Lindhs' blind devotion ill-serves errant son

Boston Globe ^ | 7/22/2002 | Cathy Young

[gubamyster]

THE BIZARRE CASE of John Walker Lindh, the young American who fought for the Taliban, achieved a legal conclusion last week when he pleaded guilty to charges of providing support to terrorists and carrying and using firearms and explosives during crimes of violence. Lindh will receive a 20-year prison sentence, of which he will have to serve at least 17 years.

[irish guard]

He would have been much more credible had he said he still loved his son, but was very disgusted at what he had done. The mother too, came out with some garbage about her wonderful Johnny. Same goes for her. This young man was a traitor and very stupid. Stupid is as stupid does and this guy learned how to act from some very stupid parents.

[Greeklawyer]

Compare these "parents" with this father of ten children whose sons (plural) were found to be really bad people.

Priest says his sons in November 17 terrorist group must pay for crimes
Mpls (red)Star Tribune / AP | 7/21/02

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/719844/posts

[Free the USA]

Index Bump

[BikerTrash]

Said Lindh's father, San Francisco attorney Frank Lindh, ''I think any father who knew John would be proud to claim him for a son,'' proclaimed his father, San Francisco lawyer Frank Lindh.

Who was it that made this statement again?

No matter, it is in error. If I was that "things" father I probably would have put a bullet in the SOB myself.

[Madame de Winter]

I'm not so sure he was a traitor as much he was stupid. He went to fight for the government of Afghanistan as he believed their lies. I think it would have been rather difficult to leave once we went to War on them.

I think he is alot like Cat Stevens, aka Omar, but I don't think this kid started out wanting to kill Americans. Sometimes religion makes people do idiotic things. For Johnny: Wrong place, wrong time and a really stupid kid!

[stands2reason]

As long as you "care deeply from the heart" about your cause, the cause itself (as long as it isn't for America, caucasian men, or guns) doesn't matter. I bet Charlie Manson felt the same way about his "cause".

[yankeedame]

There comes a time when parents must square their shoulders and face the fact that their "errant child" always was and always will be just no d--n good; to cut the kid out of their lives, and move on. This is very,very hard for parents, esp. for mothers, but sooner or later the truth will out. (Sigh) As I well know...

[maximus@Nashville]

Meanwhile, one of the most annoying aspects of the ''American Taliban'' saga - his family's indulgent attitude toward his acts - was on full display at the press conference where his attorney and his relatives discussed the plea agreement.

The parents still do not get it. The "indulgent attitude" they have displayed his entire life is the base cause of all this. As a child, he had as permissive an upbringing as anyone could have. He was a seriously screwed up kid. As a result, he searched for and affiliated himself with what is arguably the least permissive group with the least permissive lifestyle on earth.

I do not think that John Walker Lindh actually hates America. He hates his parents.

[Madame de Winter]

I guess you can love you child for any crime as long is it's not patricide or matricide!!!!!

[stratman1969]

A few conservatives have tried to use John Lindh to indict liberal parenting or the progressive counterculture. That's absurd and unfair; how many other products of overly liberal parenting have ended up fighting for extremist regimes overseas?

What about the children of these radicals who are lending moral support by being a part of the anti-war movement in this nation, like their parents were in the sixties? Come to the Bay Area and you can see this close up.

[Howlin]

Bump to you!

[pray4liberty]

''And I mean that. ... He's a really good kid.''

And Denial is a river in Egypt.