Double Standard

Well, the score tonight in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is 0 for victims of child abuse: earlier today, a jury let a baby murderer walk. She happens to be petite and pretty. Gee, in a country where kids get taken away from their mothers because they’re fat, could that be a mere coincidence?


Karen Robidoux, aka “sect Mom”, starved her infant son, Samuel, over a 51 day period of torture, ending in his death 10 days before his first birthday.
This prime example of womanhood was not convicted of murder, not convicted of manslaughter, but of a bogus charge of assault and battery. You know, the same charge that applies to shoving someone by mistake in a crowded room.
Cute little Karen – she has movie star or at least fashion model good looks – got off on the basis of testimony from only two expert witnesses, who claimed she was “abused” by her husband and his miserable family, the “leaders” of a religious group in Southeastern Massachusetts.
Speculation was that these examples of religious “love” murdered not one but two babies, and dumped their bodies in a secret pilgrimage to Maine, during which they forced their other children to eat grass because they figured since “God would provide”, it wasn’t necessary to bring food to feed them.
Obviously, these people are not only crackers, they are criminally evil, and through the remarkable courage, patience and persistence of the Bristol County DA’s office, there have been trials, and there have been convictions.
In fact, Robidoux’s husband was convicted of the murder of their child, and he is doing time in one of our fine penal institutions, none of which can be considered country clubs, or so I’m told.
In addition, through the untiring efforts of the DA, other children have been removed from “the family”.
So, to some degree, justice was served. Still, I have a very hard time with excusing this woman’s behavior on the basis of the bizarre defense theory that she was a “victim” of spousal abuse.
I’m not sure what constitutes “abuse” when you’re small and pretty – not being allowed to go to the beauty parlor or shop at Saks? Not receiving roses on a weekly basis or little presents under your dear little pillow? Hubby failing to profess his undying life 50 or 60 times a day?
Regardless of how put-upon Mrs. Karen Robidoux was, the reality is that she has her life. Her baby does not. And she was NEVER physically harmed or disabled in any way as a result of the professed “abuse”. Besides: it doesn’t take a sumo wrestler to pick up a 10 month old and walk to the nearest police station, church or Salvation Army building to get him some FOOD, for pity’s sake.
It does take self-discipline and will, two traits of character that seem to be conspicuously missing from women who’ve never had to fend for themselves, because there were always people around to do their dirty work for them.
I’m hardly the world’s greatest mother – there is plenty of testimony to disavow any pretentions I may have had to that title – but my kid always had enough to eat, medical care, clothing, a decent education, and a roof over his head. Heck, I even bought him his first Mac!
And if I could raise a child decently as a single parent, fulfilling the role of provider as well as keeper of the home, there is NO EXCUSE for ANY married woman, regardless of her circumstances, to do less. NO EXCUSE. I’m just not any smarter, braver or tougher than the Karen Robidouxs of the world: on the contrary, I had and have none of their advantages.
So, I hoist my glass tonight to all the fat, homely, tired, ill-dressed, un-made-up, unmanicured, flat-broke, unloved and uncherished single Moms out there who have the one thing that could have saved Samuel Robidoux’s life and that keep their own kids safe from harm:
Character.
Good on you, sisters. And rot in hell, Kaah-wen.