Are Sexual Predators In Your Neighborhood? How To Be Aware and Keep Your Family Safe

Port St. Lucie was a small town and still growing in the mid 1980's. As a child I'd ride my bike for blocks to go to a friend's house, go down by myself to the St. Lucie River to fish and often explore the woods for imaginary treasure. I remember neighbors being very close with one another and we all didn't worry about keeping our doors unlocked while we slept at night. However, times were beginning to change.

One evening when I was about five years old, I encountered a peeping tom entering through my window. I was asleep at first, until I felt his foot land on my bed, which was directly against the window. Seconds later, without having time to scream, my daddy (then a police officer) came in with a shotgun and pointed it directly at the man. Now, I don't recall what words were exchanged, or how my father heard the 'peeper' coming in. All I knew was that the man had been arrested and it was the talk of the town. With word being spread and the news covering what happened, that's when Port St. Lucie residents really started to understand the safety in securing their home to protect their family.

Today, we are all too familiar with these similar occurrences. Day in and day out we hear of another abduction, kidnap, molestation, or other kind of abuse. It isn't just happening across the country to another suburban town, more and more it's becoming local. So, how do we protect our spouse, our children and ourselves? What characteristics does a predator have? And how do we know if a sexual predator or offender is in our neighborhood?

What Do Dreams Mean?

For the past two years I've been having trouble sleeping. Mostly it isn't hard to get to sleep, it is being able to stay sound asleep that has become difficult for me. We can thank my genes later for that one, ha ha. I was starting to get better rest in the last month, but in the last few days it began again. The sore eyes like if I've been in R.E.M. (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, thus, dreaming quite a bit along with constant body twitching, which is triggered also by the state of R.E.M. Due to this (or so it is my assumption) I'm overtired and have muscle aches during waking hours. Sometimes being overtired and the brain becoming so alert and active, it becomes a vicious cycle all over again.

With this paradoxical sleep, I've been having such vivid dreams. Most of these dreams have been similar and within a few days of one another. I started to think, "What do these dreams mean, and why do I keep having the same ones?" So, I decided to research online about dreams and what they could possible represent. I found a resourceful website called DreamMoods.com to help clarify what I've been repetitively dreaming about! Although, this site is for entertainment purposes, it was pretty right on the money (especially when I looked into past dreams I've had).

A Citizen's Right!

(Read at Your Own Discretion: Although the following states ethnicity/race, it is not intended to be considered racist; it is part of a research study by means of surveys.  My personal opinion is also applied.)

I’m a United States Citizen!  I broadcast it proudly.  Born in Florida to middle class working parents.  What is the crime in that?  You say there is no crime in that – probably because if you’re reading this, you’re too a middle class citizen.  But the government says otherwise.  That IT IS a crime to be born as a middle class U.S. citizen.  How’s that, you wonder?  They don’t announce it that it’s a crime because that would be going against the United States Constitution in which they have formed.  Instead, it is done stealth-like after years of preparation and condemnation.  It’s after our Country of the Free forms an alliance with nearby countries to show that this Land of the Free is a Great Nation allowing foreigners to pursue dreams here.  It’s when the government ignores that a good percentage of employers seek people who are bilingual when this country was deeded as an English speaking country.  Where does that leave the other percentage of people like me with amazing talent and skill that hasn’t learned to speak a different language because it wasn’t something that was NEEDEDwhen applying for jobs just a few years ago?  It wasn’t something the government asked of U.S. citizens and we abided by the following.  Even the word“God” has been removed from our schools, social events and it’s still in limbo if it should remain printed on the U.S. dollar.  I cannot say that the United States of America is based on religion, but I CAN say my land’s foundation is and it should not be shaken!  It should not be looked upon people like you and me and others worldwide as a country only based on selfish needs of one’s own.  Where is the support between our sisters and brothers of America?  Better yet, where is the support from our congressmen for our middle class citizens?  Citizens like myself, who need financial help because of the international transition and economical sway.

It is disturbing!  It is puzzling to me how the government bypasses hard working, tax paying and medical paying citizens that are at their last dollar.  They walk on by excusing middle class almost as if use to it.  They instead, accommodate a sanctuary as quick, quietly and as organized as possible for immigrants barely on U.S. soil for a day.  Getting them situated.  Getting them fed.  Getting them housed.  Where is MY break?  Where is MY food?  Where is MY shelter?  Where and to whom is MY dollar going to?  Jobs are paying minimal, work is hard to find, there’s an increase in expense, yet a decrease in product.  I’m hardly surviving, or should I say barely living?  I’ve asked for the governments help!  I didn’t ASK for much.  I didn’t ASK for shelter.  I didn’t even ASK for a grant.  I merely asked for enough money to eat a daily meal, through this tough economic downfall.  As it turns out, I wasn’t approved to receive such money.  I wasn’t what they called, at poverty level.  I wasn’t a single parent or another ethnicity.  For starters, what do they possibly know about poverty?  They sit on their high horse looking at just numbers.  I may not be getting paid dimes and nickels, but this is where the curve ball is thrown in!  They want me to pay taxes, SO I DO!  They want me to pay for medical insurance, SO I DO!  I abide by their laws and pay for my own bills.  I’m not cheating the system, the system is cheating me.  If after all the money taken out of my paycheck for these expenses they want me to cough up in the first place isn’t considered poverty, than what is?  What is most bothersome is that a U.S. Citizen is treated like a minority in these particular situations.  Why is that?  Why can we not VOICEOUR RIGHTS and be heard by the government loud and clear?  I know in my situation, it isn’t just the dollar amount that concerns me; it is every bit of my pride being tested as a U.S. citizen during this time of struggle.  Thinking about tomorrow and what I’m going to do just exhausts me and triggers fear of what might be coming next.  I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way.  If you are a person who feels this way, petition with me the RIGHTS you have as a U.S. Citizen.  We have strength in numbers and something WILL be done.  The government empowers us by declaring the phrase “United We Stand” – well then, united we shall stand and reiterate to them what that definition is suppose to mean.