Lostprophets | Gone without a trace?

Hey guys! So, been a while since I've posted due to coursework and such, but one is back to posting again - aren't you a lucky bunch?! I figured the more I'm on my laptop posting and doing coursework, the better I feel about myself and the less time I waste on other social networking sites - damn you, Facebook and Twitter!

Anyway, I thought I'd kickstart my writing again with another music-related post. As we all, or anyone who hasn't been hiding under a rock, will know, the band formerly known as Lostprophets were recently torn apart by the news of Ian Watkins having 'relations' with underage fans and other young individual linking to his drug taking and some insane and sick fans - you can read the court case here for full details.

 

(source)

Obviously this news completely destroyed the band, their reputation and the spirit of their fans, knowing that someone who was supposedly a role model could be such a monster on the quiet. Personally, with all the accusations recently on other celebrities, I thought this was just another selection of fans wanting their 5 minutes in the spotlight for a bit of attention etc. Alas, I was wrong and it is devastating knowing that a band I have loved for years now has the reputation it has gained from him. Absolute madness.

I noticed how there was such an uproar about how much money he was still earning while he is behind bars - with music sales still going and publicity for him at its highest. However, I recently went into a few larger HMV stores and seeing a lack of their CD's on their shelves. This led me to venture online to see what their fanbase was looking like. Turns out everything even remotely relating to Lostprophets, in terms of their fans and music, has been removed from Facebook following a farewell message from the remaining members of the band. It's like they've simply disappeared without a trace of even existing in some places. However, sites such as Amazon still sell their music - but is it right?

Admittedly, it is right that sales of their music should stop as Ian Watkins shouldn't be earning money while doing time for what he did.. But should the other members really pay the price for his actions? I mean, their music was amazing and the other members but will forever have the Lostprophets reputation hanging over their shoulders while trying to move on with their lives.

Does it seem right that their success has been removed without a trace? 

The release of Baby Peter's mum.

Hey guys! For today's 'Society Dictates', I'm going to be looking at the recent news regarding the release of Baby P's mum. After spending up to 5 years in detention and prison, Tracey Connelly is being released thanks to the decision of the Parole Board.

 

(source: BBC News)

I watched this on the BBC News last night and again on the debate on ITV's This Morning earlier and I just sat and watched in absolute shock as they were discussing the issue. This woman abused, neglected and murdered her child, what right does she have to be released?! Admittedly, she was neglected and abused herself as a child, but is that really an excuse for the death of Baby P? When he died, Baby P had over 50 injuries on his body, ranging from broken bones to bruises and burns. Even though he was visited by outside agencies around 80 times (police, social workers etc), they still failed to see the signs of abuse. In all fairness, Tracey was far from stupid and covered up bruises with chocolate when the social workers visited.. But still, these agencies could've done something to prevent his death if they actually communicated with each other to save that poor, suffering child. He sadly died in August 2007. After the death, Tracey Connelly, her boyfriend, Steven Barker, and her brother, Jason Owen were all arrested and convicted for the same offence. 

 

(source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/baby-p-mum-tracey-connelly-2345633)

Watching the debate on This Morning made me think though, how much will Baby P's mum actually suffer for what she did? For starters, she was in prison for nearly 5 years for the death of her own child. Now she's been released, tax payer's are paying for her to have a new identity, but what will that do? Everyone will know who she is by what she looks like, will they not?! Even though she looks 'different' to her police mugshot, chances are she will still be recognisable to the public eye. If she decides to have children, they will instantly be put into care as she is a danger to any child now, let's be honest! So that'll be awkward if she ever finds someone who wants children for them to find out what she did to her own little boy. She has lots of 'conditions' she must follow to avoid being called back to prison. Frankly, I hope she does get called back to prison.

We learn a lot about the Baby P case in childcare, along with many other cases which follow the same pattern. A child is abused, agencies fail to see this, the child suffers and, in many cases, dies. In my opinion, the mother should NOT have been released after only 5 years. I don't think anyone who has any connection in cases like this (child murder, child abuse of any kind) should get any less that 10-15 years in prison for what they've done. That child has barely had a chance to live and you deprive them of their right to live?! How selfish and deluded can you be. If anyone could do this to a child, they are a danger to themselves and to society in general. The fact that this is a story about a mother abusing and murdering her own child is absolutely disgusting and then only having 5 years in prison is a joke. What kind of message does our justice system give out when it lets people like her free?! No punishment is enough for her to suffer after what she's done, I just hope this has well and truly ruined her life.

For more on the Baby Peter case, visit the case timeline found on the BBC News website.