have worked, I have seen this repeatedly. Quite a common pattern.

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Yes, the Runaway Train video was one of my favorites, also - it's theme was not the creation of the band members but they were indebted to the guy who came up with the idea of missing children.

Super excellent.

I think one or two of those kids were found, due to the circulation of the video on MTV.

There is another video about child abuse by Susan Vega [or is it Suzanne?] - the video is called LUKA.

I might do something with that one, too, and add it to my comments.