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To: Kim4VRWC's
"Why do you guys insist on calling those who aren't attacking the parents apologists? I've yet to see ANYONE apologize for their behaviour..and I've been trying to follow the threads since March 1st."

Questioning the questionable activities of the parents in my opinion is not attacking them. I find it questionable that those who have problems with child molesters don't wonder (at the very least) about the questionable climate and activities going on in the Van Dam home. To be so convicted that Westerfield is guilty because he had child porn on his computer and not to be disgusted with the shocking lack of parental protection of Danielle and her brothers by allowing shady people in their very home in the dark hours of the night is quite hypocritical in my book. That is a big disconnect.

272 posted on 03/30/2002 2:07:27 AM PST by Lauratealeaf
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To: MizSterious
"I don't trust the parents so it makes anything that they have said suspect." That really is the problem, isn't it? The van Dams have changed their stories so many times it's hard to keep up with the latest version. Both of them seem to have lied under oath.

Boy, you've got that right!

273 posted on 03/30/2002 2:14:45 AM PST by Lauratealeaf
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To: Lauratealeaf
Hi Laura,

Questioning the questionable activities of the parents in my opinion is not attacking them.
I agree with you 100% on that point

I find it questionable that those who have problems with child molesters don't wonder (at the very least) about the questionable climate and activities going on in the Van Dam home.

I completely agree that parents need to be ruled out first of course....even Klaas and John Walsh agree with that. I would have agreed with you on this point even further if the original rumors were true. THe original rumors were that the van dams were swingers bringing strangers into the home including that night. I've yet to see that proven. I was told that swingers make it a habit to not bring strangers into the home so go figure..??? The people they did bring in the home were long time friends.. (yeah I know...not respectable friends..drug dealer etc--was the drug dealer charge admitted by vd's in court? I can't remember) I guess my bottom line is that there is a risk in all areas...from small time drug users to catholic priests...does this make us feel our kids our safe? :(

To be so convicted that Westerfield is guilty because he had child porn on his computer and not to be disgusted with the shocking lack of parental protection of Danielle and her brothers by allowing shady people in their very home in the dark hours of the night is quite hypocritical in my book

I think most of the people that you call(ed) apologists which in my opinion is incorrect...completely agree that their lifestyle was deviant, was immature, were bad choices and most of all, risky. I have a serious problem with selfishness..alcoholics and druggies, ESPECIALLY addicts and users that are as old as the vd's. It's unnatural, sinful and just plain wrong. I can't say enough negative about it. BUT..the police have ruled them out as suspects at this time. IF the investigators get new evidence against the parents, or charge the parents with neglect....I'm on the laws side unless the law enforcers ABUSE their power. But, for some people to assume that these parents don't care about their kids, or hate them, or are draining public sympathy for selfish purposes or are faking their grief..that would be a darn big assumption. Walsh and Klaas both agree that it is common for parents to get trashed in such situations...so what is the answer? I don't know. Heck, alcoholics can grieve, and so can druggies...so I'm not understanding why someone would jump to that conclusion. I'm not saying you have, but others..

As far as the child porn or large collection of porn...Val posted an article on another thread...that talks about how some pedophiles do collect large amounts of porn, both legal and illegal porn. It's just a piece of a puzzle...not the convicting piece. To me, the handprint and dna are strong indicators of something and the prosecutor did not have to reveal everything at the PH hearing..so maybe we will learn of more evidence in the future trial.
So..for me, it's not that I believe he's guilty, I believe the current evidence revealed to the public leans towards westerfield and not the parents. In my personal opinion, if he is guilty, westerfield was probably stalking danielle for a long time,found an opportunity and exploited it. I don't think the vd's lifestyle increased the chances per say..mainly because pedophiles don't care if the parents party on weekends or not. All they care about is getting their 'fix'...

276 posted on 03/30/2002 5:39:27 AM PST by Freedom2specul8
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