"We Build Our Own Monsters"

"I want the laws to change so that children aren't property."


Hi gang. Something really important this entry.

On January 14, Vachss will be answering questions about his books, his practice...anything his audience submits on a live webcast. I guarantee that you will be riveted once he opens his mouth. I dare you to dismiss it. TiVo the damn Grey's Anatomy. Don't contribute to the ignorance.

I was at a holiday party speaking with a woman who counsels children from broken homes, foster homes, abusive homes. I felt sure when I mentioned Andrew Vachss that she and I would have a lengthy and passionate dialogue. Not so. She had no idea who Vachss is. Not that I'm an expert in criteria, but everyone from law enforcement and social work to bag boys and ice-skaters should know who this man is.

Readers, do yourselves a favor: take 10 seconds to peruse his site. There is nothing more important than what Andrew stands for. There is horror inflicted on children every second and our laws protect the predators.

There are incest laws that treat predators with more leniencies; the crime is considered less severe because it happens within the family. The prey is returned to same cage as the predator and the laws state that it's not only tolerated, but acceptable.

Did you know this?!
Are you ok with this?!

Prick up your ears, readers. It's effortless, really, to just be a tad more aware of this cycle of abuse and how it's perpetuated and, dare I say, nearly encouraged by our lackadaisical attitudes.

How often do you get coupons in your mailbox for carpet cleaning or RV rentals? Do you ever take a milli-second to check the back of those coupons? Have you seen me?

Children do not have rights until they're 18 years old and by then it's far too late. The abuse has taken place, the child picks up the cycle or the child is dead.

It doesn't cost anything to be aware. Knowledge is free. I'm not asking you to donate anything, sign a petition or call your governor. Just pay attention.

Vachss began as a federal investigator of sexually transmitted diseases. He encountered a case where a tiny baby had contracted syphilis after being sodomized by the father. Vachss sat face to face with this monster who responded with 'It's my kid. I'll do what I want to it and it's no business of the government.'

That was the first of a community of devils that Vachss encountered. And so it began.

In a nutshell, Vachss began writing books that gained a tremendous cult following. They are wicked cool pulp that are journalistic, not fictionalized. They're fantastic reads, but my favorite part about his books is that they fund his practice. He's devoted his life to representing child victims and he does it with razor-sharp precision.

"I try cases where, if I lose, the predator gets to take the victim home. There's no margin for error.”

I don't care if you don't have kids. I don't care if you don't even like kids. We should be humiliated to be part of a species that creates, tolerates, protects monsters who rob and feed off innocents. You can't call them animals. I know of NO other species that permits habitual abuse of its young.

On January 14, Vachss will be answering questions about his books, his practice...anything his audience submits on a live webcast. I guarantee that you will be riveted once he opens his mouth. I dare you to dismiss it.

TiVo the damn Grey's Anatomy. Don't contribute to the ignorance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Vachss

http://www.vachss.com/

http://www.vachss.com/anotherlife/webcast_2009.html

http://www.speakupstudios.com/Listen.aspx?ShowUID=256284

http://www.protect.org/

...did i mention that he's a dog lover?

his writing:


Flood (1985)
Strega (1987)
Blue Belle (1988)
Hard Candy (1989)
Blossom (1990)
Sacrifice (1991)
Down in the Zero (1994)
Footsteps of the Hawk (1995)
False Allegations (1996)
Safe House (1998)
Choice of Evil (1999)
Dead and Gone (2000)
Pain Management (2001)
Only Child (2002)
Down Here (2004)
Mask Market (2006)
Terminal (2007)
Another Life (Dec. 30, 2008)

[edit] Other novels
A Bomb Built in Hell (1973)
Shella (1993)
Batman: The Ultimate Evil (1995)
The Getaway Man (2003)
Two Trains Running (2005)

[edit] Short story collections
Born Bad (1994)
Everybody Pays (1999)
Proving It (2001) Audiobook collection.
Dog Stories Online collection.

[edit] Graphic novels and series
Hard Looks (1992-93) Ten-volume series.
Batman: The Ultimate Evil (1995) Two-volume graphic novel.
Cross (1995) Seven-volume series with James Colbert.
Predator: Race War (1993) Five-volume series; (1995) Single-volume graphic novel, collection of 1993 series.
Alamaailma (1997) Finnish graphic novel, illustrating two of the "Underground" short stories from Born Bad.
Hard Looks (1996, 2002) Single-volume trade paperback.
Another Chance To Get It Right: A Children's Book for Adults (1993, 1995) (Reprinted with additional material, 2003.)

[edit] Plays
Placebo (in Antaeus, 1991)
Warlord (in Born Bad, 1994)
Replay (in Born Bad, 1994)

[edit] Non-fiction
The Life-Style Violent Juvenile: The Secure Treatment Approach (Lexington, 1979)
The Child Abuse-Delinquency Connection — A Lawyer's View (Lexington, 1989)
Articles in PARADE Magazine (1985-2006)
Other Articles and Essays (1985-2006)