January Schofield

After reading Michael Schofield's book, January First, I felt compelled to write this post.

January First

January Schofield (known as Jani, or previously, Janni with double 'n's) was born on 8th August 2002 (8th August is also my birthday!) By the time she was six years old she was diagnosed with onset-childhood schizophrenia. 
'January First' is her father's poignant, moving account of the Schofield family's struggle to cope with the mental illness that was tearing apart their beloved daughter. 
I cried a lot whilst reading the book, however in the closing chapter which was written in July 2011, Michael says how Jani is now on medication that is helping a great deal, she is not so violent, and she has many more moments of happiness. 

Jani - just a sweet little girl.

I heard about Jani when I was on YouTube one day and a video popped up about 'America's schizophrenic child'. Jani was seemingly born mentally ill. A devastating article from The Mirror in October 2012 explains how Jani's younger brother, Bodhi, may also have schizophrenia, he has currently been diagnosed with autism. 
Jani barely slept as a baby and would look around at things that weren't there. She was an extremely imaginative child but by the age of five she was becoming violent, biting, scratching and hitting her parents like she was fighting for her life. Soon after Bodhi was born, Jani tried to attack and kill him. She also started hitting the family dog, Honey. Her imaginary friends were in fact hallucinations - telling her to hurt herself and her family. Jani was always a very clever child with a high IQ, she hated going by her real name 'January' and frequently changed it. She was very good with numbers and her imaginary friends often had names that were numbers, such as 400 the cat. After masses of medication was tried and different diagnoses were suggested, Jani was diagnosed with schizophrenia. 
Jani's father Michael had a mentally ill mother, and another relative who suffered with schizoprenia who ended up committing suicide. Susan, Jani's mother, had a relative who also had schizophrenia. As a child Michael had ADHD and as an adult suffered with chronic depression and reguarly took Lexapro, an anti-depressant.

The autobiography/tale of a family is so truthful and raw. I was crying when the family cried and smiling when they smiled. I felt so much for poor Jani, as she would never be able to have a normal life - go to school, college, get married, have children. The frustration and anger that Michael felt at Jani's schizophrenia for ruining her childhood/life was so obvious in the book, and I was also angry at the illness for ruining a young child's life. The ending is happy, as happy as it can be, as Jani is a lot better (although never will be fully better as there currently is no cure for schizophrenia). Michael saw it as: try and give Jani the best life we can, keep her alive, make sure she is happy. They were given Jani from God, Susan feels. Although there are challenges that come with looking after her, she is also their daughter, their child. She is gifted with extreme intelligence, but also beauty and when she is herself and not under psychotic behaviours, a lovely sweet little girl.

Jani's parents have set up a website, The Jani Foundation, which highlights mental illness in children and offers support for those suffering and their family.

A Bad Week For Humanity

Humans - are we our own worst enemy?

This week has been a terrible week for humanity. On Monday 20th May 2013 a deadly tornado swept the town of Moore, Oklahoma and left around 24 people dead, including 10 children. This was bad enough, with the town smashed to pieces and houses crumbled. Humanity didn't cause this tornado, it was nature, but the other hideous event of the week was caused by humans, if you can even call the killers 'human'. 
On Wednesday 22nd May 2013 a terrible twisted attack took place in Woolwich, London where an innocent British soldier was hacked to death by two Islamic extremists. Now there is obviously a huge backlash and uproar about what has happened and people are being extremely racist.

Nature can be deadly, but so can we.

This event did not happen because of religion, race or politics, regardless of what the killers said or think, it happened because they are clearly evil and twisted people and are trying to justify their disgusting actions with religion.
People are losing faith in humanity, which is only fair. We are horrible creatures; killing, torturing and hurting one another. Destroying our planet. But not ALL of us are evil. Generally as a population, yes we are, but if you break it down into groups there are the 'evil' people: murderers, rapists, child molesters, then there are the 'bad' people: thieves, attackers, criminals, but then there are the general public, the average people who carry on with their mundane daily lives and do not commit heinous acts. Humans are not all bad. 
The racism stemming from this attack is preposterous. Not all Muslims have ever or will ever commit such abominable acts. The killers clearly wanted fame and that is what we are giving them by talking about it so much, I know that is contradictory as I am writing a post about it, but I am defending groups of people who are now being discriminated against because they look like or believe similar things to these killers. Stop with the racism. 

