No commentary on this one. From the Wednesday issue of the Washington Times -- both of these articles were on the same page, too, yet. When I read stories like this, I have a hard time understanding how one species can span the spectrum of ethics so thoroughly.
Connecticut: Mother charged in shooting of daughter
NEW HAVEN -- A woman who told police she shot her 7-year-old daughter because she was frustrated with the girl's learning disabilities had sought help from child-welfare officials, but they determined the child was not in imminent danger, a newspaper reported.
Police say Jennifer O'Connor told them she woke up the morning of April 4 and got a glass of water, then went to her room and loaded a rifle she had purchased in February. She then shot the girl, Sara, once in the chest, authorities said.
Sara woke up after she was shot and told her mother she was burning, according to police.
Miss O'Connor said she ran to get some towels, but waited 15 minutes before calling anyone, police said.
Sara died three days later at Yale-New haven Hospital.
Miss O'Connor did not enter a plea Monday during her arraignment on murder charges. She was ordered held on $1 million bond.
West Virginia: Powerball winner gives away $451,000
CHARLESTON -- In the four months since winning Powerball's richest jackpot, Jack Whittaker has given away nearly $451,000 to causes ranging from improving a Little League park to buying a coloring book for every child in West Virginia.
Mr. Whittaker's individual donations range from about $100 to about $100,000 and help both charities and people. His most recent contribution was a $10,000 donation to the Covenant House, a West Virginia charity that develops programs to address social problems with long-term solutions.
He also made three separate $100,000 contributions for seed money to create three new charities.
Posted by Zathras at April 19, 2003 07:09 PMMy guess is that both felt on some level that they were doing what was ultimately best for the children... :^P
Posted by: Moggy at April 19, 2003 08:56 PMYou're probably right, Moggy. The thing that gets me is "buying a coloring book for every child in West Virginia." What's up with that? Okay, it's better than shooting them all in the chest with a rifle but I'd think there'd be more benefit in buying a pad of blank paper and a box of crayons for every child in West Virginia.
For one, some of those kids don't have crayons and their parents don't have the money to get them crayons (and that's why they don't have coloring books, either.) Other kids already have so many coloring books that they aren't going to notice another one. Secondly, coloring books are not very educational or inducing of much creativity. Don't give children boxes to fit themselves into, give them blank potential to shape to their own dreams.
I do wonder how much of Mr. Whittaker's largesse is inherent and how much is due to the constant pressure a Powerball winner is subject to. I've discussed with my partner how Powerball winners get treated and we both agreed that if we ever played the lottery we'd do it through lawyers so that if we won, our names could legally be concealed. That's all an aspie needs: wake up to see five thousand people on her front lawn, all asking for interviews and/or money. No thanks.