by Claire Mcgee

Created on: August 30, 2009   Last Updated: August 31, 2009

GRANDPARENT RIGHTS IN AMERICA

To the layman, legal documents read like the Dead Sea Scrolls. I have been "researching" grandparents' rights, in the state of Oregon, since March 2007, when the local Department of Human Services, took my three grandsons.

It feels to me as if terrorists have taken my grandsons hostage, and are holding them for ransom.

My son suggested I look at the definition of domestic terrorism, because, he said, it fits. Domestic Terrorism is the unlawful use, or threatened use, of violence by a group or individual based and operating entirely within the United States (or its territories) without foreign direction, committed against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives. (As defined by the FBI, Congressional Testimony 2.12.02 )

To me, when I read about hostage situations in the paper - it is generally accepted that one group of people - took someone (or several "someones") from another group of people. Group A has no idea WHERE their people are being kept. They have no way to phone their missing people. They cannot go and visit their missing people. Sometimes, to show that the "missing people" are still alive - Group B will sometimes show them at a press conference - or make a movie of them - or take a photo of them, holding a newspaper with the current date, to prove to the world that Group B still has the people taken from Group A.

Or - as I have recently experienced myself - Group B will show the "missing people" in a room at one of their facilities - heavily guarded and monitored.

If Group A wants to release their "missing people" from Group B - they must have a lot of money.

When I read about these stories in the newspaper - they refer to this money as ransom. In my experiences with my grandsons, this is called "having lots of money to pay a lawyer." We could call this lawyer a "negotiator or a coach. " So - if Group A can come up with enough money to hire a lawyer - it is possible that Group B can be persuaded to hand over the "missing people" ...

When I read about these situations in the paper - it is said that the hostages were released.

I do not NEED to say "kidnapping" or "hostage." I've been told that The Department finds it offensive when I use the term kidnapping or hostage situation - when talking about my grandsons.

By simply taking the time to SAY what is going on - a reader can draw their own conclusions

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