David Burrowes MP: ‘I am a supporter of traditional marriage. Get over it!’

So, I got a reply from the homophobic bigot of an MP, David Burrowes. 

I was also contacted by a journalist for The Enfield Gazette, as David Burrowes in an MP for Enfield-Southgate, she wrote an article about my letter to him, his reply and my opinions on it, which was published in The Enfield Gazette.

When Sally Met Sally also published an article about David Burrowes' reply to my letter.

In my letter I stated that "Pro-marriage means you believe in marriage and want as many people as possible to participate in it; so how is excluding a whole group of people from the marital institution pro-marriage?"
Along with a lot of political waffle that didn't get to the point, he said "I am a supporter of traditional marriage. Get over it!"
Doesn't he realise what 'traditional' marriage means?
Women are slaves, if they're not virgins when married they can be beaten, fathers can sell their daughters for cows and goats, interracial relationships were illegal.
Does he support these archaic 18th century values?

Paraphrasing and playing on the LGBT charity Stonewall's famous 'Some people are gay, get over it' slogan seems to be rather childish. Couldn't he be more original?

He did not answer my question: "I would be extremely happy if you could explain to me how you believe you are not anti-gay".
Looking at his voting record, he seems to want to deny lesbian and gay people rights and does not think they should be protected against from homophobic hatred. As he voted against outlawing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in 2007 and to prevent lesbians from having access to fertility treatment in 2008. Then against outlawing incitement to homophobic hatred in 2009. He doesn't appear to have voted on the Equality Act 2010 (which consolidated and extended the various bits of legislation on discrimination). He voted against same-sex marriage in 2013.

Come on Burrowes, admit it, you just don't like the gays.

Stop The Stigma Around Mental Health Issues

I hear the words "mental" and "psycho" and "schizo" being thrown around carelessly. 
What if you were one of those people who suffered with psychosis or schizophrenia?
The stigma around mental health illnesses has got to stop.
If someone has a broken leg or a black eye, people can see they are ill, but if you are mentally ill - no-one can tell. But those with psychological illnesses are still ill, they still need love and care and support.
In some ways illness of the mind can be worse than physical illness. It's harder to explain, it doesn't show and it is seen as 'strange'. Even in 2013 I still come across people who are prejudice against those with mental illnesses.
People with mental illness are not crazy, nor are they violent or hateful. They are not all suffering with the same condition. Not all depressives are suicidal, not all schizophrenics are violent, not all people with OCD are obsessive about hygiene.
So stop with the stigma. Think about it more. Research it. Support it. Mental health illnesses are not something to be ashamed of. Wipe-out stigma. Please. Start today.

The Truth About Depression

The black dog.
Down in the dumps.
The blues. 
It doesn't matter what you call it.
It's depression.
It sucks all the life from you and colours your world black. You see in black and white, you lose your appetite, all you want to do is sleep. Past hobbies and leisure activities become boring.
It is a killer, a life destroyer.
Bipolar disorder is also a life destroyer. It can have you crying one minute and laughing the next. Manic episodes result in hyper activity, a high sex drive and unlimited energy, however down episodes leave you wondering why you're alive and attempting to slit your wrist.
People tell those with depression to "Put your chin up" or "Look on the bright side". But it is not that simple. There is a chemical imbalance in their brain, their serotonin levels are low, they cannot control their mood. I'm sick of the stigma that surrounds depression. Everyone who judges depressed people, I guarantee if they had a while living with depression they'd soon change their judgement.

