First of all I hold Ed Smart in contempt because if he had been careful and didn't employ known homeless than Elizabeth Smart would not have been a major target for pedophiles. Further, I don't think that her parents did enough to protect her and I don't think that the fact that they had "several children" and "this was an oversight" is a justifiable excuse.
My blog is going to be called, "Daddy don't let him do that to me: Could Elizabeth Smart's rape have been avoided if her parents exhibited some discretion."
So what do you think? It certainly cannot reverse what has happened but it can show other unaware parents that protecting your children against pedophiles isn't a joke but a valid concern.
The Smart case is the best example of parents turning a blind eye. Our LDS faith teaches us that we need to be proactive yet we wait till the last hour to act. Why?
2007-08-26 10:11:47 · 18 answers · asked by Spiritual Son of Moroni 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'd say that in my opinion a Daily blog would be in bad taste,and excessive.
2007-08-26 10:18:41 · answer #1 · answered by Pamela V 7 · 10⤊ 0⤋
Some of the fault is hers.
"So to help other children in the future, I've put together a list of things Elizabeth could have done to escape her captors:
1. Walked away.
It turns out that Elizabeth was held at knife-point and was as close as 10 minutes away from her home at times throughout her 9-month ordeal. Here's an idea: walk home. Or if you're a gimp, change "walk" to "hobble" and the same rules apply.
2. Don't use wigs, sunglasses, and phony accents.
If you're trying to break free, cut the bullshit and remove the disguise when you're in public. If your captor walks away from you at a party and starts drinking beer, it's a pretty safe bet he's not a prophet. What are you clinging onto?
3. Don't hang out at parties.
It kind of blows the credibility of the whole kidnapping story if you're seen at a party. Next thing you know you have to make up some crazy **** about being brainwashed.
4. Anything.
Almost a year before Elizabeth Smart was found, there was a 7 year old girl named Erica Pratt who was kidnapped, bound with duct tape around her arms, legs and eyes, and left in the basement of a building:
Did she lie back and take it? Hell no. She broke a window, gnawed through her duct tape, and escaped. She was back home the next day before her parents could enjoy the solitude of having one less kid around, and she's only 7 years old.
So keep these pointers in mind if you're ever kidnapped and you'll turn up at a party somewhere. Or a glove compartment."
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=elizabeth_smart
2007-08-26 10:16:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
It was eloquently proposed and well supported by Jon Krakower in his book "Under the Banner of Heaven", that the values that Elizabeth Smart was raised under, those of female subservience and the acceptence that she would be married off to an older man, lead a lot to her willingness to go along with the situation. These are within the culture of the LDS church, and should take on as much of the blame as her father.
2007-08-26 10:40:50 · answer #3 · answered by Morey000 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You are being MUCH too harsh.
No parent is perfect. They did the best they could, and didn't do any less than the majority of people do to protect their children. They did not turn a blind eye. He broke into her BEDROOM and kidnapped her. That type of thing could happen to anyone whose home is less secure than Fort Knox.
2007-08-26 10:23:50 · answer #4 · answered by Jess H 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I also think that your blog would be in bad taste. This family has gone through enough and they still have to live with the speculation of people around them. Just leave them alone.
If you think you have something relevant to say on the subject of child protection then say it without dragging this or another family into it.
Pastor John
2007-08-26 10:23:35 · answer #5 · answered by pastorjohn59 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"if he had been careful and didn't employ known homeless"
If no one employs the homeless, how are they ever going to stop being homeless? If everything turned out fine and no one got hurt, we would all be praising Ed Smart for giving a man a chance to get his life together.
2007-08-26 10:19:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think you should try to find someone more qualified and less hateful and try to help them take care of this,
It is important, but your on line blog is very likely to be more the sister of gossip which is slander and I think there is a commandment about that.
Unless you have first hand knowledge I wouldn't like to see it no.
2007-09-02 04:07:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think her parents should sue you. I think you should put your energy somewhere else and leave her name out of it. If you want to make parents aware through a blog that is fine, but to use a victims/survivors name to benefit from is criminal and wrong.... morally wrong! And I hope Elizabeth Smart sues you for using her name and her parents should sue you because you are trying to benefit from their daughters name and you are slandering their name. I hope you pay for your crime against her!
2007-09-03 09:52:01 · answer #8 · answered by Greenie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think her parents have suffered enough...They are trying to get on with their lives...so no...I don't think it's a good idea at all. However, if you're interested in bringing up the issue WITHOUT bashing the parents...it's a good idea.
2007-08-26 13:05:53 · answer #9 · answered by Deb 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Peace
Somethings are better left burried and in resting peace and comfort of the Lord who will deal with such injustice in his good time and order inshAllah I pray.
2007-09-03 10:05:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's a totally sick idea. I think it's none of your business. I also think you don't really know what our church teaches.
Leave the Smarts alone. Best thing you can do.
2007-08-31 03:19:01 · answer #11 · answered by mormon_4_jesus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