Open Theism Discussion Board

Open Theism Discussion Board > Public Forums > Tearing down walls > (No Subject)

Forum Quick Jump

[ << Previous Thread | Next Thread >> | Show Newest Post First ]

BBBCanada
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 2763

Posted 9/23/2002 12:29 PM (GMT -6)

Ok. Want to know, what ya'll thought 'bout Madelyne Toogood, (oxymoronic last name?) 25 and the physical abuse of her 4 year old daughter, Martha Toogood in a mall parking lot, in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Was this a one time incident? Does Ms. Toogood have a history of this kind of behavior or was this a one time incident like she was having a bad hair day or sum'n? Is it more excusable if it was a one time event? Like, have we all lost our tempers and regretted doing something after the fact? How would you feel if you seen your spouse hitting your child in such a manner? What should the penalty be for what happened? Can the penalty be too excessive and do more harm to the child than intended?

Have any of you done (don't say anything that could possibly incriminate you) or come close to doing anything like this before? Do you think this could influence your thoughts on this whole situation?

Your thoughts?

Brandon
"Sharing a prison cell unites you much more powerfully than sharing a conference table."--Ecumenical Jihad: Ecumenism and the Culture War

brandi
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2002
Total Posts : 118

Posted 9/23/2002 11:21 PM (GMT -6)

This case is such a hard one to know how to respond to. It is my hope and prayer that what is best for the little girl, as well as for the mother and family, will be done. Since we have limited information it is hard to comment except to say that each person has been raised with beliefs and ways of behaving that are sometimes "unhealthy" I didn't actually see the video that was recorded but my son did. It was VERY troubling for him. A "stop action" is definitely needed but what this looks like would be hard to decide...

We need to be praying for this family and for the courts decision.
~Brandi~

Edited by - brandi on 09/24/2002 04:23:58 AM

BBBCanada
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 2763

Posted 9/24/2002 3:54 AM (GMT -6)

quote:

A "stop action" is definitely needed but what this looks like would be hard to decide...

We need to be praying for this family and for the courts decision.
~Brandi~

It's funny, because Iconoclast mentioned this very incident on the "Ethics" thread as an example of using a "stop action."

Either way, I know we don't have all the information. But I am just wanting to read some opinions based on the information that we do have, as usual. Like, to me, sometimes I think the government can go overboard and snatch a child from their parents care where the child doesn't see the parents but for a couple of hours a week during some routine visitation. And in an overboard reaction scenario this could be detrimental to the child.

Either way, when looking at the videotape, no parent should physically touch their child in the manner that Ms. Toogood did. What the response should be to this, is quite a different story altogether.

Brandon
"Sharing a prison cell unites you much more powerfully than sharing a conference table."--Ecumenical Jihad: Ecumenism and the Culture War

brandi
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2002
Total Posts : 118

Posted 9/24/2002 6:02 AM (GMT -6)

Brandon

quote:
Like, to me, sometimes I think the government can go overboard and snatch a child from their parents care where the child doesn't see the parents but for a couple of hours a week during some routine visitation

Shell

quote:
yet I think extensive supervised visits should be allowed, and the child's life should carry on as normal as possible with other family members.

The concern the case workers have (at least as I understand it) with keeping the child with the family is that they are afraid the family will skip town and be on the run once they have their daughter back. I believe this is the base of why they put her into foster care instead of with a family member. Perhaps their decision is based largely upon the fact that the mother already attempted to run?

I agree with Shell that due to the mother's openness and willingness to seek help and learn new skills that she would be a great candidate for anger management classes, parenting skills classes, and close monitoring. I believe this would be the BEST choice for ALL involved. And I agree with Brandon that it can be detrimental to yank a child away from their family.... It's best to keep the child with their family WHENEVER possible.

I pray that the decision to keep the family together (if it be the right one after the investigation) WILL be the one that the court decides upon.

~Brandi~

BBBCanada
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 2763

Posted 9/24/2002 10:58 AM (GMT -6)

First, the child is 4 years old, not 2. No biggie. I agree that the child should go into a foster home for some period of time especially if there is risk of flight. But I don't know if it would do any good putting her away for about 3 years. Also, from what I understand, the parents are into some kind of scamming deal where they end up bringing clothes that they stole from one store back to another store to get money back. It just so happened that the child ratted on the mother about the clothes being stolen goods. But I don't see why we should make a big deal out of this. Like some people say, "Well, not only does the mother beat her child, but the mother is a scam artist and the connection is the child ratting on the mother." But the scamming is not intrinsic to the case. It could have been anything and the mother probably would have lost her temper.

It's interesting that this was done in BROAD DAYLIGHT in a MALL PARKING LOT! Obviously this lady was not thinking, which causes me to think this is NOT an on going thing. I mean if she was use to beating her child like this, all she would need to do was wait till they got to some place more private. Though doing this in public does not necessarily entail that this would NOT be an ongoing thing, it's just my thoughts on the matter. Part of the reason why I say this is because when I lived in Dallas, a lady was beating and yelling at her little boy just outside of her car. But this was at night. I was about to get security, but one of them arrived upon hearing the incident from afar. I felt sooo bad for that little boy. I'm sure he has to put up with this on a daily basis and this is may be why he may end up a criminal someday.

Brandon
"Sharing a prison cell unites you much more powerfully than sharing a conference table."--Ecumenical Jihad: Ecumenism and the Culture War

Forum Information

Currently it is Monday, November 09, 2026 3:19 PM (GMT -6)
There are a total of 97,718 posts in 6,040 threads.
In the last 3 days there were 0 new threads and 0 reply posts. View Active Threads

Need Support? | Forum Help Manual