Marriage Versus Civil Partnerships

This whole gay marriage debate is still going on. I have previously posted 10 reasons why the government should allow equal marriage and my post with my poem about equal marriage but this is going to talk more about the fight between marriage and civil partnership. Have you heard Susan Calman's legendary comedic rant on gay marriage? At her wedding she wanted to march down the aisle to The Proclaimer's 'Let's Get Married' and have Pam Ayres' 'Yes I'll Marry You My Dear' read out but wasn't allowed, because it wasn't technically legally actually a marriage.
So there is marriage (civil marriage)...and there's civil partnerships (civil ceremonies, civil unions) but why aren't there same-sex marriages/gay marriages/equal marriage?
People say that gay people have equality because they can have a civil partnership - but no, the mere fact that it is called a 'civil partnership' rather than a 'marriage' illustrates that there is not equality.
"I'm married" sounds so much better than "I'm civil partnered" and "Mrs and Mrs" beats "Ms and Ms". "This is my wife" has a better ring to it than "This is my civil partner".
People argue that marriage should be kept 'traditional' but traditionally interracial couples could not marry, women were slaves and divorce was unheard of. Religious organisations say that allowing two men or two women to marry is going against God's view but what about secular atheist couples who marry? They are tied into a religious institution but don't believe in it.
Another argument: Marriage should be an institution that promotes in the birth of children. So we shouldn't let elderly, infertile or couples who don't wish to procreate have children? 
Marriage should be between a man and a woman. What about forced/arranged marriages? And straight couples who marry at 2am in Las Vegas as part of a drunken mistake. Couples who divorce not long after tying the knot.

Marriage v civil partnership:

What's the difference?

Is there a legal difference between the two?
The Civil Partnership Act 2004 gave same-sex couples the rights and responsibilities similar to those in a civil marriage. Civil partners are entitled to the same property rights, the same exemptions on inheritance tax, social security and pension benefits as married couples. They also have the same ability to get parental responsibility for a partner's children as well as reasonable maintenance, tenancy rights, insurance and next-of-kin rights in hospital and with doctors. There is a process similar to divorce for dissolving a civil partnership.

So why don't they have the same status under English law?

In 2006, Sir Mark Potter, president of the high court family division, told an academic lesbian couple that they faced an "insurmountable hurdle" in trying to have a same-sex marriage recognised in English law. He said marriage was regarded as an "age-old institution" that was "by long-standing definition and acceptance" a formal relationship between a man and a woman primarily designed for producing and rearing children. The couple, Celia Kitzinger and Sue Wilkinson, who were married in Canada and spent their life savings on the court battle, said they were deeply disappointed saying they had been "stripped" of their marriage.

Any practical differences in the ceremonies? Until now it has been banned for civil partnership ceremonies to include religious readings, music or symbols and forbidden for them to take place in religious venues, regardless of the views of the building's owners. In Scotland, which has its own legislation, some church parishes offer blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples.

Any other practical differences? Civil partners of male peers or knights do not receive a courtesy title to which the spouse of a peer or knight would be entitled.

Maybe we should allow straight couples to have civil partnerships so that non-religious couples don't have to buy into a once religious institution and liberal couples into a once racist and sexist institution. Equality means EVERYONE marries or EVERYONE civil partners, no separating and dividing. Marriage has changed over time so now it should change one little bit more.
Marriage should be about love not gender. If two people want to marry why stop them? Don't like gay marriage? Don't marry a gay, simple.

Article on When Sally Met Sally: Lesbian schoolgirl challenges anti-gay MP David Burrowes

We've been very impressed today by an A level student called Victoria Munro.

Victoria (17) from Southern England, who identifies as a lesbian, has challenged an MP on his claim that he's not anti-gay even though he has voted against equal rights for LGBT people on numerous occasions. 

She wrote to Enfield-Southgate MP David Burrows after he stated that he is “pro-marriage and not anti-gay” and that the majority of his constituents agree with him in opposing the same-sex marriage bill.

In her letter she questioned Burrowes’ voting record on LGBT issues, and said that his actions suggests that he is anti-gay, and questions how he can say he is “pro-marriage” if he wants to exclude a sector of society from the institution.

Here's her letter, as published in Pink News today: 

Dear David

I recently read this article on PinkNews’ website.

