What I want to know, is what is being done NOW to protect Peterson's children?

[cali]

What are Child Protective Services in Texas and in the states the children reside in, doing to ensure the safety of these kids? There is more than enough evidence in the form of photos, AP's tweets to the mothers (he tweeted to the mother of the boy whose head was cut during one of his "disciplinary" sessions that if the boy had just taken his "whupping" and not wriggled while daddy was hitting him, he wouldn't have a scar) and his statements to police that he had done nothing wrong and intended to keep "switching" his kids, for CPS to mandate that he see his children only under supervision. Peterson clearly has rage issues and can't control himself. He poses a real danger to his children.

[Ilsa]

1. If CPS (FPS) is involved, I think it's pretty much

Out of our hands unless you witness something in public or they put it out on social media.

[cali]

2. I don't know what you're saying. Are you saying it's out of CPS' hands?

There are photos of the wounds of both boys as well as AP's tweets admitting that he did this stuff.

[Ilsa]

14. If CPS (FPS) is already involved,

then the case is in their hands. There isn't anything else we can do if the legal wheels are already turning.

You can send that additional information to CPS if you want, but I suspect they've already uncovered it.

My experience with Texas Family Protective Services are that they move slowly due to understaffing. If you know of an immediate threat, you call the police.

[TreasonousBastard]

3. I would assume pretty much the same as they're doing...

for all the other kids they're responsible for.

[ladjf]

4. What is being done NOW to protect our children?

The Republicans are doing everything they can think of to basically assure that OUR children have little of no chance to live a profitable, healthy and happy life.

My point is that we seem to have an inordinate concern for Peterson's children but have become accustomed to political and business activities that are far worse for children than Peterson's misdeeds. Let me make it clear, Peterson should stop whipping his children. It does harm and solves nothing.

[cali]

5. I have an "inordinate" amount of concern for children being physically abused

by their parents/guardians.

I'm hardly inured to the issues you mention and I've posted about those issues frequently. Furthermore, I think Peterson's case represents a larger problem.

[ladjf]

6. Good for you. Keep up the good work.

[karynnj]

7. If Peterson were not a football player would you question protective services getting involved?

It can even be said that his status, because of his football skill, is that of an elite person, who is given more breaks than others. The tweets and the pictures are heartbreaking -- and I reject that this is just some cultural difference.

It is true that spanking is less commonly considered a good parenting tool in the Northeast, but this goes far beyond a spanking. This is an incredibly strong man, using his force against a 4 year old in a very abusive way. The fact is that had that same force been used against an adult woman, he would be included with others in the domestic violence stories. It is sickening to see that he not only did this and is completely without remorse, but that he has so little insight that he says he is not an "abuser". If he were not a football star, would ANYONE agree that this is the case? (It is pathetic that his team has allowed him to play again just because he is such a good player. )

It is true that there are huge issues in the world that need addressing, but that does not mean that no one should act against individual outrages. Not to mention, Peterson has started a very dangerous claim -- that this is his culture and he has the right to beat the hell out of his kids. As the high profile athlete that he is, his words will be reported and hear. If he gives one second of comfort to any man who was feeling some remorse for having beaten his own child and given him reason to think that it is acceptable, this is a big global problem. If we do not stand up for innocent little 4 year olds, what values do we have?

[ladjf]

9. I would not question protective services involvement in a child beating case

regardless of the offender's profession. I hope that my post didn't lead you to believe otherwise.

My point was that the issue of how Peterson was disciplining his child was capturing National headlines while the inhumanity of the public policies being driven by Republican sleaze balls, on the dole from big businesses is harming children, adults, wildlife and the environment far worse.

If Peterson and other parents are unable to control their abusive behavior, then public actions are appropriate and necessary.
In that regard, it might be a matter of educating such parent to the fact that their actions are not only cruel but are counter productive as a child control tactic. However, if their are cases of raw sadism taking place, much more complex mechanism would be required.

Star athletes live in "glass houses". They've got to realize that their notoriety puts them in the public spotlight. Nobody hears about the shoe salesman who whipped his kids. Further, preachers have been raving for years the old "spare the rod and spoil the child" admonition. They are also advocating killing all gay people and Muslims. That, of course, should be illegal speech in any culture.

Athletic leagues might be wise to turn cases like Peterson and Price over to the governmental agencies who have legal jurisdiction over such issues. Why should they be put in a position to carry out punishment against offenders who have obviously broken current civil, state or Federal laws?

[karynnj]

10. First of all - an apology - I never intended to write anything that suggested you (or anyone here)

would not care about child abuse.

I was trying to make 2 points:
1) By virtue of who he is -- this becomes an issue that really is bigger than him. I agree with your comments on how it should be handled. My concern was that his team supporting him AS he said he did nothing wrong could send a very bad message.

2) There are always many many major causes that need action - and I have a problem with the relatively common "Why are you worrying about X, when Y and Z are more important. Especially when X may often be some well meaning legislation that fixes a small problem for some or things like collecting food for food banks rather than addressing the economic structure that leads so many to need the food banks.

I hope that Peterson's actions will start a discussion on child abuse, just as the actions of others have led to a discussion of domestic violence. I don't think a discussion will end either, but it could lead to some change in what is considered unacceptable.

[ladjf]

13. Excellent post. Thanks for the additional details.

We try to be as brief as possible but in many cases, the brevity causes some problems of comprehensions.

[hifiguy]

8. One thing is certain

and that is that he is not around them. Like so many athletes he has a bunch of kids by different women in different states, about which I shall refrain from comment other than to say it speaks volumes about his sense of responsibility. He's back in Minnesota now.

I doubt it's rage issues. He was almost certainly punished the same way when he was a child and thinks it's perfectly normal to do the same to his kids. That is not an excuse but it is an explanation.

[bullwinkle428]

11. Well, obviously two of them spent enough time around him to end up

getting beaten ferociously, given that he was previously investigated for an incident involving a second child of his. It's clear from the texts that he still doesn't get it, and those kids are very much at risk if they spend any amount of time around him in the future.

[hifiguy]

12. They're probably safer during the football season

as I don't think any of his kids live here in Minnesota.

[Iggo]

15. I know that, of the three Peterson kids I've heard of...

...two were beaten bloody (with pics to prove it) and one was beaten to death.

I'd hope that CPS would be all over this.

[hifiguy]

16. For clarity's sake it should be pointed out

that the child who died was assaulted by the mother's boyfriend and Peterson had nothing to do with it. He wasn't even in the same state and didn't even know the child existed. The latter point can properly be held against him but not the former.

[Gothmog]

17. How did this case end up in Montgomery County?

Montgomery county is a fairly racist white suburban community to the north of Houston. Does Petersen live there? One of my family law partners raise this issue and no one was sure why Petersen case was in this county?