3 Years Later….HaLeigh Cummings

Three years ago last month a child disappeared from Palatka, Fla. A beautiful 5 yr old girl, with an impish grin. We saw searches organized, intense media coverage, and concern from all across America. We saw local law enforcement officers whose faces reflected the loss of a child of their community, while vigorously investigating a complex case. Complex because each answer sought only opened up many more questions.

We heard from family members, and friends of family, of all the main characters connected with the case. We saw on-line personas creating their own drama by inserting themselves into the case (or into some off-shoot drama with a tenuous connection to the case or players within). We rode out the many sideshows pertaining to secondary characters. We watched ,with morbid fascination, as primary players trotted merrily down the road to Pillville; with their final destinations being Florida state prisons.

The dramas continue online. In-fighting that should have burned out long ago continues to be reignited by immature flamewars brought on by reasons that seem to be only important to the participants. The family members of the child have moved on to continue their lives; filled with old hurts, memories, new beginnings, and dramas of their own.

Yet, they still have a hole that needs to be filled. We all do, although I won’t pretend our need is as great as the families involved.  We never felt those little arms around our neck, nor heard her little-girl laughter. Still, we feel a closeness to the case, as we have been loyal followers since its outbreak.  We all have a natural-born tendency to want to protect the children – even the ones out of our reach.

Three years later…and we still don’t know any more than we did before.  What happened on a chilly, dark night on February 9, 2009? Where is HaLeigh Cummings?

 

Who “Saw” This Coming?

The school-guard psychic is back. I don’t know about you but I feel fairly sure I could have “predicted” her reappearance in another missing child case. I could have also predicted she would see the body near or in water; wooded area; blah blah blah. After all this is where she also “saw” a missing Florida girl and a missing woman from Virginia.

A newspaper article written recently stated the psychic found the woman who was missing in Virginia. I beg to differ. A farmer walking around his land found the girl. To my knowledge he was not following any psychic direction; he was only checking out his land after the Spring thaw.  As for the psychic’s readings on that case; well, I gave my opinion on that in an earlier blog (see All That Glitters Isn’t Gold).

Now this psychic is lashing out at reporters, skeptics, and someone who has taken some pictures of an area, in a case of a missing child. She claims that some ladies were trying to show LE where the exact area was where the pic was taken. First, she stated the ladies went to the area, smelled a horrible smell, then went home & called her. Here is an exerpt of her blog:

“TWO LADIES, FOLLOWING MY BLOG, WERE IN THE SAMS TOWN AREA TODAY AND DECIDED TO LOOK AROUND… THEY ENDED UP AT THE RR TRACKS, DIRECTLY BEHIND SAM’S TOWN – WHERE THE PIPE IS COMING OUT OF THE GROUND….SAID THE RANK SMELL WAS SO HORRID, THEY COULDN’T GO CLOSER…WENT HOME, CALLED ME….”

In another blog entry she had written about the picture and the ladies being there she stated in her comments section:

 

Stephsaid…

OK- First, I will delete all comments which were rude, period. 2nd, let me explain….The lady’s DID stay there…..But, by the time the Police showed up (almost an hour later) it was dark…Anyway, they called me from the location to get my opinion and I asked them to look at this site / photo and tell me if where they were, did it match the photo…(They had a lap top with them)….”

So which is it? Were they at the area & called her from there while they browsed the internet on their laptop? Or did they go home and call her?

This may not seem to be a major faux paux by some. They may put it down as a “misspeak” or typo sort of mistake. This isn’t like a detail in one of her visions that can be excused if it isn’t 100% like she “saw” it. In reality, it is a major red flag to minor details. They were either at home when they called her; or not. If the small details don’t sync how could she possibly expect us to “see” the big picture?

Her blog isn’t the first place we have seen the changes in detail. We saw it on a blog she was questioned closely on by followers of the Florida case. We also saw it in her comments on a blogsite of a crime-radio program that also followed the Florida case.

What is also the same are the meltdowns and proclamations that she would never do another public reading.  Yadda yadda yadda so on and so forth.

It’s hard to take someone 100% seriously when they never give you anything to work with.

*Just an opinion from someone standing in the cr0ssfire.