I just wanted to explain a few things to you. Having looked at your voting record since you entered parliament in 2005 I would conclude that you are very anti gay, having voted/or not voted: 

- against outlawing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in 2007

- to prevent lesbians from having access to fertility treatment in 2008

- against outlawing incitement to homophobic hatred in 2009

- doesn’t appear to have voted on the Equality Act (which consolidated and extended the various bits of legislation on discrimination) in 2010

- against same-sex marriage in 2013

So you don’t want LGBT people to be able to get married or have children and you think discrimination against them is fine but you are still somewhat not ‘anti-gay’?

I am 17 and I identify as lesbian. I am one of the future generation. I believe everyone should be allowed to marry if they desire to, including the LGBT community. How is their love any less deserving or real than straight people’s? The only thing that undermines marriage is divorce, something straight people seem to be very good at.

I would be extremely happy if you could explain to me how you believe you are not anti-gay.

Another thing: don’t ever say you are not anti-gay just pro-marriage without really thinking about it. Pro-marriage means you believe in marriage and want as many people as possible to participate in it; so how is excluding a whole group of people from the marital institution pro-marriage?

I hope you take my points and views into account, as I may be just a 17-year-old-girl but I am someone and my opinion is valid, even if I am a ‘second-class, non-superior, gay person’.

Thank You

Kind Regards

Victoria Munro

A-Level student from Southern England

David Burrowes appeared on BBC 2’s Daily Politics and called for a referendum on same-sex marriage. Earlier this week he warned that the same-sex marriage bill resembles the shark in the 1970s thriller movie, Jaws.

The House of Commons will debate the bill as part of its third reading from next Monday.

Victoria Munro is already an active writer and LGBT activist. She has already published two books: Kiss Chase (for 15+ readers) which tells the story of a young lesbian coming to terms with her sexuality after the sudden death of her mother; and Silver Lining (a story for 11+ readers). 

In an interview with the Daily Echo, she described how she was bullied at school because of her sexuality and once even tried to take an overdose. But she "overpowered" the bullying with a "tremendous sense of standing up for herself and others' rights", and set up an online support group and wrote a book.

After school, Victoria plans to study English and creative writing at university. 

Well done Victoria! We have a feeling we're going to be hearing a lot more from her in future! 

Check out Victoria's website HERE 

Article from When Sally Met Sally on 15 May 2013

Is pop music killing the music industry or inspiring our outcast younger generation?

Music in the charts these days is primarily pop. I can empathise with the people who sigh and sigh and say “I don’t know what music is coming to! All this trash in the charts”.

However pop isn't all bad.

I frequently have arguments with my brother - a lover of rock music, when he argues that pop singers are talentless and just follow one another like sheep. I can understand where he is coming from - a lot of the latest pop songs are just the same endless beat being played over and over, however there are some exceptions. Some pop artists do actually write their own songs and the song coveys a view, meaning or emotion.

Some examples I can give you would be: Jessie J and Lady Gaga. Jessie J’s songs each hold a different emotion and are very influential to the teenage mind. ‘Be true to who you are’ these soothing lines can heal so many different youngsters, all feeling outcast and freakish for various reasons.

When all the fuss kicked off and Lady Gaga became famous, it seemed to be love or hate, like Marmite  and I will admit at first did not like her. She was pulling in millions for these ‘same old’ songs. But then ‘Born this way’ came out and changed my whole perspective of her. She was like Jessie J, another singing that wants equality. ‘Born this way’ also applies to a whole spectrum of teenagers, she even quotes: Whether life’s disabilities left you outcast, bullied or teased, rejoice and love yourself today cause’ baby you were born this way. No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian transgendered life, I'm on the right track baby I was born to survive’.

Now, you can’t say this line isn't helping to boost teenagers self worth, confidence and esteem.

