No, I don't think you're being unfair.  Where was the support system this
family needed?  Where were the social workers, the church leaders, the
extended family, the friends, the community?  I realise they were very
likely isolated but surely, someone, sometime, somewhere, must have noticed
something was wrong, and did nothing.

I'm sure you know that case in Texas where the woman who killed all of her
kids is being tried for murder.  Where was her husband?  Didn't he have any
clue as to how badly off his wife was?

I suppose I am being harsh but I happen to think nothing justifies the
murder of a child, disabled or not.

Kat


----- Original Message -----
From: "Betty B" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 6:12 PM
Subject: Re: Thoughts on LATIMER Case?


> I've often wondered what was in Robert Latimer's head when he planned and
> executed this.  The circumstances are not the same, but I recall the story
of
> an elderly man who killed his son (who had down's) just before killing
> himself.
>
> He lied about how she died.  He moved her body and lied about all of it.
> These are things I sometimes consider about that, but am always a little
> afraid to make my thoughts public.
>
> Could it be that he truly couldn't stand to see her suffer, and that
perhaps
> knowing that she would never be fully accepted in society either, was too
> much for him to realize and not to act to stop?  After all, it's not as
> though society has been champing at the bit to disprove that theory.
>
> There are so many factors to consider.  Yes, Robert Latimer murdered his
> daughter.  I wish though, that I could get a microscopic look at his life
> prior to that day.  What were the resources available to them?  The
Latimer
> family lives on a farm there, right?  I'm just wondering how few and far
> between good resources were located.  How accessible were those to the
> Latimer family anyway?
>
> I can't help but wonder too, what philosophies about disability were being
> taught to them in that church, where the rest of the Latimer family was
the
> morning of Tracy's death?  I don't know anything about it, but in a
farming
> community, I'll bet the pastor carries a lot of weight.
>
> Since I'm on the subject, where was the church in the lives of this
family?
> What kind of resource capabilities could it, or probably more
appropriately,
> would it offer?
>
> How much of Tracy's blood is on the hands of that whole community?
>
> Am I being unfair?
>
> Robert Latimer did the deed though.  There are plenty of fathers who
didn't,
> and under more oppressive circumstances -- some of them.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> In a message dated 2/4/2002 7:51:59 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
>
> > I AMwriting to ask a favour for my cousin again. Bianca is writing an
> > essay on the SOCIAL IMPACT of the Robert Latimer Case and I am wondering
> > if you have any ideas/opinions on the matter. I know I may be opening a
> > can of worms here, too!
> >
> > Robert Latimer was a Saskatchewan farmer who killed his daughter Tracey
> > via carbon monoxide poisoning. He said it was mercy killing, as she had
> > cerebral palsy could not speak ,had 2  dislocated hips, needed a g-tube
> > which
> > the family did not allow, etc. I have read a book about what really went
> > on in the courtroom, not just in the press releases, and it is scarey.
If
> > you haven't heard of the case itself, there is bound to be a ton of
> > information on the Internet. Does anyone have any input on this...
> >
> > Again, sorry if I opened a can of worms, but it is for the good cause of
a
> > school paper. You can post your feelings, e-mail them to my other
address
> >
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> > or write directly to BIANCA: Her e-mail is [log in to unmask]
> >
> > Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
> > Jenn
> >