Ma’Khia Bryant
What happened to this young lady, Ma’Khia Bryant, was a tragedy too. I suppose there'd be some who'd wonder how I'd think it my business, or what could I offer on the subject that's not already known? I've wanted to write about this for quite some time, though. I can also point out that what is my business is that it was another social issue where I ended up arguing with someone on the internet over the course of a couple hours. Sometimes I will reply to people "what does it matter to you what I have to say about the issue anyway?" and in this case I suppose that could be reversed to inquire of me why it would matter what others' opinions might be, to which I'd reply that mine is along the lines of expert opinion. How about hearing me out to let me justify that claim of mine.
I might have saved screencaptures from the discussion I had about her with some young man. (Yes, see below.) The way he was so judgemental of her was what drove me crazy! The absolute reality existed where the girl was brandishing a knife but it was some little thing that she grabbed from the kitchen drawer (from the looks of it in the photograph). That even doesn't matter since if a person just reads about what transpired they should be able to understand the important aspect that she was lunging at two other women with the knife, but the question is why didn't they just get away from her? They were all outside in a residential street so it wasn't like she could actually hurt anyone with the knife unless they got close to her. They all could've just waited her out unstead of attempting to force her into surrendering.
The other aspect is that I have also stayed in group homes as an adult, although the gov't regulations & licensing is fairly standardized. When a person gets involved with living in residential programs that have licensed staff members then it is inevitable that they will learn something about the system. A common aspect is the educational part since there is a purpose to put people at ease with the knowledge that there is gov't oversight.
Of course some would take issue with the "gov't oversight" part too. Like that's the absolute last thing that's needed. We must be talking about two different governments. If the "human & social services" part is brought up then I'm sure I could be bombarded with all kinds of anecdotal evidence "proving" that everything is hopeless (type thing).
I can explain this from a different aspect though, maybe more from Ma’Khia's perspective. She was an adolescent girl, but tall for her age from the looks of it. That can throw people off when interacting with some female adolescents to where they'll be intimidated by a girl's physical size and forget she's still just a child.
I won't go into how she ended up in the group home. I imagine that for a minority adolescent her history isn't too uncommon. One of the known aspects of residential programs is that people will end up in them following distressing events. The programs will typically have referrals and cooperation with a caseworker and therapists. Of course none of that happens instantaneously & in the interim the person will have some idle time. There will typically be craft supplies available in a group home and the like too.
So a common requirement is that people who staff a group home (it was a foster home in Ma'Khia's case, but licensed by the state's department of human services) to be licensed or certified to hold the position. The person who actually had the required certfication wasn't in the house at the time however. A former resident was in charge of the operation in the meantime and I am fairly certain that she had no certification at all. That person ended up calling another former resident to help with Ma'Khia and that person had no certification either.
There were two adult women at the house who were ganging up on Ma’Khia at that point. Nobody even bothered to ask Ma’Khia if she slept ok in the little beds they probably had. No one probably asked her if she was "being regular" either. Although those questions might seem intrusive or personal to ask somebody it has to be remembered that she was in her new housing. The two questions go to help determine the status of her current physical health which is a natural part of the girl's mental health.
From reading through the article about her again it gets apparent that the staff member of the foster home was more interested in having an extra set of hands to do cleaning. The distressing circumstances that Ma’Khia experienced preceding her placement there were ignored. The foster home isn't meant to be a commune-like business with live-in help. Quite naturally residents would have chores to do but their physical and mental health needs to be taken into consideration.
Patrick Schardt
Generally if someone is stalking and wielding a knife they are also going to threaten that person
Like the story of the teenager getting shot while wielding a knife and trying to stab someone
Scott H-
who exactly was the proverbial knife-wielding teenager trying to stab, Patrick Schardt? - must've been somebody or why else would the teenager be wielding a knife, right? (self-protection? who would they need to protect themselves from except their dear, loving, innocent (acting) family member(s). Is those other family members who are obviously in the right since there are more of them than there is of the knife-wielding teenager. Police are lazy so they'll just shoot at whoever the majority of people are insisting they should. It's all evil
Patrick Schardt
Scott H- the “proverbial” knife-wielding teenager was Ma’Khia Bryant. I thought that was obvious. It was a huge story.
You seriously think it was self defense? The police showed up right as right as she was about to stab the other teenager. It was a huge story a few months ago. I think you would have heard of it.
So according to you the lazy police should have done nothing and let the girl stab the other person. What a stupid idea.
Police don’t just randomly shoot at someone genius. That’s a good way to have innocent people get hurt.
Something tells me you’re part of the Abolish (not defund) the Police crowd. Before going full scale and getting rid of all police, we need to do some studies in areas. Let’s start with your neighborhood. In fact if you’re part of that crowd, I think you need to be involved in a crime as an innocent person. Clearly you won’t call the police since you think they will shoot you.
