Adrian Peterson comes from Palestine, TX

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

It's a place where 20% live below the poverty line. His father was arrested for money laundering as part of a crack cocaine ring when Adrian was 13.

He grew up in a different world from most of us. Amazingly, he parlayed his physical into his only hope, a trip to college and an NFL contract. The fact that he makes millions of dollars now doesn't change where he came from. The fact that he's a celebrity doesn't change it. The fact that he works for the multi-billion dollar NFL machine doesn't change it. Throwing a million dollars at a guy doesn't make him classy, enlightened or cultured. It's easy to blame "the football culture", and ignore the fact that Adrian Peterson would likely be doing all the same things to his children and possibly worse if he'd never picked up a pigskin in his life.

If Adrian Peterson were just some unemployed bum from Palestine, TX, who beat his kid, the story wouldn't likely make the news beyond the local paper. It wouldn't be posted here. No one at DU would care. Because he's famous, and he's part of a culture that people are very angry at right now, it's national news. If he wasn't, and it was posted here, it would be alerted on for it's relevance or maybe just fall off the front page quickly without more than a few "what a shame" comments or maybe someone talking about the never ending cycle of poverty in America, and it social implications.

My concern is....how many other Adrian Petersons with no money and no future and no job are doing this to their kids right now? And does anyone care?

[cali]

1. Plenty of people at DU would care. That we likely wouldn't here about it is hardly

our fault.

Furthermore, in no way does where he came from excuse what he did to his four year old child. Peterson had an education and opportunity. There's nothing amazing about his parlaying his physical skills into a career in a culture which so prizes athletic achievement. And the NFL does indeed have a history of glossing over this kind of shit thus enabling it, so it is part of the problem.

Yes, he's in the spotlight because he's famous. Nothing new about celebrity attracting the spotlight. This is NOT about this happening in poverty. He is anything but poor.

your perspective is warped.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

2. And you completely missed my point

To the point I wonder if you actually read much of what I said. Not really a shock.

[cali]

3. I do not believe that a person's background entirely determines their destiny

and yes, I read what you wrote. and I found it manipulative- at best. "phrases like "throwing a million dollars at him" don't change where he's from. (waaay more than a million, but that's another story).

I read it and I think it's crappy. Tough.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

4. Manipulative?

Really?

Oh, well. Tough.

[Ishoutandscream2]

9. Isn't she sweet?

[NaturalHigh]

5. How many? Even one is TOO MANY!

You're right, of course. If Adrian Peterson was a bus driver, we never would have heard about this.

[kwassa]

6. Child abuse doesn't just happen in poor families. It crosses all lines.

You imply strongly that poverty is the causal factor in this, when it might have nothing to do with it.

Football culture rewards people for violent behavior. This may also have nothing to do with child abuse.

There is no single known cause of child maltreatment. Nor is there any single description that captures all families in which children are victims of abuse and neglect. Child maltreatment occurs across socio-economic, religious, cultural, racial, and ethnic groups. While no specific causes definitively have been identified that lead a parent or other caregiver to abuse or neglect a child, research has recognized a number of risk factors or attributes commonly associated with maltreatment. Children within families and environments in which these factors exist have a higher probability of experiencing maltreatment. It must be emphasized, however, that while certain factors often are present among families where maltreatment occurs, this does not mean that the presence of these factors will always result in child abuse and neglect. The factors that may contribute to maltreatment in one family may not result in child abuse and neglect in another family. For example, several researchers note the relation between poverty and maltreatment, yet it must be noted that most people living in poverty do not harm their children. Professionals who intervene in cases of child maltreatment must recognize the multiple, complex causes of the problem and must tailor their assessment and treatment of children and families to meet the specific needs and circumstances of the family

.

https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/foundation/foundatione.cfm

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

8. I bring it up because it is frequently cited as a causal effect for all sorts of crime by DUers n/m

[Beaverhausen]

7. Severe cases of child abuse are posted occasionally

Yes, child abuse.


And to say no one here cares about other kids who are abused is ignorant and sick.

[Ilsa]

10. You forgot to mention that his other young son was killed

Several years ago by the child's mother's new boyfriend.
Seems like AP would have had a better understanding of the fragility of children after that horrible ordeal.

His life has had many tragedies and triumphs. Nothing excuses this behavior, though.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. It was not several years ago; it was just last year.

[Ilsa]

12. Thank you for the correction. I didn't have

A date, just a reporter saying "almost two years ago".

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. Ugh... That "reporter" should be fired. It was October 2013.

I felt horrid for him then.

I have no sympathy for him now.

[Blue_Tires]

15. Well, maybe it was misheard and supposed to be "almost two years OLD"

or was this error in print??

[Manifestor_of_Light]

16. Oh my. East Texas is rural and poor.

Our Congresscritters are Joe Barton and Louie Gohmert, both terrible.

Very bigoted, very segregated. Higher than average population of African-Americans. Very few white Democrats.

Lots of people hit their kids and think they are justified. Usually they are glad to tell you what good Christians they are. They figure anyone who is different is probably an illegal Mexican. I am not making this up. I painted my Gothic Bungalow house blue and the folks at the hardware store said "Buncha Messcans musta moved in". Because boring white people never paint their house an actual color. Only neutrals are allowed in their minds. They don't know me so they make shit up. Several of them have told me how much they hate Hispanics, and think all Hispanics are deadbeat illegal immigrants who don't want to learn English. They state this as a fact.

Palestine is a county seat with a dead downtown and very few local businesses, like much of the rest of the country.

Few shopping choices. Lowe's and Wallyworld and Kroger and a couple of dollar stores.