Sometimes the news is so incredibly shocking, you just can’t make it up. This week, one story in particular horrified me: Adrian Peterson, a running back for the Minnesota Vikings, beat his son with a switch because he thought that kind of discipline was okay.
Even more astonishing were all the people who came to his defense. How is it that in 2014, anyone thinks hitting a child with a tree branch is permissible? I’m not a parent and I know that people have different opinions on child rearing, but I figured at this point, most of us agree beating your child is wrong. Or am I wrong? Is it just me, or is it everyone?
As always, let me know how you feel in the comments or tweet me directly @AmandaLauren.
A Violent Viking
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings running back has been indicted for child abuse in Texas. How did he abuse his own son? He took a tree branch, also known as a “switch” and beat his bare skin, returning the boy to his mother with bleeding wounds. There were cuts on his thighs and hands as well as bruises on his buttocks, genitals and lower back. The child also told authorities his father stuffed his mouth with leaves and hit him with a belt.
Peterson was indicted by a grand jury on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. He surrendered to the police on Saturday and was released on $15,000 bail.
Peterson apparently didn’t know hitting a child was wrong because he was disciplined in much the same manner. He issued a public apology, which included the following statement:
I have to live with the fact that when I disciplined my son the way I was disciplined as a child, I caused an injury that I never intended or thought would happen. I know that many people disagree with the way I disciplined my child. I also understand after meeting with a psychologist that there are other alternative ways of disciplining a child that may be more appropriate.
I have learned a lot and have had to reevaluate how I discipline my son going forward. But deep in my heart I have always believed I could have been one of those kids that was lost in the streets without the discipline instilled in me by my parents and other relatives. I have always believed that the way my parents disciplined me has a great deal to do with the success I have enjoyed as a man. I love my son and I will continue to become a better parent and learn from any mistakes I ever make.
I am not a perfect son. I am not a perfect husband. I am not a perfect parent, but I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser. I am someone that disciplined his child and did not intend to cause him any injury. No one can understand the hurt that I feel for my son and for the harm I caused him. My goal is always to teach my son right from wrong and that’s what I tried to do that day.
Peterson was also accused of beating another one of his children, but while the mother did not press charges, the incident was reported to child protective services.
On Sunday, retired NBA player Charles Barkley went on CBS’ NFL Today and discussed the incident defending Peterson, saying that “[whoopings happen] all the time,” and that “Every black parent in the South is going to be in jail under those circumstances.” And if you were wondering, under continued pressure from the public, the Vikings have barred Peterson from playing indefinitely.
A Third ISIS Beheading
Last week, a video called "A Message to the Allies of America" was released by ISIS, showing yet another beheading. This time, it was British aid worker David Haines. Haines went missing last summer while working for an international aid agency. Haines’ killer appears to be the same person who was responsible for the deaths of both James Foley and Steven Sotloff. In the video, Haines makes a similar speech to Foley and Sotloff, blaming his government for his death.
British Prime Minister David Cameron plans to support the United States to defeat ISIS. He also made the following statement:
The murder of David Haines is an act of pure evil. My heart goes out to his family who has shown extraordinary courage and fortitude. ... We will do everything in our power to hunt down these murderers and ensure they face justice, no matter how long it takes.
American Sentenced To Six Years Hard Labor In North Korea
North Korea sentenced a 24-year-old American, Matthew Miller of Bakersfield, California to six years of hard labor for "entering the country illegally to commit espionage." This fiasco began when Miller ripped up his tourist visa upon arrival at the Pyongyang airport in April. Miller falsely told authorities that he had secret information about the U.S. military in South Korea on his iPod and iPad. While there have been reports that Miller tried to claim asylum, the AP, who was allowed to attend the trial, says that information is wrong. During the trial, Miller waived the right to an attorney. He also said he had "wild ambition" to experience prison life in North Korea, so he could investigate the human rights situation of that country. Miller will not be allowed to appeal the decision and has solicited President Obama for help.
Hobby Lobby Decision Comes Into Play In Child Labor Suit
A judge ruled that a member of the FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-Day Saints) is exempt from testifying in a child labor investigation, citing the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision in the ruling. The FLDS are not your regular Mormons. They are an offshoot and their leader Warren Jeffs is in jail for the rest of his life for a laundry list of sex crimes, including pedophilia and incest.
Now, if you don’t remember the big Hobby Lobby ruling from earlier this year, I’ll refresh your memory -- the Supreme Court ruled that a corporation can be exempt from the Affordable Act’s Requirement for employers to pay for contraception, if the owners object to contraception on religious grounds.
So back to the current case -- there is an investigation of a pecan ranch in Utah owned by the FLDS, in which adults and children allegedly worked without pay. The court asked FLDS member Vergel Steed to reveal the identity of church leaders and information about its organizational structure. Steed cited the Hobby Lobby case saying that having to testify would be a “substantial burden” on his free exercise of religious beliefs. This decision could majorly impact court rulings in future cases.
Headlines
• The City of Brotherly Love may become the city of Brotherly Weed on October 20th when marijuana becomes decriminalized. If cops find less than 30 grams of weed on a person, it’s a $25 fine, similar to a jaywalking ticket, but smoking in public will cost $100 or require 9 hours of community service.
• United Airlines recently retired a large amount of their fleet and is now overstaffed with flight attendants. So, while 2,100 will be fired, they will also receive a huge severance package of $100,000. The Association of Flight Attendants, which represents flight called this decision “unprecedented in the industry.”
• Last Sunday, Pope Francis married 20 couples, whom had been living together, had been previously married or had children with each other, all of which are normally not permitted in the Catholic church.