I've been known to over react where the health and safety of minor children are concerned, but I believe Abby Sunderland's parents/guardians are guilty of neglect and child abuse. Her father compares her adventure and desire to set a world record for "youngest" to teens driving on the interstate. So would he send her cross-country alone driving a semi-truck loaded with explosives? Not a good example, daddy. If as a nation we had the collective balls to raise the legal driving age to 18, we could save 5,000 lives a year. Hard telling how many permanent brain injuries and damaged limbs that would involve. A 16 year old doesn't have a mature brain, and a teen girl, regardless of her athletic ability and sailing experience probably doesn't have the physical strength or body mass to ward off pirates and typhoons.
Rescue teams reach stranded teen sailor - CNN.com
Saturday, June 12, 2010
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6 comments:
At first, I too thought that the parents were at best negligent in letting their daughter do this.
I've since changed my mind to an extent. While I still can't see the value in setting a world record of this type... I don't think it's valid to assume that all 16 year olds are average. There has to exist exceptional ability and inability to establish what the average is.
As for physical strength to ward off pirates or typhoons, the largest strongest most mature male doesn't possess them either.
Try that argument with the local police or family services division when you say you have a very mature 11 year old and you've taught him how to drive so he can set a record.
um... did you read my comment? Yours doesn't exactly follow.
There's a huge difference between 11 and 16, and physical maturity is part of it.
There's a huge difference in a solo activity not endangering anyone else and one that does.
I also stated I see no value in record-setting.
So where did you get the idea I'd be in favor of an 11 year old setting a record?
It was one part hyperbole, and one part understanding that many parents think their little one is the exception to the rules that are made to protect children in general.
In most cities 16 year olds are under 11 p.m. curfew and parents are held responsible. These parents sent a 16 year old beyond the city, the borders, the continent. If she had been attacked or drowned, they would have been the first demanding that the government recover her (and pay all the expenses).
Would you deny that there are exceptions? It appears this girl might be one of them.
If you must criticize parents who are unaware of their child's capabilities, why not also acknowledge that many parents are?
And protectiveness can be taken to a similar extreme.
There's no reason to think rescue attempts at sea are less expensive for adults than teenagers, nor is there any reason to think adults are less likely to be searched for.
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