The 'right thing' tears at a family

Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^ | July 8, 2002 | Chris McGann

[Alan Chapman]

I can see it now. Children calling the cops because they found an illegal gun in daddy's closet.

[Alan Chapman]

.

[JediGirl]

bflr

[goldstategop]

Its not the same thing. Sure one should respect and honor one's parents, but if a parent were running a meth lab in the home or sexually molesting a child, I'd do what this kid did. There are circumstances when parents are not always right and have to be held accountable for breaking the law even though God knows we love them. I think the rule of thumb shouldn't be is "blood thicker than water," but "am I sure I'm doing the right thing." Yeah, that boy paid a terrible price for calling the cops on his dad but he was raised to do the right thing. Or do we make an exception where family is involved? What if a parent or child committed a murder? Family values should mean doing the right thing, every time.

[trussell]

What an inspiring story. I pray I raise my children with the right morals, that if this were something they were faced with, they would make the same decision.

The family should be proud of this boy instead of ridiculing him.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Instead of spending time doing things with the family, his father tended to his plants -- moving the pots around and watering. He said that on two occasions, people visited the house on account of the marijuana.

I can't exactly excuse this, but what if it had been azaleas or daffodils? Or rare breed dogs that sell for $3000 a pup?

[goldstategop]

Those are not crimes and I haven't heard of any one being arrested for them.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The criticism, note, was for wasting time on the activity. Not for its being illegal.

Did the boy ever just ask his father to stop?

[per loin]

As noble a youth as the young Afghani, turning his mother in to the taliban for secretly having a tube of lipstick in the house.

[JediGirl]

Agreed. It sounds more like the boy wanted revenge for his father's paying more attention to his sister and this was a good way to exact that revenge. What a sweetheart.

[pubmom]

There were other conflicts. He thought his father paid attention to his sister's accomplishments, while ignoring his own. And he thought his ROTC courses, which were based on Marine Corps leadership training, put him at odds with his ex-Army father "on different military perspectives."

He certainly has his attention now!

[goldstategop]

Well he should have let his father know. But in some situations that's not always possible. If its a serious crime family should never be a cop out to not doing the right thing.

[Grim]

This kid is a mindless robot who will be great at following orders, no matter how evil they are, no doubt, for his whole career.

He was mad at his dad, so he called the cops. Was he thinking of his dad's welfare? Does the dumbshit think that 5 years in the slammer will be good therapy for his old man?

Of course, dad shouldn't have been growing pot in the backyard in the first place. But that's why they call it dope.

Growing weed is hardly on a par with child molesting or other criminal behavior. The fact that it's against the law is enough for some morons to praise this punk for destroying what was left of his family, such as it was.

Sounds like the old man wasna't bothering anybody. Just liked to smoke pot. Fans of the all-knowing government will applaud this boy.

I think he's a disgusting rat.

[pubmom]

I think so too.

[Jeff Chandler]

As noble a youth as the young Afghani, turning his mother in to the taliban for secretly having a tube of lipstick in the house.

Oh, wow, man, like, I totally know what you mean, you know?

[goldstategop]

Sounds like it was payback for father not giving him attention his sister had been getting. No wonder no one thinks his motives where completely disinterested. I can just see his father's defense attorney say to a jury the son was less interested in doing the right thing in stopping his father's growing marijuana than it was to settle a family feud by inviting the cops to come in and take his side of it.

[Jeff Chandler]

attorney

You said a bad word.

[chance33_98]

It sucks," Palmer said last night. "I was really hoping that they would understand.

Just tell them your a transsexual and like gay sex, hate god, and have fun with animals. THAT they will understand. I almost posted an article yesterday but it was too sad and have since forgotten where it was - parents whacked out on meth killed their 3 mo old baby with a blow torch. I used to be a deputy and saw some terrible things people did when they were high on something. Very sad.

[toenail]

"Hi, 911? My mommy copied her friend's Steel Magnolias onto a blank tape she bought, and I saw the FBI warning at the beginning. Can you come over, or do I need to call them?"

Little rat finks.

[goldstategop]

Uh oh. Unless you ever need one Jeff. ;-)