 

HaLeigh Cummings – (still missing so trying to keep her name out there)

HaLeigh Cummings is a missing child from Palatka, FL. She was 5 years old at the time it was reported that she was missing from her home on the night of  February 9, 2009 or the early hours of February 10th, 2009.  Unfortunately, this is the only fact I can give you about the case, since LE has stated early on they do not know what crime was committed, when, where, how, or by whom.

Too many are pulling away from reporting on the case, for various reasons, so expect to see HaLeigh mentioned here occasionally just so we keep her name out there. Someone, somewhere, knows something. Please do the right thing and report what you know, no matter how inconsequential you may think it is.  Your small tidbit may be just what LE needs to link what they have (if anything) together.

Date Missing:    2/10/2009
Missing From:   Satsuma,FL	County:   PUTNAM
Birth Date:    8/17/2003	Age Disappeared:    5 yrs 5 months
Race:    White
Sex: Female
Height:     3′ 00″
Weight:   039
Hair:   Blonde
Eyes:   Brown
Narrative: ***UPDATE*** The child’s age and her last knownlocation have been updated. A Florida AMBER Alert has been issued for Haleigh Cummings, who was last seen in the area of Hermit’s Cove in Satsuma, FL. **UPDATE** Clothing description is unknown.**UPDATE** Haleigh has a 4 inch round birth mark on the lower left side of her back and a birthmark in front of her left ear . If you have any information concerning the whereabouts of this child, please contact the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office at 1-888-277-8477 or 911 * *From the FDLE flyer http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MCICSearch/FlyerPrintableFormat.asp?Case_Id=28474

 

A Little Justice; A Lot of Apprehension

Image by rinoshea via Flickr

As Americans world wide celebrate the news that Osama Bin Laden has finally met his demise, apprehension also begins to set in. The death of Bin Laden at the hands of American Special Forces is the only form of justice most Americans would have ever accepted for the unnecessary and cruel deaths of the victims of 9-11-01. If he had died peacefully in his sleep, most would have felt cheated. The reports that he died violently, while hiding behind one of his wives, has many dancing in the streets. It doesn’t bring back our fellow Americans who perished on 9-11; but it sure does feel good to know he no longer can take pleasure in reminiscing about the event he masterminded.

Still, we must remember a vow he made. Bin Laden stated many times that others would pick up where he left off. He made it clear another would take his place upon his death, and carry on with his misguided war against “the infidels”. He has had ten years or better to train many, many replacements. If reports are true that he has been at the compound for 6 months, unmoving, then chances are good that he had already stepped aside to allow someone else to take the lead.

We must remember Bin Laden was not in the best of health. Hiding in caves, and constantly moving about, must have taken a toll on his failing health. Facing his own death, either by enemy forces or his physical ailments, I am almost certain a terrorist of his caliber would have made certain his plans would be carried out by others. I am equally certain he would have wanted to remain alive long enough to see it falling into place.

So, while a part of me rejoices that he is gone, another part worries about who has replaced him; and what they are willing to do to prove they are worthy of replacing him on his evil throne of terror. It is with this worry that I ask all Americans, and their allies, to please be careful. Expect the unexpected. Be aware of your surroundings. Use caution when traveling abroad, or visiting popular & populated places within our boundaries. The wicked witch may be dead, but the flying monkeys survive.

To our Special 6, Military, CIA, Allies, and the President: Thank you, and God bless you all.

*Just an opinion from someone standing in the cr0ssfire.

 

Social Disgrace Class 101

Image via Wikipedia

One of my children came home from school very angry one day last week. It seems there is a child there who enjoys putting other children down because they may have freckles, are overweight, too skinny, and whatever else he can find to demean his classmates. This particular day he made my child’s friend cry because of where her mother worked. He asked all of the children where their parents worked (neglecting to tell them about his own), and when the girl stated her mom worked at a convenient store, he proceeded to laugh at her and asked her if her mother was stupid and only made five bucks an hour. My child was livid, and being very outspoken, told the boy to stop hurting the girl’s feelings. The boy shrugged, laughed again, but did return to his desk. He had his satisfaction and was done… for the moment. The girl, on the other hand, spent the day sad and somewhat ashamed of what her mother did for a living. This is elementary school folks. Early years elementary.

