Posted on 08/26/2006 12:02:16 PM PDT by freedom44
JEANNETTE, Pa. (AP) - Meow. A district judge has been asked to decide whether that word is a harmless taunt or grounds for misdemeanor harassment. Jeannette police charged a 14-year-old boy for "meowing" whenever he sees his neighbor, 78-year-old Alexandria Carasia.
The boy's family and Carasia do not get along. The boy's mother said the family got rid of their cat after Carasia complained to police that it used her flower garden as a litter box.
The boy testified Tuesday that he only meowed at the woman twice. Carasia testified, "Every time he sees me, he meows."
The boy's defense attorney, David Martin Jr., argued that the charge should be dismissed.
"This should never have been filed," Martin said. "This is not something that police should be wasting their time with or wasting the court's time."
Jeannette District Judge Joseph DeMarchis decided to wait 90 days before ruling. DeMarchis said his decision will be based on how the boy and his neighbor get along in the meantime.
True for all people, not just dog owners.
Meow meow Henrietta Pussycat meow meow meow The Presidents of the United States of America meow Kitty?
--Matt Bruce
I must be a lot older than you as we were taught to respect our elders. An older person being crabby doesn't give a youngster the right to harass them and be disrespectful.
Meow what so funny?
I really really don't understand this. Why should I respect someone JUST because they are older if they don't deserve it?
"Taunting"? By meowing? And, the government is called in to defend her - FROM MEOWING?! Nonsense.
And, of course the child is being obnoxious, and the parents probably don't control his obnoxiousness as well as they could/should, but this is ridiculous.
You could even make the argument that the child sees this as being an egregious case of obnoxiousness on the part of the elderly adult, and that this is his measured and restrained way of expressing his disapproval.
Whatever, to get the court system involved is waaaaay over the top, and just flat wrong.
Because it's the right attitude. She's old and lived a long time and has a lot more life experience. Respect is even scriptural.
This story leaves out a lot of info. Do you know if Mom & Dad are disrespectful punks like the kid? Would you want some younger person disrespecting your Mom or Grandma?
Too many people have forgotten what manners are.
Used to be a time when the woman could have given the boy a good talking to. No longer, especially for an older person it's too dangerous.
I'm with her. Plus, she ought to get a gun (legal or not) becasue there is some chance that he will rachet it up a notch.
Come to think of it, there used to be a time when the older woman could have put a stop to the poop problem without involving a bunch of people. It's a new, less caring world.
GOOD FOR HER!
Is this what you teach your children? What does this do to improve relationships? Since when does a kid have the right to rudely accost an elderly adult?
That's one way to disguise a "hair" lip.
I know a lot of nasty old people and they are not going to get respect from me just because they are older. That is completely ridiculous. Just as this woman in the article is just a nasty human being.
On the other hand, I know a lot of wonderful old people as well.
What exactly, in my comments, led you to that question?
Because being old has it's own challenges and you have to give the old ones a break.
Your loved ones are all dying off. You feel like you played professional football without any protective equiptment every day of the year. You can't enjoy any new entertainment because it seems so foreign with all the bad language. You can't drive around or easily walk around anymore so you have to depend on others. Food doesn't taste the same or it has it's consequences.
I realize this woman took it to an extreme but I think all she is asking to be left alone. Too bad for both parties. They might have been able to work things out without the courts and a little patience.
So that excuses your lack of manners?
Just as this woman in the article is just a nasty human being.
Where is this in the article?
Their cat was in her yard infringing on HER property rights. Do they have ANY rights to her yard? No. It's HER yard.
Some of the nastiest people I know are quite a bit older and there is no way I could garner respect for them just because they are older.
That is just absurd to me.
This compainant is one of those annoying people who think the world belongs only to them, people who are on the phone to the 'authorities' at the drop of a hat, people who have no common sense at all and whose conduct makes life unpleasant for everyone around them. This case goes forward only because we have allowed government to criminalize us at the drop of a hat.
Defending the kids disrespect. There isn't any excuse for it.
As I told someone else, the article leaves a lot out. She's 78. Is she unwell? In chronic pain from arthritis or something? The article said the cat dug in her flower garden. Do you know what it cost her in pain to work on it at 78? Maybe her flowers are all she has. I have a LOT of questions that the article dosen't address.
If I was that kid, I'd respond with "Hey, how's the flower garden? They don't look so healthy these days. You think they might be sick?" after I poured heavily salted water on the bed.
>:D
Oh yeah? I'd pour sugar in your bicycle's tank.
Sorta reminds me of that exchange about the man who held the door for the woman. She complained he didn't have to open doors for her just because she's a woman. He said he didn't do it because she was a woman. He did it because he was a gentleman.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.