Lady Gaga

Life’s too short - it’s the simple things that count

Life’s too short - it’s the simple things that count. Life is short.
 That’s the reality. And the majority of people (mostly the non-religious that don’t believe in the afterlife or reincarnation) would say that you only live once. As I go from day to day, I regularly hear people complaining about things they've done, things they regret and mistakes they have made. I never really hear them planning for the future. For a child or teenager, life stretches out forever, like it will never end. But it will. With the hectic hustle and bustle of work, everyday life takes over and we forget to enjoy the simple pleasures, the little moments in life where you just feel a sense of elation. So, here is a little list, not of grand plans such as ‘win the lottery’ and ‘meet the Queen’ but simple joys and delights that we take for granted.

• Enjoy nature. Many people moan ‘What a typical English summer day, cold and rainy’ or ‘ I'm way too hot’ or ‘Not snow again, how will I get to work?’ - no one ever stops to notice the sheer beauty of a emerald green forest or a the dazzling sunset, blue sky on a warm summers day, a village blanketed in snow and frozen in ice.
• Let your loved ones know you love them - you don’t know what you've got til you lose it. So true. So many people argue or fight and the next thing they know that person they just called a ‘bitch’ has been run over by a car or suffered a fatal heart attack. Never go to bed angry or leave someone on an argument as that might just be the last time you ever see them. 
• Realise you are lucky and there are so many people worse off than you. That is the golden rule.

The Recession And Population Overload

Youth unemployment is rising as fast as Concorde used to fly, house prices are extortionate and shops are closing down. Nothing is changing, unless it’s for the worst. It does not seem fair that the future generation will miss out on many of the things the last generation took for granted such as buying a house, owning a car.

The majority of our parents have managed to settle themselves comfortably, yet we are stuck in a rut, the only safe place to be seems to be in education, either school or sixth form college, perhaps university - but that carries the load of thousands of pounds worth of debt and a degree that doesn't even guarantee you a job.

As my parents discuss ‘the good old days’, I actually wish I lived then. Although the world is a more open minded place and much fairer than then, at least you could leave school without even having to attend college or university and there would be jobs waiting for you.

The average age for someone to own their own place (don’t forget the ongoing mortgage) is around 35. Our kids will be stuck at home, on unemployment benefits, getting overweight from cheap junk food, is this we really want for our future?

The news has becoming such a gloomy and depressing feature in our lives as we switch on the TV, at 7.30am, sleep still in our eyes, hair sticking up, having to face yet another long day at work.

It’s getting to a point that thousands of people are applying for a post for say 100 jobs. Is this population overload or is this the government seriously lacking control and intelligence?

Maybe we should limit every parent to just having one child, try and decrease the ever-growing population, because quite frankly - with no jobs around, is it worth bringing another person into the world who will just one day be sat at home on unemployment benefits like the rest of us?

Yesterday a letter came through my door. The government are making water meters compulsory. It is due to the ever-growing population, so therefore a growing demand for water. Instead of paying monthly and either using lots of water or very little, you will now pay for each drop you use, which - if you live in a large family, is bad news, and if you live say by yourself and use very little, is good news.

Water is scarce, jobs are scarce, and human beings are so so far from scarce.

I can hear you cursing at me as I drill you with these harsh opinions, but the truth is - humans want to feel special, and that’s why when you go to a huge city such as London, swarming with different people, different types of people, fat, thin, black, white, tall, small, gay, straight, you feel horribly insignificant as you realise quite shockingly how many billions of people there really are on this little planet.

It’s a small world. And we are filling it on a daily basis with more people. That’s natural, I hear you say, we were designed to reproduce. However there are various types of animals that once they start to overpopulate either contract a deadly disease to wipe half of them out, or they simply cannot conceive for a while, until the population dies down.

We have evolved so much, taken over the planet. We are now doing so many unnatural things, scientific experiments, such as cloning, IVF, artificial insemination, mixing certain types of animals or foods together to create a different outcome, so surely, at such an advanced stage we are intelligent enough to realise that enough is enough? It is getting serious. Maybe the lack of jobs is due to the population overload and not the credit crunch, recession, depression, economical downfall, global meltdown or whatever you want to call it.

I’m no politician, nor a scientist, I admit that, and these are at the end of the day my own opinions, but surely some of it makes sense?

Doesn’t it?