The Observation Deck

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Where did the morals in this country go?

I am always wary of someone decrying "the good ol' days of morality" but let's not forget, at the start of the 20th century in the US women were not much more than "property" and this type of rape and assault, though horrible, probably wouldn't have even made the papers (how many years ago was rape thought to be the fault of women? You know, they were "asking for it?" Not that long ago, sad to say). Our nation has come a long way in its treatment of women, minorities, children and people with disabilities. It is because of our nation's higher morality that these types of horrible events (rape or attempted murder) stand out so starkly.

I agree with those that note that rape of this sort happens all the time and everywhere and thank goodness our community is outing it and calling the mother on this and supporting this young woman. That is proof of a higher morality. There are still nations on this green earth that wouldn't even consider such rape a crime, let alone immoral. Count ourselves lucky that ours is a nation that does.

Phil,
You are right and the number of rapes that occur that not reported are much higher than people know. Colleges don't report them because they don't want the bad publicity! Let's not forget too that Columbine happened in an affluent community!

Is it time to get some real life workshops in the school to go along with the high stakes testing curriculum? Like dating violence, domestic violence, all of that? Real life.

My son once went to a party overnight with another friend to a friend's house in the Youngstown area where this girl had moved to. I found out later the parents and the kids were all drinking and the parents and their friends were smoking pot! I found out after my son came home hungover for the first time in his life!! He said he would never drink again so maybe some good came out of it! My outrage for this family was beyond words and if they lived here in Lakewood I would have been arrested for assault myself. How dare an adult put the fate of someone else's child in their hands like that! These kids were swimming and could have drowned or got alcohol poisoning! That mother better be charged. We don't need "cool" moms, we need parents teaching the very morals and values we are wondering why some kids don't have them.

Girls that are raped are raped physically, mentally, and spiritually. They have forever changed this girls destiny and every relationship she will have. What is the proper sentence for that?

Phil, Justin and JOB-

Bless you all. We all need to step up to the plate on these issues. The culture of violence, objectification of women, date rape etc. are all issues that WE need to be responsible for.

You know the best thing about block watches? They get neighbors to talk to each other, get to know each other and end the culture of isolation that leads to the "not in my backyard" mentality.

When I was a kid, if you did something wrong, every mother and some of the fathers got on you - not a pleasant experience.

Here's something sad to consider. When this young woman goes back to school, if she goes back to school, some kids will blame her for the punishment that will be meted out on the perpetrators. I don't believe that schools should take total responsibility for teaching morals, but they have a captive audience. Real zero tolerance would include preventative measures and there are organizations like Rape Crisis and the Center for Domestic Violence that already have programs available, they just need to be contacted and worked with.

An issue that I find kind of frightening with the shooting is, if it had beengoing on from 9:00 am - why weren't the police contacted? Lakewood police do not sit around twiddling their thumbs when a chase like this is happening. Did everyone notice how fast they found the SUV? In Cleveland it would have taken weeks.

I hope these children survive these horrendous incidents. I hope that we, as a community work together to figure out ways to circumvent these incidences through attentiveness and education.

Does anyone know how the victim of the shooting is?

Lynn Farris wrote:Does anyone know how the victim of the shooting is?

Lynn

In stable but critical condition.

Two of the 4 bullets have been removed, waiting to remove other two.

This was as 1 hour ago.


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Justine Cooper wrote:Suzie,
What did you hear about the gang rape? My son told me last week he knew of a girl who went to a party where the mom allowed alcohol. The girl drank and passed out and a few guys there raped her with the mom there and other girls there and someone took camera pictures!!!! I was waiting to hear if any real facts came out on this and did not see the news. Is this the story do you know? What news channel? If it is that mom is just as guilty.

WOW! We had 40 kids (highschoolers) at our house on the 15th. No problems. Hence NO ALCOHOL, parent supervision - without being under foot. I did send some girls home for non-stop use of the n-word. Had to call some parents up at 12:00 and demand that they come pick up there kids. Other than that great party.

sharon kinsella wrote:Phil, Justin and JOB-


Here's something sad to consider. When this young woman goes back to school, if she goes back to school, some kids will blame her for the punishment that will be meted out on the perpetrators. I don't believe that schools should take total responsibility for teaching morals, but they have a captive audience. Real zero tolerance would include preventative measures and there are organizations like Rape Crisis and the Center for Domestic Violence that already have programs available, they just need to be contacted and worked with.

This is EXACTLY what I have feared for this girl! That she would go back to school and some who like the boys will blame her or harass her for them being in trouble! If that does happen on school grounds, they do have to prevent the harassment for sure. In fact, I am not a lawyer, but I would guess that if a student harassed her in any way for this, that could fall under sexual harassment, something the police have to take a claim for if reported.

in Chicago, there were parents that were in court this week and are being charged for serving alcohol to their son and his friends.

Their sons friends (5 in one car) drove home that same night, went of the road, killing two and injuring the other three.

Now their parents are being charged, as they should be.


I hope things like this serve as a lesson, and that everyone can learn from it. Students AND parents..