There but for the grace of God go I...

I must admit, although I keep up on world news, and feel deprived if I am out of touch for any length of time, I usually read stories and feel my blood pressure rise.  This is, of course, what the writers and editors want. They want me to get ticked off and remember what they wrote.  I get irritated with myself for falling for it, but I just cannot help it!


Take, for instance, the story I just read.  A.J. and Lisa Demarees are suing the city of Peoria (AZ), the State Attorney General's office, and Wal-Mart.  Why? Because they had some pictures of their children developed at Wal-Mart, and the clerk was shocked by 8 of the 144 photos.  She called the police, and the police report said that the photos were of the children in provocative positions, with their genitals exposed.  The three children, ages 1 1/2, 4, and 5 at the time the photos were taken, were removed from the home and placed in the care of  Child Protective Services.  The kids were away a month before the Demarees could regain custody of them.  Lisa Demarees was suspended from her job for a year while the investigation was under way, the couple spent $75,000 on legal bills and their names went on a central registry of sex offenders.  A medical exam of the children revealed no sexual abuse, and subsequently a judge ruled that the photos were in fact harmless.


The Demarees say the photos were of innocent bath time.  The police searched their home and seized their computers and videotapes,  which show numerous videos and photos of the children frolicking without clothes. The Demarees say they have always encouraged their children to be comfortable with their bodies, and if they want to run around the house in their underwear, they want them to be able to do so.


I have many thoughts about this, but I suppose I should disclose my first one, which was that I have several photographs of my children when they were small, in the tub, smiling at me from the soapy water.  Okay, so their genitals weren't exposed, but there is one shot of them after a bath, naked behinds shining, and my youngest son is turned just slightly sideways so you can see his front, if you look closely enough.  All these years I have cherished that photo, especially since they hate it so much.  I have always imagined giving it to their future wives, or showing it at their 30th birthday parties.  But, now I wonder if that photo would be considered inappropiate, or even child pornography. Maybe I am just lucky that the photo clerk who developed these pictures, I guess at least 13 years ago, didn't call the police.  I have no idea what the pictures in question look like, and the police report description of them made me imagine the worst: "photos of the children in provocative positions, with their genitals exposed."  The parents describe some of the photos of the children as after the bath, lying on a towel with their arms around each other.  That must be the "provocative pose".  However, a judge ruled that there was no sexual intent on the part of the parents. That makes me believe that the pictures really were innocent on the parent's part, although definitely not the best idea they ever had. 


I take child abuse very seriously, be it verbal, physical or mental. I have no sympathy for offenders, but I think this case may be different. I guess it can be said that the legal system worked as it should, but the Demareese feel that their lives are ruined.  I don't know that I agree with suing everyone involved, but it does seem like there should be some compensation for people who are falsely accused.  I suppose the lawsuits are their way of securing compensation, but it sems like there should be a better alternative. 


This story should make us all think. "There but for the grace of God go I"  ... Print this post