[Mockingbird For Short]

Show Mattie a little respect; he suffered pretty badly, and it's nice that he enjoyed a little limelight in his short life. This is about Carter's shortcomings, not a dead little boy's. Mattie was a precocious child--- but a child, nonetheless... naive... He can't really be held responsible for his misdirected worship. But that's just MY 2¢. As for Carter, you are right on.

[SJSAMPLE]

I have no ill will against him, but I can't be held hostage to his ill-informed and juvenile (however precocious) views. He went out of his way to set himself up on the world stage, so he should have expected some criticism. Again, I meant nothing against him personally, as I'd never want my children to suffer his life (or his death).