posted on March 20, 2002 08:39:34 PM new
I watched Oprah, as I usually do. Rusty Yeager was on there, and I've never seen a colder fish. He refuses to accept any blame for what happened to his wife and completely sidesteps the questioners who ask if it ever occurred to him to limit the number of children they had (given that Andrea had a terrible depression after the FOURTH child). All he will say is that they "agreed" that they'd have as many children as God would send them.
What a jerk, blaming God. It's like saying I'll have all the cancer God will send me and there'll be nothing I can do about it--no preventive measures will be taken, I'll eat whatever I want, I'll sunbake at noon, etc. . .
Not equating children with cancer, you understand. Just saying that God did give us brains with which to think, after all.
I cannot stand that guy. Feel sorry for him, losing his children, though.
posted on March 21, 2002 07:20:46 AM new
First, I agree with you about the husband acting "above" all this.
2nd: This question about Yates being responsible for his wife's actions has raised an uncomfortable question for me. How far may lawsuits eventually be allowed to stretch? Can or will we be sued just for knowing something? It is a scary thought. Here are some news stories along those lines:
1. The vatican knows/knew which priests have raped kids. They handle it internally.
2. In the recent dog mauling case on TV, the owners knew the dog had bitten neighbors before and was very hostile. But then again, that means the neighbors knew, too.
3. Yates knew his wife was advised against more kids, knew she was depressed, knew she was delusional. The so-called "preacher," relatives, and doctor all knew or contributed to her problems.
If you think about it a few more minutes, you can probably come up with more cases in which people knew this or that about someone else who committed a crime later.
What if you hear the neighbors arguing and one ends up dead? Could I be sued or jailed from being reluctant to call the police?
Could friend start "turning in" friend out of fear of prosecution?
This Yates case might end right where it is, or could set a precedent (sp? too lazy to check it)for other cases like this.
I imagine many people will be observing which way the wind blows on this.
posted on March 21, 2002 09:43:12 AM new
These people whose use the "God's Will" defensive strategy, what idiots! What idiots are those who believe them...
Reminds me of a story....
A man was sitting in his house during a terrible rainstorm when there was a knock on his door. Is was the local police informing him that he needed to evacuate because the streams were going to flood.
"I am a very devout and proper christian and I am sure God will save a protect me. I don't need to evacuate"
Within a hour, the flood had risen so much that the man was forced to the second floor of his house. There was a knock on his second floor window. It was the Emergency Squad in a boat to evacuate him to safety.
"I am a very devout and proper christian and I am sure God will save a protect me. I don't need to evacuate"
Within the next hour the waters rose so much, the man had to escape to the roof of his house. Luckily, a helicopter flew overhead and dropped a rope to pick him up. He waved it away.
"I am a very devout and proper christian and I am sure God will save a protect me. I don't need to evacuate"
Soon the flood water rose to cover the roof and the man was swept away and was drowned. Soon he was standing before God...
"I am a very devout and proper christian and I was sure you would save a protect me. Why didn't you?"
God said, "I sent the Police, I sent the Emergency Squad, I even sent a helicopter. In all your piety, you refused to listen to me!"
I love telling that story when people give me that 'God's Will" rather than "man's methods" rhetoric.