I bet you think the officer should have used a taser. Guess what those tools have a limited range and he wasn’t in range.
It’s evil that a 16 year old girl was trying to stab another person.
Also, proofread. It wasn’t easy deciphering your comment.
Scott H-
A bunch of assumptions and projections there, Patrick Schardt.
Those type of incidents with people wielding knives and getting shot by police happen quite often but the stories undoubtedly have the description of "mentally ill" included in regards to the perpetrator so people are like "oh I get that - that poor family" - right?
Like the old story of Lizzie Bordon - looking at her from modern psychological forensics it would be surprising if she wasn't an abused person who finally snapped. Do you understand now?
Once a person receives that "mentally ill" label it's assumed that they are the instigator, the most violent person there, and everyone else (other family members) are innocent victims.
I started reading the Wikipedia article about Ma’Khia Bryant but, as I said, there are countless stories like that. Why? ... because it's more expedient for the police to just "take care of the problem" to minimize their time spent at the scene so they have time to meet up at whataburger or where ever - you see?
What is evil is everything that was done to Ma’Khia before that day to cause her to become so distraught and fearful. The other people involved will never tell anyone everything because they don't have to. Ma’Khia Bryant was scapegoated.
I am a human rights advocate and I know quite a lot about the human services fields and I have never - no where - at any time - ever - have I advocated reducing funding for police. I actually think funding needs to be increased and my idea is to have them (or the ones who need it) have physical exercise sessions at work and receiving their pay. < Of course that wouldn't sit well with the taxpayers, would it?
You all want to play it off like the police obesity issue wouldn't affect their work? How come nobody even mentions that there could possibly be a connection? Addressing the problem could very well save (innocent "mentally ill" people's) lives but most don't really consider them worth the trouble. It's tragic! FBI: 80 Percent Of Police Officers Are Overweight - CBS Texas.
Suzie McMillian
"What is evil is everything that was done to Ma’Khia before that day to cause her to become so distraught and fearful. The other people involved will never tell anyone everything because they don't have to. Ma’Khia Bryant was scapegoated.", Patrick Schardt
She was still just a child and that should be the first consideration taken into account when examining the circumstances of the incident. She was innocent and there were a whole bunch of other adults involved - do you at least get that?
(hell no because you don't have to, right?)
Patrick Schardt
Scott H- a person wielding a knife attempting to stab someone is not innocent, regardless of mental health issues
Again though, how do protect the innocent while also not harming the suspect
Erfahren Reyndur
that foster home was not ran properly, Patrick Schardt, there were clearly violations but of course I'm supposed to spend my time doing the research for you. At the very least there was most likely confidentiality policy (law) broken with the prior residents being called to the house to assist. Were they licensed? The young lady had her rights too ...
The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides everyone's right to equal protection under law. That is usually what is negated in cases with people with mental or behavioral issues ...
See - you would have to guarantee me - like wager your immortal life - that there was never any crime committed against that young lady while she was housed in that facility.
I do not have time to go round and round with you on this.
Erfahren Reyndur
Patrick Schardt Foster Care Bill of Rights | ncsl.org/human-services/.
Scott H-
According to Ma’Khia's sister the former resident that was at the house (an adult) grabbed a knife first, Patrick Schardt!
I have to say that the reason I spend the time trying to help you understand is that I know there is the cultural perspective in cases like hers and people unfamiliar with the human services fields can have difficulty getting away from that. It's getting worse now because the younger generations (your generation) tends to project the cognitive maturity of an adult onto minors ...
An example of that is the trend to charge minors committing crimes as adults. A human's brain isn't fully developed until they're about 25 (males & females differ a bit) but at 16 years old a child wouldn't have the impulse control of an adult.
When people are frightened the instinctive "fight or flight" response will kick in and the important thing to remember is that it's instinctive - a human can't help it but as they mature they can learn to control their behavior in spite of the instinct.
In the social services fields it's known that there is a cultural attitude that exists that can be detrimental (harmful) to the goal of providing safety for distressed and vulnerable people so there have been standard policies enacted throughout the states (and other western developed countries) to counteract those attitudes ...
People's pride can prevent them from understanding that their good intentions may be completely misguided and based on ignorance. In Ma’Khia's case it would seem that these other prior residents were only there to help her but she certainly did not see it that way - for whatever reason - trauma from prior abuse, probably - but the situation was meant to help her so her perception of it is what matters.
From what I read Ma’Khia's sister said the other prior resident grabbed a knife first and threatened her - the prior resident there (Tionna Bonner) should've been charged with a crime as "a person in a position of trust" since it was in that capacity that she was present at the house. Do you understand that part?
