I know that much, I was just admiring the brilliance of the move (and no sarcasm there). In a very strongly religious part of the country, playing the “God told her, how could she refuse” is a masterstroke. Strictly from a tactics point of view, I was just wowed by it. Brassy, yea, but a hell of an angle.
I think I’d play it up, like someone else said. Have preachers in, especially local ones with good reputations and huge flocks. Maybe even her preacher, if she’s of a particular religion that’s not “too weird” to play in Texas. Bonus points if they’re charismatic, the faith healer and huge congregation type. If you’re going to play the God Card, may as well put all the chips on the table.
“Friends. Lookit my client. Lookit the tears in her eyes. She’s sorry for what she’s done, she’ll tell you that. But when the Lord Himself tells you to do something, well, you do it. That’s what I believe. That’s what you believe. That’s what she believed.”
And man, a throwaway line generates some real touching posts. Kudos.
Resisting how? You’re refusing to entertain even the possibility of this happening, or you’ve got your sphincter squinched down tight against the shoving lens?
What I object to was summarized quite succinctly by GMRyujin
Yes, I want her to be found not guilty by reason of insanity, but not by appealing to popular religious sentiment. I’d prefer the summation to be,“Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, BUCKAW! (Sorry, I’m thinking of the Southern bird lawyer on Futurama). Ms. Laney said God told her to kill her kids. We all know that people who hear God in their heads are fuckin’ nuts, so let’s slap her goofy ass in the state mental hospital and go hit the bar.”
I watched the opening statement made by the lawyer today on CourtTV, nowhere does he try to do what the OP suggests, or to make it a case of “who does mom listen to, God or her motherly instincts”.
He very clearly outlines that the mother had a history of psychotic breaks, most having to do with “God talking to her”.
Even if the lawyer/mother etc WERE trying to use God as a defense, how does this make God/religion itself the bad guy? It’s the same thing as OJ getting off by playing the race card, or any other stupid defense the defense tries to pull out on any other sensational case. No different than any other BS
Aside from that, what a sad, terrible thing to have happened.
God’s relevance to your OP is negligible. I can claim I hear Gobear’s voice commanding me to beat my dog. That is neither an implication nor an indictment of Gobear, but it can go to show that I’m looney tunes. And in this country people who are looney tunes generally aren’t judged as harshly as others who know right from wrong.
I’m not making God/religion the bad guy, I’m making the exploitation of faith in God/religion** the bad guy.
Of course you’re looney tunes–I commanded you to feed your dog, not beat it. Criminy, these Acme Mind Control lessons just aren’t paying off. Last time I ever trust consumer advice from a coyote!
But being fuckin’ nuts isn’t in itself sufficient for an insanity defense. The attorney has to prove that she didn’t realize that what she was doing was wrong/illegal while she was doing it. And to do that, he’s got to explain her motive and he’s got to explain what she was thinking when she did it. He’s got to show that she acted consistantly and logically within the framework of her delusions…that anyone else would have done the same thing, if they were in in her situation and had the mindset that she had.
brief hijack- the point of the Abraham/Isaac story is- from that point on, be sure that if a voice tells you to sacrifice your kid, it’s not God. In that culture, child sacrifice occurred- God takes Abraham to the brink to then show him that it’s not in His plan. The Law of Moses explicitly forbids child sacrifice.
God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son”
Abe said “man you must be puttin me on”
God said “No”
Abe said “what?”
God said" the next time you see me comming, you better run"
Abe said"Now where you want this killing done?"
god said “out on highway 61”
In all seriousness Friarted where is this “Law of Moses” of which you speak? And why would it be relevent to christians? (wish there was a smilie for sincere)
Lib, I am trying to figure out that link you posted, so far I can’t. Did I miss something? I mean no disrespect or insult. I honestly cannot understand what you mean.
It means that our beliefs are sincere. We believe that our grandson is alive, and that there is no life in the atoms. Vanilla implied that we had a callous disregard for the lives of the children in the OP on account of saying that they still are alive. That is not the case. (And I think you knew that.)
Thanks, Gum. But truly, there is no reason to be sad. We saw so many miracles in that children’s hospital. As my wife has said, we prayed for Dawson to be healed, and sure enough, God sent His angel.
Lib, I promise you that I knew no such thing! Despite what is said between us in any other threads, I respect your grief for your grandson. If that was a picture of your grandson, and he died, then you have my sincere sympathy. Despite the fact that I do not know what awaits us in the hereafter (if there is such a thing) I really hope your grandson is “alive” and happy. I truely am sorry for your loss.
But truly, there is no reason to be sad. We saw so many miracles in that children’s hospital. As my wife has said, we prayed for Dawson to be healed, and sure enough, God sent His angel.