I understood my child’s anger. No one should be made to feel ashamed or embarrassed for having any legitimate job; especially in this economy. But I was also haunted by a nagging question in my head. Where did this child learn to make fun of people working service related jobs? Who taught him, at his single-digit age, to be harsh toward people working minimum wage jobs? Could parents’ actually be guilty of instilling social-level discrimination in their children?

After reading some of the things adults post on the web, I would definitely say that answer is yes. Young children have a very small social circle. It’s not like they are wandering the world and learning social-status cynicism in their worldly travels. They aren’t hanging out at a club, on the beach, or at a school for future Rag Mags learning to demean others for their physical characteristics. They are learning this at home.  Not all children of course. But if even one is learning this type of behavior, it is one too many.

I read most everywhere on the web. News articles, forums, social sites, blogs, and occasionally even an internet Rag Mag article or two. One thing is consistent with all of these. There are always comments made that are so cruel or insensitive I catch myself flinching from the lack of social decorum. Why? Is it a desire to shock? Are they just naturally cruel? Are they posers who feel much braver behind a keyboard where they can’t get their pixels slapped? Most importantly, are these people raising children?

I fear they are, and those children are in the classroom, playgrounds, etc. with ours. There is no way these people are insensitive, vulgar, and cruel on the net, and Rosie Sunshine when the computer is shut down. Think of all the sarcastic and demeaning things posted on the web, and I can all but guarantee they say the same things in their home. Maybe about a neighbor, a family friend, even family members, and these little ears are soaking it all in. Perhaps the child hears laughter at what is said and mistakes it for a way to be the funny kid at school. He/she could also see people with social graces leave, rather than confront the rude one, and mistake it as a way to be “the tough guy”. Whatever the reason, this behavior is being repeated at school at an early age.

In case my point is being missed, let me clarify. I am not saying children are following any of us on the web. I seriously doubt many young children have ever seen a social networking site, or have ever been remotely interested in news related websites. What I am certain of is that the same people who are insensitive and cruel online are more than likely that way in real life, and children are learning this behavior. Of course I doubt these people will change. The majority will not recognize themselves as the subject of this posting, and the few who do will have the ever-present excuses for their obnoxious behavior. Either that or they will just shrug, laugh, and go back to their desks. They have had their satisfaction and are done…for the moment.

*Just an opinion from someone standing in the cr0ssfire.

 

HaLeigh Cummings

HaLeigh Cummings is a missing child from Palatka, FL. She was 5 years old at the time it was reported that she was missing from her home on the night of  February 9, 2009 or the early hours of February 10th, 2009.  Unfortunately, this is the only fact I can give you about the case, since LE has stated early on they do not know what crime was committed, when, where, how, or by whom.

Too many are pulling away from reporting on the case, for various reasons, so expect to see HaLeigh mentioned here occasionally just so we keep her name out there. Someone, somewhere, knows something. Please do the right thing and report what you know, no matter how inconsequential you may think it is.  Your small tidbit may be just what LE needs to link what they have (if anything) together.

Date Missing:    2/10/2009
Missing From:   Satsuma,FL	County:   PUTNAM
Birth Date:    8/17/2003	Age Disappeared:    5 yrs 5 months
Race:    White
Sex: Female
Height:     3′ 00″
Weight:   039
Hair:   Blonde
Eyes:   Brown
Narrative: ***UPDATE*** The child’s age and her last known location have been updated. A Florida AMBER Alert has been issued for Haleigh Cummings, who was last seen in the area of Hermit’s Cove in Satsuma, FL. **UPDATE** Clothing description is unknown.**UPDATE** Haleigh has a 4 inch round birth mark on the lower left side of her back and a birthmark in front of her left ear . If you have any information concerning the whereabouts of this child, please contact the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office at 1-888-277-8477 or 911 * *From the FDLE flyer http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MCICSearch/FlyerPrintableFormat.asp?Case_Id=28474

 

Shocking Truth Is…Fabrication?

Image via Wikipedia

A book has been written entitled “Shocking Truth Revealed” about the Haleigh Cummings’ case. If the title is correct, then the author knows the truth and can tell us exactly what happened to Haleigh, and where she is now. Except…he can’t. From the title onward the book is misleading, in my opinion. It isn’t a “shocking truth” revealed. It is a theory based on second and third hand interviews the author conducted with some family members, some LE, and some bloggers who live no where near Putnam County Florida. Frankly, many of the interviews we have been given an insight into are questionable. We have one interview with the child’s grandfather who states he “is moving to Kentucky so LE can’t f*#@ with me there”. The author asks “Why is he saying that? Why is he thinking that? Where was J__ S___ on February 9th, 2009?”

