Message-ID: <Pine.HPP.3.91.950726232316.1419A-100000@falstaff.ucs.indiana.edu> Date: Wed, 26 Jul 1995 23:42:48 -0500 From: Tjip Walker <mailto:stwalker@INDIANA.EDU> Subject: Re: news item (off-topic, but you will see why) To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
I am perplexed by Ms. Britto's response on two levels. First, she states that she thinks the first posting was inappropriate for this list, but then she proceeds to perpetuate the thread with her own equally off-topic argument.Second, I find her reading of the original post somewhat strange. At least as the situation was related, the only thing "suspicious" about this situation is that the father and the child bore no obvious physical similarities. But if you think about the number of divorces/remarriages or adoptions in this country, then it would seem to me that such "dis-similarity" is no grounds for suspicion. Moreover, the by-stander observed no offensive behavior. There was no wailing, or shouting, or striking. Nothing to suggest that this relationship was anything other than familial. Under the circumstances related, I find the bystander's behavior as unduly meddlesome. And I bet that if the gender of the parent in the car had been the reverse, and even with the same degree of physical dis-similarity, that no suspicions would have been aroused. So not only is the bystander's behavior meddlesome, but it is also sexist.
I, too, abhor child abuse. But I believe we need stronger grounds than those presented in this vignette before we make such serious accusations.
Tjip Walker
Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis, Indiana University phone: (812) 855-2562 fax: (812) 855-3150