HI CGB,
No, I wasn't aware of her being a manic-depressive. (I wonder why an intelligent person would stop taking her meds.) But it doesn't change how I feel about what she did. When a minor is involved, I am merciless. I know you also believe protecting our children is a priority. I am not without compassion and tolerance, but I draw the line here.
I don't care that she was manic-depressive, or emotionally vulnerable,I don't care if no one ever hugged her in her whole damned life. It was a wrong and terrible thing to do. What sets us apart from the animals is our ability to consider consequences, to reason, to overcome our self-destructive urges, particularly when they can hurt others. So she was emotionally needy? Tough.
I was reading a book on the psychological aspects of surviving in the Nazi camps. It's a beautiful book about the acts of generosity and kindness among the prisoners, the establishment of order and survival by cooperative living, and the ability of men and women to remain human despite terrible damage to both their bodies and their souls. It talks about the necessity of maintaining a moral sense.
One of the survivors wrote that the group shared everything and the moment someone stopped sharing, the rest of the group knew it was the end for that person.
So having a rough childhood, going through a divorce, being needy, depressed, having a hangnail-- I have a hard time with these things excusing people's immoral or illegal behaviors.
I'm unsure what jhild is saying about the circumstances; does it matter? Should it? Shouldn't we be capable, even if needy or depressed, of making correct decisions, generous ones, caring, noble heroic? Can't we expect more from people? This reminds me of Clinton also...illness is no excuse. Why shouldn't we expect more from ourselves?
Buy more groceries next time so you can finish the article!!!! |
