Toughest Of The Bunch: "He didn't drop one tear"

[kpete]

There are pictures of this little boy at the link --- he's a baby really, only 4 years old --- with bloody cuts all over his thighs.

Adrian Peterson released a statement saying that he is not a child abuser. But it's quite clear from that text message in which he is proud that his horrible beating did not produce any tears from his tiny little son (as well as the somewhat depraved act of forcing leaves into his son's mouth as he whipped him with a piece of wood) show that he is, even if he's never thought to define himself that way. It's a sick power trip that would make a 6'1 inch 220 pound professional athlete draw blood on a 4 year old as a punishment, regardless of how he rationalizes his intention.

I understand that there's a chance he's so damaged himself that he truly didn't know any better. But that doesn't mitigate the essential cruelty of his act or his attitude about it.

That poor little guy couldn't even let himself cry.
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/09/12/adrian-peterson-indicted-for-child-abuse/
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/frame_game/2014/09/adrian_peterson_and_corporal_punishment_hitting_children_teaches_them_nothing.html?wpsrc=fol_tw

[NYC_SKP]

1. What the fucking hell? Why do we not require some proof of sanity for parenthood?

I know.

Third rail of progressive politics- parenthood.

We all want to ban guns and tobacco but support people without skills and means having as many children as they like.

FTR, I don't smoke, own just a couple antique arms, and have never had children.

Why do we have to endure child abuse?

There seems to be an "understood" right to procreation, unlimited by any criterion.

Really?

[JonLP24]

4. What are the specifics

I can see some here proposing complete gun bans. I'm not one of those people but it isn't an issue I'm passionate about either way. Tobacco -- I understand smoking in public policy bans, 2nd-hand smoke is proven harmful to the health of others and when you don't smoke, trace of smells bothers the hell out of you. Are outright tobacco bans often proposed here? If so it would be very ineffective as it would easily acquired through the black market. Despite all the efforts and laws there is plenty of marijuana, meth, & heroin here in Phoenix.

How exactly would you enforce a "right to parenthood?". You can't stop it from it happening, can't possibly make them go through a background check, and by asking "proof of sanity" is like asking to prove innocence. What happens if they fail the "proof of sanity"? Fine &/or jail the woman if she doesn't get an abortion? The father? Both?

[NYC_SKP]

8. Some solutions off the top of my head:

I won't go so far, yet, as to suggest forced sterilization but I think a very strong argument can be made for that, especially under the worst circumstances.

Less severe:

You fuck up, you lose your child permanently, this child goes to a caring home, forever.

You fuck up, you lose your right to vote, and you forfeit your Social Security benefits.

You fuck up and have another child, say goodbye to that child, we'll find a good home for him or her.

Well operated and thoughtful homes for children would be a far better place for kids than awful parents, or awful foster parents.

It's not that hard to find solutions, to create consequences.

Crazy? I don't know. Ask an abused child.

[JonLP24]

11. Foster care system is flawed

Parents that do lose kids to the system often are required to jump through hoops to get them back and even then it isn't enough. Meanwhile the kids are more likely to suffer PTSD and a host of other lifelong problems. In fact, they are more likely to suffer unreported abuse.

Now I'm not arguing giving kids back to the abusers but solutions often have unintended consequences. I like the idea of working w/ parents to get their kids back, that seems to be a more effective solution for everyone involved. Strengthening what we already have including safety nets as unemployment and poverty are the biggest causes. CPS/foster care don't have the resources to effectively give what all the children in their care need but I don't have all these answers and won't pretend to--throwing more money and bureaucracy at problems rarely help but finding each and every child a "caring home" is easier said than done.

On the right to vote I actually support voting rights for every single US citizen over 18 especially since such a law would be required by voters. If you don't like a law you should be allowed to support politicians that would work to overturn it so I don't like laws that people directly affected by he/she can't work to overturn.

[NYC_SKP]

12. Frankly, unfit parents probably don't vote anyway. nt.

[Ilsa]

7. It all comes down to education.

Teens need to be educated in high school about how to live as an adult and as a parent.

There used to be classes called Home & Family Living, etc, where teens learn how to manage basics of a household, what are utilities, other expenses of living on your own and a budget. They usually would have a section on starting a family, parenting, and basics of growth and human development. This would be a great place to cover the damage corporal punishment does to a child and the legal repercussions.

[NYC_SKP]

9. I have to agree, except that when education fails we still need solutions.

We need, IMHO, to be more willing to permanently remove children from unfit households.

And we need to fully fund and develop healthy alternative settings.

We have done neither of these, largely due to some pie-in-sky "parents' rights" concept.

[NYC_SKP]

2. PS. "Yay, Pro Sports! Woo Hoo!" NFL fans are unwitting enablers.

Boycott the fucking NFL and any other organization that doesn't affirmatively fight this fucking bullshit!

[merrily]

3. I haven't followed every detail, but I heard on TV that the photos are 7 or 8

days old. The younger we are, the faster we heal. So, if it is true that the pictures are 7 or 8 days old, his wounds in the pics probably don't look anywhere near as bad as his wounds looked to his Dad as he continued to hit him.

I don't care who beat you in what region of the country when you were growing up. Or who beat your mama or daddy.

Maybe in the South it was a switch and in the North, it was papa's belt, buckle and all. Or just whatever weapon happened to be nearest the hand of your mom or dad or whoever raised you. It's no excuse to make a four year old bleed or to to punch your significant other. None.

[LisaLynne]

5. OMG, just reading that text makes me sick to my stomach.

That's beyond corporal punishment, so the debate that has been raging is moot in this situation, IMHO. This is clearly abuse and with intent to abuse, even if Peterson doesn't call it that.

[BlueCaliDem]

6. Okay. That's not a spanking. That's child abuse.

I saw the photographs at the link and no one, NO ONE, with more than half a working brain can believe that Peterson's son was merely "spanked". He had abused his baby (who spanks a 4 year old??)

That "whupping with a switch" was done in rage. Those open wounds, bruises, and cuts are the results of child abuse, no if's, ands, or buts.

[tularetom]

10. Wow, this isn't even comparable to what Ray Rice did

It's way worse.

And yet this sick mf'er is still drawing his big fat salary while the other guy is looking for a job.

They should both be out on their ass and in jail, Peterson for a long time.

[Heidi]

13. Kick!

[progressoid]

14. "five more pops than 'normal'"

Jesus, what's 'normal'?