Why don’t you tell us, Mr Author? What you don’t hear is what is being said before and after that statement. Mr. Private Investigator doesn’t seem too concerned with what was being said. He laughingly offers bail money. Would he have done that if he thought this grandfather had anything to do with the man’s granddaughter being missing? A case the PI said he would solve? I am thinking this excerpt of the conversation was taken completely, and intentionally, out of context to suit the author’s purpose. In my opinion, the conversation went more like maybe a couple of gung-ho gentlemen discussing what they would do if they found whoever took the child. Maybe the grandfather said he would beat the culprit, and the PI laughingly said he would go his bail. I don’t really know because I was not permitted to hear the entire conversation. So my guess is as good as the author’s insinuations.  If someone doesn’t allow you to hear the entire conversation, then you have to question their motives.

There are many interviews from this gentleman I fear has been taken out of context.  He has stated as fact that the father of the missing child had been raping and beating the girlfriend since she was sixteen. He based this from a statement he was told a former partner of the father made. Second hand statement that may or may not have ever been made. He doesn’t even “reveal” who told him the former partner stated the allegation. Or which former partner made the statement. I would hazard a guess that the father has dated more than 3 people.  To state this as truth is very damaging to the father encased in an investigation regarding his missing daughter. To state it as truth without evidence is reckless and insincere to any “truth revelations”.

There is much more to be said about the half-truths and untruths being revealed as “shocking truth” in this book. Conspiracies by family members with help from law enforcement. Allegations made without one ounce of proof or evidence. Slams against anyone and everyone involved in this case, no matter which side of the bridge you stand on. Theories from bloggers who live halfway across the country, as does the author himself. Statements being misconstrued by differing sides of the family, as well as taking out of context statements made by LE. (Oh, by the way, Mr. Author, of course LE isn’t going to comment about some aspects of the investigation to you. They have a job to do and it doesn’t include catering to your gains.)

If any of you are planning to buy this book, I caution you to read it with a grain of salt. Don’t just read any statement in it as truth; but ask yourself what was being said or done just before the statement was made. Ask yourself where did the author get this information? Can it be substantiated? Or is it something said by someone who knows no more than we do? Or has a vendetta against the person it is being said about?

Ask yourself if this is really a “Shocking Truth Revealed”, or just another theory based on what the author has heard or read through the grapevine. If the truth has been revealed, where is Haleigh Cummings? What happened to this child?

*Just an opinion from someone standing in the Cr0ssfire.

 

Cr0ssing That Line

Image by jouste via Flickr

Megan Meier, Phoebe Prince, Ryan Halligan and many others were all victims of online bullying, threats, and harassment. All took their own lives. You have to wonder what sort of sick pleasure someone gets from cyber-bullying.  Are they so cowardly that harassing behind a keyboard is the only time they feel empowered? The behavior is one I would like to term “Internet Sociopath Syndrome”.  These are people who, once hidden behind a keyboard, suddenly become ten feet tall and bullet-proof. You may think you did something to set these people on your heels. You may have disagreed with a statement they made, or simply said hello online to someone they dislike. But the truth is, it is in their mental make-up to behave this way and you are not responsible at all. You can be the nicest person on the web and still be blindly attacked by these people. They seek out a target and home in on them like an atomic bomb, leaving devastation and unanswered queries in their wake. Some are so cowardly that, even behind a keyboard, they need several other mentally and/or emotionally damaged webopaths to assist them in destroying their foe. It makes one wonder what abuse, neglect, or mental illness has taken place in their lives to rob them of a normal social psyche.

What possesses one person to sleuth another they post with? Why would anyone feel the need to contact another poster with threats? Are some of these posters also responsible for phishing attacks on personal emails and/or twitter? I wanted to be thorough before addressing this subject. I wanted to first consult with a lawyer, who has graciously agreed to advise me on the laws regarding the internet, but this is a pressing issue I feel needs to be addressed now. At a later time, I hope to follow-up with the results of the lawyer interview so many can be aware of how crossing the line can put you behind bars.

