Posted on 12/21/2004 8:54:13 AM PST by flixxx
The in-laws should have asked if it was ok before they did it. I'd expect my family members to consult me before posting a picture of my daughter on the internet.
I went to the website. It's sort of weird, IMO
On one hand, I can understand them wanting to do this in memory of their son. The site itself is poorly designed in layout and color. I personally wouldn't want to buy a $28 wristband with various poses of a dead cop, but that's just me. I'd rather just donate the money in the officer's memory...the wristbands seem kitschy.
The site has a highly detailed biography of the officer's PARENTS. Not the officer - his mom and dad's lives are featured in a 6 page spread of newspaper clippings and self-written memoir. Plus frequent mention of their current business venture - that sort of rubs me the wrong way.
There are 800+ pictures of the slain officer, from birth up through adulthood. There is no narrative or biography of him from what I could see. There is little mention of his wife and children. I still have no clue about Officer Pratt, or how he died. Thanks to the site, I do know far too much about his parents' financial success and business ventures.
His widow is referred to on the site as his "former wife" and not "widow." I certainly would like to think that if something happened to my inlaws, they wouldn't refer to me as his "former wife" - I would tend to think that a "former wife" was an ex-wife, not a widow. I am wondering if perhaps this lawsuit from the widow is not indicative of some existing familial issues.
Like it or not, the child's mother is the one who may decide if her daughter's picture is on a website - not her grandparents. There are a lot of weirdos on the internet!
The in-laws were representing her father and they should have some say also.
I understand that, but the mother is the living parent and she should have been consulted before they did it.
Sniff do I smell fraud?
My first cynical impression, cashing in.
Well, they've apparently given $5000 to the local Boys and Girls Clubs from this wristband charity.
If I were doing a similar venture, I'd do the website differently and have it focus on the slain officer, not on me! Like I said, the biography/memoir of the parents seemed really weird to me. I don't want or need to read about the parents' life stories in a 6 page spread. If I'm at a site to contribute in memory of a fallen policeman, I want to know about HIM and his wife and daughters, not that his parents have run X number of local businesses and have been financially successful.
And the reference to "former wife" really, really bothered me.
I'm just starting to look over the website now.
Question - in that one picture of his gravesite where they say "something wonderful happened" - does anyone have any idea what they are referencing to? (Yes, I clicked on the picture - I still don't see it).
No.
I agree with you 100 percent; they can do whatever they want with their son's image (although as the widow, I would be upset with that), but they have no say in anything the child is involved in.
It sounds like it won't be long before they won't be seeing little Madison OR his sister, period.
The mother should have the final say, absolutely.
Prayers for the dead and the living that loved him.
Agreed. There are some real psycho's out there and if the mother doesn't want the childs picture on the site then it shouldn't be on the site.
The in-laws should have respected her wishes.
Like I said above, it sounds like they might not be seeing either grandchild before too long -- if they don't back off.
Apparently the light glinted off the tombstone so that it looks like a small cross is right next to his eye, allegedly in the area where he was shot (left temple). I didn't get it for a minute, either.
Weird.
These grandparents are clueless, you NEVER post your kids pictures on the net.
It is NOT their kid. It is the mother's child.
Oooh! Ok, thanks....
Did I miss something? Anyone have the link to the website in question?
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