Tionna Bonner (an adult) physically threatened Ma’Khia Bryant (a minor) with a deadly weapon and Ma’Khia defended herself. Ma’Khia Bryant was lethally scapegoated. You are a monster! Ma'Khia's Wikipedia article.
Patrick Schardt
Erfahren Reyndur don’t call me names when you don’t know anything about me. You shouldn’t be anywhere near children and should definitely be locked up if you say others should be locked based on a conversation
I never even mentioned the other adults. When the cops arrived, there was a teenager trying to stab another a teen. What lead up to that is irrelevant. There was a person attacking someone else the police acted accordingly
I blame a teenager for her actions of trying to stab someone else. I also blame anyone else that contributed to the situation and the police having to fire their weapons
Patrick Schardt
Scott H- for some reason my reply to this was deleted
I’m not a monster. From what I know the person that was almost stabbed called the police. There was other stuff going on including other people fighting nearby before the police were called and while they were on their way. The police showed up just MB was attempting to stab the other person
Also did you try to call me? I don’t know you. That’s a huge no to take a discussion on social media and make it something bad. Do you call everyone that has their number listed if they disagree with you? That could be seen as harassment
There’s nothing to resolve. We were having a discussion on social media. We agreed on some things and didn’t on others.
Scott H-
Patrick Schardt
the post on Facebook.
Erfahren Reyndur
Ma’Khia Bryant was (obviously) scapegoated, Patrick Schardt - the "human services" aspect of her circumstances was that there was clearly a failure in the way that house was ran - think "cultural" and then understand that there are usual, typical, standard policies in place for facilities like that and all the prior residents getting involved was a crime - in the true meaning of the word, but what? ...
Scott(y) up there needs to explain himself perfectly - using the perfect wording - at all times - on every point - or your point will be to teach him how he could be misunderstood or misinterpreted or misconstrued by someone other than you - right? ... ad hominem
The Denver Police awarded some "journalist" woman $50K because they handcuffed her but they were trying to secure the scene (again - not the right wording - it gets frustrating for me ...) but the police cited the HIPAA (patient privacy rights) on account of a naked man who was on a bus bench and she started video recording them.
The police had called EMT's and were just waiting - controlling the scene - so at that point a "mental health" hold was placed on the man so the man's patient privacy rights would be applicable.
The police were in the position of security agents for medical authority - which there is standard law statutes throughout the states regarding that (I have the number of the Colo one memorized but even though attorney representation is addressed in the law that was always denied me - probably common - I am in a "less equal than you" demographic (by cultural standards) but you picked right up on that, didn't you?
I just read this book - the latest classic sociology for me - it's good - check it out ... (I linked to "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" by Paulo Freire but the particular link went defunct. It's still available elsewhere for free.)
Erfahren Reyndur
what next, Patrick Schardt, you gonna insist that my explanations be "peer-reviewed" - it's all about catch phrasing now - patronizing and condescending and obtuse and obstinate and mocking to drive a traumatized human into a catatonic state unless they go with a muti-personality posit and that's fodder for sadistic enjoyment of unethical "therapists" and the like - but that's been already unraveled ...
"mental illness" is a social construct and the data gathered and presented to the public to describe psychiatric conditions was result of decades of physical, psychological, and emotional, torture of traumatized human beings and my point is to be their voice here.
(but of course your point is to silence us!) madinamerica.com
Suzie McMillian
I suppose with this story you'd be all "what a stupid kid she coulda just told someone to hep her do up her seatbelt", right Patrick Schardt?
State Investigation Reveals Young Girl Killed On Colorado Amusement Ride Was Not Strapped In - CBS Colorado
Patrick Schardt
Suzie McMillian what the hell are you talking about
She wasn’t at fault. The ride operator was at from the little bit I read. I just heard of this story when you shared it. That’s literally their job to ensure a safe and fun experience for everyone. A very young kid wouldn’t know to double check. An older kid or teen would
These aren’t related at all so I don’t know why you shared it. Trying to make me say something so you can get a “gotcha moment”
Erin Higgins
you just be a dumb troll, Patrick Schardt, you mean & shit - edit: changed "evil" to "mean" for at least replying
Patrick Schardt
Scott H- I am not a monster. Also did you try calling me a few minutes ago? If so that’s a huge no. I don’t want random people calling me
From what I know of the story, the other person (another teen I think) called the police against Ma’Khia. There were other issues before Ma’Khia tried to stab the other teen
Scott H-
if you leave all of this up then you ain't a monster, Patrick Schardt - Think the word "marginalized" as it applies to Ma’Khia Bryant - there is a reason why it's used. You are having difficulty getting away from going with the cultural perspective but you don't have the experience and education I have.
Erin Higgins
you're a monster, Patrick Schardt
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