The people responsible for the “outings” in a well-known missing child case are allegedly adults. Without actually seeing them it would be hard to prove this is the case. In my opinion, they are no better than the ones who caused the suicides of the aforementioned teens and young adults. They have taunted, threatened, and “outed” several posters they have shared forums with. They create fake Twitter, Facebook  or other social accounts with the sole purpose of tormenting their targets. They use these social sites to spur unfounded rumors of other people. Most of these rumors are so outrageous you would never dream of others believing what is being said. Yet, some either ARE that gullible, or are part of the mob who seek to destroy a person’s reputation at any cost.

Let’s discuss what that cost can be. You are never as anonymous as you think you are. If the person you are stalking subscribes to a free Search Alert service like WikiWorldBook, they can get an email warning them whenever someone has Googled them. They are also able to get the searchers IP address and general geographical information, or precise details if they are located at a company or an organization like a University. Here is a link to how the alert works:

http://wikiworldbook.com/search-alert

If you search this person enough, and they have documentation like this, how long before LE decides to do a search of their own? With a court-order, LE can trace through your provider to the exact computer being used for the cyber-bullying behavior.

Using a proxy-server sounds like an ingenious idea, until you realize that LE can also court order the proxy server owner to hand over details leading back to the computer using the server for illegal purposes. So while a proxy is good for anonymous surfing, it isn’t really a great idea to use one for cyber-attacks.

One thing I can give these people credit for is that with each damaging email, Twitter, Facebook, etc. post they make, they are inadvertently assisting the rest of us in getting badly needed cyber laws passed. Although each state has its own version of cyber-laws, much more is needed. We need stricter laws to help deter the internet-sociopaths from continuing this destructive behavior. With each post they make, they are bringing us closer to seeing this happen. I anticipate greatly the day we will see the cowards online in a courtroom facing a judge, and the nation. There will be no hiding when the cuffs go on and headlines are printed. If you doubt this will become a reality, let me show you a few faces and names of those who were once like you: never once dreaming their names and faces would be visible.   http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Web-vigilantes-bullying-Phoebe-Princes-accused-bullies-90214342.html

http://1stnews.org/262/lori-drew/

Although the mother in the last link was not indicted, she was ostracized online and in her off-line life. Neither her nor her family’s lives will be the same. It would be wise to consider the consequences of any actions you choose to take when on or off-line.  All actions must have a reaction. Are you prepared for one that includes cuffs and/or your picture and name to hit the net and television? Do you really want to risk your loved ones being ostracized for the cowardly decisions you made when you chose to cause undue stress and harm to a fellow poster? Think before you post. Think before you threaten, belittle, demean, or spread unfounded rumors. It only takes a second to rethink an action that could land you in jail. I assure you the rest of us are thinking of, and pressing for, ways to see that is where you end up. My advice to you is don’t cross that line.

*Just an opinion from someone standing in the crossfire.

 

All In “Mod”eration

Image via Wikipedia

I have been observing since Thanksgiving a natural course of breakdown in a somewhat popular forum. Maybe it started before Thanksgiving, but it has progressed more fluidly since the holiday.

Perception is a funny thing. Twenty people can see the same thing and yet you will get  several different opinions on what and why it happened.  The thing I like most about opinions are that they are not necessarily wrong or right, but more of just an observer’s take on events. On this blog you will only get my opinion, except for those stated in the comment section.

A forum is only as good as its moderators and administration. When you allow your moderators/admin to participate in open discussions, they no longer can be considered unbiased.  It’s like allowing a referee to choose which team he/she is going to root for. If that team isn’t yours, are you going to trust that ref’s judgment? How many have been to a game and heard the many complaints about “bad calls”?

We all expect to see posters who will partake in snarky, rude, and juvenile posts. We know that is inevitable when you have so many different personalities joined together in a “room” where no one knows them or will even ever be likely to see them.  That is why all forums have “mods”. These are supposed to be people who lay back behind the scenes and see that the subject flows freely, without too much off-topic subjects or conflict. It’s all good in moderation, but the mods are there to see it doesn’t get out of hand.  With that said, (all my opinion of course), here is where the problem arose  (again my opinion) for a certain forum we all participate in either as posters or just observers.

