How fucking far can you abdicate responsibility?!

[kellinator]

http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/Midwest/09/23/video.child.beating/index.html

"The woman caught on videotape repeatedly striking her 4-year-old daughter in the rear of a sport utility vehicle is due in court this afternoon. Despite admitting the beating and saying there was 'no excuse' for it, she's expected to plead not guilty to felony child battery charges."

Is the state of society so bad that this moron thinks she can admit to a heinous crime on NATIONAL FUCKING TELEVISION and STILL claim she is innocent in a court of law?

Comments

[not-hothead-yet.livejournal.com]

What? You've never done anything regrettable in a fit of temper? She clearly said she wants to go to parenting classes and learn to deal with the situation.

She was protesting that her daughter was not allowed to go to other family members. Instead the little girl is being sent to stay with people she doesn't know. Frankly I'd be pretty worried too... there is a long history of foster parents who abuse their charges.

Re:

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

This woman's sister -- the child's aunt -- stood by and watched while the incident occurred. She apparently didn't think enough of it to say anything either for her niece's sake OR her sister's. If she had said something, it's likely the family would not be in this mess. Doesn't sound like a capable caregiver to me.

Yes, I've done things I regret, as I imagine we all have. But punching a four-year-old in the face (which is what the video appears to show) is, I believe, beyond the pale. No matter what you think of spanking, no child should be punched in the face. It could cause serious damage.

[atomicnumber51.livejournal.com]

Right now she's pleading not guilty to fellony battery, and once medical evidence is presented in the courtroom, a decision will be made as to the extent of the crime. Gut feeling is that the charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor, and the family will come under the eye of Child Protective Services who will arange for counseling and assign a social worker, and so forth.

Foster care routenely spits out psychologically damaged children with no family or support structure, who get dropped out of the system at 18 with no future. Children outside of infancy have abysmal adoption rates.

If she can be taught to be a competent care giver, it is in the child's best interest to do so. but a criminal court's jurisdiction extends only to the scope of this incident.

pardon me

[not-hothead-yet.livejournal.com]

WHEN did I ever say a child should be punched in the face?!?

just because I'm willing to give her the sympathy only another parent can give; because I applaud her courage in admitting what she did was wrong and wanting help for herself??

I'm with satia on this one people... there but for the grace of god...

Re: pardon me

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

Maybe I would be more willing to sympathize with this woman if she had shown any remorse before she got caught. And I do feel sorry for her. But I do not understand the rush to vindicate her and to take her at her word. My parents lost their temper with my brother and me. They didn't punch us in the face.

I admit freely that I don't have children and I don't know what kind of parent would be. Maybe I'd be worse. But that doesn't mean I can't recognize when a parent crosses the line.

Re: pardon me

[not-hothead-yet.livejournal.com]

how do you know she didn't show remorse? Because she didn't rush into a police department five minutes later and demand to be taken in?

You don't know what she did before she was taken in, you only know what you've been told by the media. I'm sorry but when the media makes such a blatent emotionally appealing "mistake" as saying "pleading innocent" I'm going to be VERY suspicious.

No one is rushing to vindicate her, we are simply not ready to execute her until we've heard more. I am amazed that she has publicly admitting to being in the wrong, wanting to get help and describing her appalled reaction when seeing what she had done.

After this, I can begin to understand why people hide themselves and especially their mistakes... there's no pacifying some people.

What I am seeing more than anything is a country being appalingly manipulated by the media. I think what she did was wrong too... but that doesn't mean she doesn't have the right to a fair trial. It doesn't mean she can't mend her ways. It doesn't mean her daughter doesn't love her. It doesn't even mean she can't turn around and have a happy family. So far as I can see, this ONE incident doesn't even mean she's a horrible abusive parent. Maybe she is, and maybe she isn't... I'm not getting out the tar and feathers until I've seen evidence that goes beyond ONE incident that she admits to doing wrong.

Isn't there supposed to be something about "christian charity" and maybe "forgiveness with contrition" and oh yeah, how about "innocent until proven guilty"

...and I'm not even a christian
???

Re: pardon me

[darkerdays.livejournal.com]

i guess then you just have better parents than the most of us.

[darkerdays.livejournal.com]

(which is what the video appears to show)

it appears. believe 1/2 what you see. you cant see for certain if the girl is being popped on the ass or the face, so dont make it into something its not.

i think its real easy to point a finger and lecture others bout their child raising methods, especially when we have no kids of our own.

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

Why else would I have added that parenthetical clause if I weren't acknowledging that there's a possibility I misinterpreted?

[technomom]

I've never struck anyone in anger, not even a child. I was hit in anger as a child, and I won't do that.