It occurred to me while listening to a true crime podcast recently that victims of prolonged and severe child abuse occupy a position in society that makes their lives seem expendable. Many grow up into situations of prostitution which is another realm of expendable people. That's not living.

Murderer Brian Smith, a South African of Dutch descent who killed at least two Native women in Alaska really chilled me with his disregard for life. It's just a terrible thing to imagine a traumatized child whose life went unprotected growing into an adult drawn into prostitution, a circumstance prone to atracting people who will treat you like you are less than nothing. It's like your life is all ready forfeit. It might be years before any one even knows you're missing. I just think if life had innate worth for all people, this entire situation would function differently. It's hard for most people. And still it's impossible to accept that an infant can be brutalized from birth right up through and too death; for no apparent reason at all.