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Œuvres de Alan Prendergast

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The Best American Sports Writing 2009 (2009) — Contributeur — 54 exemplaires

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This was interesting to read 37 years after the events in this book happened. Especially in light of how society and the criminal justice system now defines and deals with child abuse in all its forms.

In 1982 when this all took place, child abuse was considered rare and only involved broken bones in young children. Father-daughter incest was considered impossible (the rate was considered 1 in 1,000,000 (million), if that). Corporal punishment was the norm and disciplining children without the use of force or violence was considered permissive or hippy. Wives could be beaten by their husbands and were expected to put up with, even to consider it their fault for being abused. The criminal justice was more black and white. Children accused of crimes had few rights. The concept and reality of psychological abuse wasn't even on the radar.

Richard and Deborah Jahnke were very much the victims of an abuser. And yes, Richard killed his father but his father would have likely killed a family member at some point. Killing is wrong but vicious, continuous psychological, verbal, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse over years is pure torture. Richard was still wrong for killing his father but the environment he was in left him little choice.

Thankfully today we recognize child abuse as a serious crime. Yet there are children in the same/similar situations Richard and Deborah were in and believe they can do nothing about them. Or they've asked for help and haven't received it or been told that their lying. We've improved but we as society as a whole can do better when it comes to child abuse.
… (plus d'informations)
 
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pacbox | Jul 9, 2022 |

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