Do you think it is proper to send a 13 year-old child, to adult prison, to spend most of the rest of his life? If you feel as I do, that it is wrong to do so, then your urgent help is needed in the state of Indiana. Blade Reed, is a 13 year-old, who on August 11th, 2009, will be back in court, and will be tried as an adult. Blade is looking at a sentence of 35 to 50 years in prison. Does that seem just or right, to send a mere child away for that long of a time? Blade has not had a chance in life, and now the state of Indiana is choosing to throw away what chance Blade has away for him.
Blade has had an extremely hard childhood, one that would make most of you cringe. Blade was sexually, physically, and emotionally abused, in his pre-teen years, being put through that would scar even the best of us. I am in no way, approving of what Blade and his older brother did in the late evening-early morning hours, of November 15, 2008, but two wrongs, don't make a right either.
What chance has Blade had in his short life? The one's who should have been there for him, the one's that should have given him a proper start in life, neglected they're responsibilities, they are the one's who should be put on trial here, the one's who wounded his heart and hurt his beautiful soul. The one's who skewed him, they are more responsible for this than Blade should be. We adults know that children don't think, rationalize as adults, so why do courts continue to take young lives, by sentencing them as adults?
Blade has a very hard time trusting. With the childhood he's had, and the lack of support, and help from the court system, can you blame him? The one chance he has in life, is in the juvenile system, where he can be helped, and put this and his past behind him.
I have not heard many people speak out, in Blade's defense, trying to help keep him in the juvenile system, where he could receive the help he so desperately needs, and become a productive adult.
Now, as it stands, in less than a week from now, Blade's future, is going on trial.
I intend on standing up for this child, will you? If we stick together in this, and band together, we still, can save the future, of this precious child. Doing nothing, will doom his life, and give him no chance, and we, as a whole will in essence be tossing his life away every bit as much, as the state of Indiana intends on doing. We can make a difference here, we can change a life, will you join me?
Stephen Sydebotham
www.justicefordjinn.org
The past several months I have been given the privilege to have access to a family I care a great deal about. I've been able to see the intricacies of this family and how it functions. The past few days, for the first time, I've been able to see Kat (Rainbow's oldest daughter) and Rainbow interact with each other on a personal basis. Seeing that reaffirmed what I already felt in my heart, the love expressed between them in simple mannerisms and non-verbal ways was overwhelming, it shows how awesome of a mother Rainbow is and was to all her kids. She raised them in the right ways, she taught them life skills, truth, freedom, honesty, openness, the love of life, the love of friends and family, and how to care. These are values and truths that many have forgotten themselves and sadly have not taught their own children.
If a catastrophic event were to happen and the world as we know it changed over night, the Buckingham children-Kat, Kyla and Djinn could survive and thrive without any problems whatsoever. Can you honestly say that about yourselves? Or your children? Now be honest, would you or your kids know how to hunt,clothe, build housing, and know how to live from day-to-day? The Buckingham's could do it and not miss a beat, because of what they've been taught. If I were to ever be blessed enough by God to have more children, I would love to have Rainbow Buckingham as their mother. She would teach them the skills and values that would make this world a much better place to be in and live in.
As I write this, I sit in awe remembering all the RAK's (random acts of kindness) I've witnessed being displayed from Rainbow since I've been blessed with her friendship. She is honestly the best friend I've ever had, or anyone could ever have, she's one of a kind and God broke the mold when he made her and her spirit.
To get back on the subject, Djinn has had that catastrophic event in his life, by being arrested, convicted and taken away from his world at the age of 12 for crimes he did not commit. He has spent the last 3 years of his life away from society, away from those he loves, and has had everything dear to him ripped away. Djinn has had to use everything that his mother has taught him to survive this. None of this has been easy for him, but, he has fared much better than many other children would, simply because of what values were instilled in him from his conception. Djinn's inner strength has brought him this far, and it will carry him the rest of the way, until that day ordained by God that he is released or acquitted and will breathe free air again.
Getting back to Rainbow, those of you who choose to condemn her need to look at your own life before passing the ultimate judgment upon others. Are you blameless to cast the stone? Everyone makes mistakes in life, everyone has done things in life that are regrettable. There has only been one perfect person placed upon this earth and that is Jesus Christ, so think about that and stop all the finger pointing! If you would actually take the time to get to know Rainbow and see the bigger picture, you would see things much clearer than the puny tube and media news your receiving about this case. If you would take the time to do that, most of you, if not all would render the same decision I have......that Rainbow was and is a good mother and that she and Djinn received the ultimate of sins against another person, A Bad Rap!
To carry this epistle further about Rainbow and Djinn. Rainbow plead guilty to be able to have a life back, to get this behind her and be dragged through the media circus any longer. Did any one rally listen or read what was actually being said (reading between the lines) or just taking the media's biased version of events as the gospel truth?
As far as Djinn, can you actually show me one little shred of physical evidence that he actually started the fire in which his cousin Sierra was killed? There is no physical proof! All you have is the supposed word of an emotionally distraught 12-Year Old child who had just lost a cherished and beloved family member whom he loved deeply and tried to save. All you have is a supposed confession without an attorney present, no family, friend or case worker present during the interrogation process, no taping or recording of the session, no signature, nothing! Not one shred of physical evidence or proof was ever presented linking Djinn to the fire. All that was presented is a verbal statement given under extreme duress, plus he was a child under the influence of several medications that toyed with his entire being. Almost immediately after his arrest he stated he didn't do it and only wanted to get the questioners off his back and leave him alone, that is a normal child like behavior which is present in all children when in the hot seat. It does not prove his guilt, it just shows the lack of maturity and lack of brain development of all children that age. Subjecting a child to an interrogation of any length without an attorney present and also family or friend to protect the rights of the child should be an illegal act and shame on the State of Pennsylvania for allowing Djinn to be treated in the manner he was. Djinn eventually did plea guilty not because of his guilt but because he was made to feel that's the only way he would ever get out of jail. Djinn's family was not allowed to see him at that time, so Djinn was only able to hear what the prosecution wanted him to do, and went with it to get it over with.
After what Djinn endured after his sentencing I have to say this, if Abraxas Yout Center didn't do anything wrong during the incident I so widely publicized regarding Djinn when he was sexually assaulted by another inmate, then why were several Abraxas employees fired because of it? Many more nasty things that were allowed to happen to other children would be brought to light but kids are threatened if they do so. It's a sad state of affairs when this happens to a child, doubly bad when it's sanctioned behavior and condoned by the state. Abraxas run facilities across the country have had complaints lodged against them. They always said they cleaned up there act in the interim, or did they really? When children are threatened with bodily harm for coming forward with despicable acts by facilities we'll never know. Abraxas has shown a disregard for children's safety while in their facilities and many have serious problems, no child should be put through that. If Abraxas Youth Center couldn't handle my critical statements in the Pocono Record and elsewhere of how their run and ho badly the kids are treated their, maybe they should have taken that as a wake up call to change policies and ways, once and for all.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I would like to thank Stevens Treatment Program, who Djinn is now in the custody of, for treating Djinn with respect and making him feel like a normal child, not a second-class citizen as he was in other facilities.
Djinn continues to need ALL child advocates help! So much ground has been gained by good detective work, to have that all go to waste would be an unforgiveable sin. We have secured many affidavits and many other things which shed the needed light here to give fodder for higher courts to hear this case.
The only way that can happen, is with your generous support.
Reverend Stephen A. Sydebotham
http://www.justicefordjinn.org
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