When mods take on the role of active posters, their opinions tend to interfere with their ability to fairly moderate a board. If you have a Christian moderating a religious belief forum, their beliefs will cause them to unfairly (and most often unintentionally) chastise an Atheist, Wiccan, Buddhist, or whatever for what they post. And vice versa. The poster is confused because they didn’t mean to offend; after all they were just stating their beliefs. So the poster may feel the mod “picked on them” and may retaliate with snark, or calling the mod out on an open-board. The mod is then put on the defense, and may snark back or worse; ban or suspend the poster’s account. Others on the board from each side of the opinion then are outraged by how their “opinion supporter” was “treated”, and before you know it you have a tense board filled with snark and bans. It’s not that anyone was ever truly wronged; but more that opinions colored the ability of the mod to be fair and open-minded (no matter how much they think they WERE being fair & open-minded).

In my opinion, the reason this board is experiencing so much conflict, isn’t because its the “natural course of boards”. I believe its the natural course of boards who allow mods to favor like-minded opinions over those who stray away from what the mod believes to be true. Mods can not be fair and impartial if they think one’s humor is a slam against the stand they have taken.  It’s easy to bypass a slam if it agrees with how you feel about a situation. Not so easy if the slam hits too close to home.

Its easy for people to want to blame the posters. If they would behave none of the problems would ever take place, right? In a sense that is true, but not quite. Disagreements and heated discussions are going to happen.  We need refs in games to keep the play fair and team members/fans in line. Same for the forums. If you don’t have unbiased mods to ice the conversation before it gets too hot, then snide remarks and low shots are going to be taken. Key word is unbiased.  Its hard to respect someone who only seems to “moderate” the side against their belief. Even harder when that mod will join in the snark occasionally.

That is not to say that all mods who voice their opinion on a forum are unfair. Some are just as wonderful, if not better, than other mods who never join in.  But when posters know how you feel about a subject, have read (and probably disagreed with) your opinions, you will undoubtedly be labeled unfair no matter how hard you try not to be. It’s the “perception” of unfairness that will always be there when your opinions are known. That’s why refs never wear team colors; and mods should never put voice to which side they lean on. We all know you have an opinion. It’s just better if no one knows what it is.

*Just an opinion from someone standing in the crossfire.

 

Happy Thanksgiving

Image by trainman74 via Flickr

The Thanksgiving holiday always brings a house full of family to my home. I watch as my children mingle with my nieces and nephews, and rush to play video games or watch specials on tv together. The weather here is warm so many of the little ones run outside to play on the swing-set or ride their scooters, with an older cousin watching diligently. My siblings and their spouses gather in the kitchen or family room to reminisce about family no longer here, things we did as children, and update each other on what is going on in our lives now.  I love the holidays.

I can’t help but think of the children who aren’t playing. The ones who do not have a video game controller in their hand, or are giggling at the antics of Snoopy on A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. The ones who aren’t here to argue over who gets the turkey leg or breaks the wishbone. The children whose family won’t get to see their smiling faces covered in pumpkin pie & whipped topping.

It saddens me to think they won’t ever get the chance to bond with their siblings to form loving relationships where they unite every holiday with children of their own. They won’t get to reminisce about crazy things they did as children or teens. They won’t have children they can watch specials with, or drink hot chocolate with as they relate tales of the family’s past. There will be no Thanksgiving Day Parade; no eyes getting large and shining with wonder at the Disney balloons or scrambling to get candy from the floats.

Let’s all remember those who won’t have the wondrous holiday we all hope to have. The families of Haleigh, Adji, Zahra, and all the other missing or murdered children across this great nation. Let’s remember the families of the Ohio victims, school shootings, street violence, illness, or accidents. There, but for the grace of God, go we.

Have a wonderful holiday all my readers. Enjoy, cherish, and hug your families, as we never know which seat may be empty on a future gathering. Be grateful for what you have, for no amount is too small when shared with the ones you love.

To the families of the missing: Please know that others are thinking of you. You are in our hearts and prayers this holiday season, and every day thereafter. No one can take your memories away, and I hope they fill your holiday with smiles and your heart with laughter. Memories are mental pictures that never get lost or destroyed.

God bless all of our families, friends, and our soldiers. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone out there, and know that I appreciate all of you.

*Just an opinion from someone standing in the crossfire.