Gideon MacLeish Gideon MacLeish

Brittney Spears: Unfit Parent?

▼

Brittney Spears: Unfit Parent?

from JoeUser Forums

Pop singer Brittney Spears is defending herself over photos that show her driving with her baby on her lap instead of strapped to the car seat. She defends herself by saying that she was trying to avoid paparazzi and didn't have time to strap in her child. This incident, however, is a glaring example of the two sets of justice we have in America.

If Brittney were an average citizen, that photo would have been more than enough evidence to remove Brittney's child from her home, due to concerns over the health and safety of the child. Her home would have been searched from top to bottom, and she would be facing a long future in court defending allegations of being an unfit parent. While social services are investigating, they've publicly stated that they do not expect any action to be taken. I assure you, they would not make such a statement if that were you or I.

Looking at the photo, I find Spears' claims of being hurried to avoid paparazzi hard to believe. There is not much blur in the background, which would seem to indicate she was not going at a high rate of speed, and neither her facial expressions nor the baby's convey any sense of urgency. Even if her claim were true, wouldn't the fact that she would be racing to avoid paparazzi be even MORE reason to strap the baby in? After all, one need look no further than Princess Diana to see the consequences of a high speed crash, and a baby on the seat in its mother's lap would be a certain projectile in the event of a crash.

Spears is not the first celebrity to act irresponsibly with her children. And she won't be the last. I am sure we well remember Michael Jackson's dangling his baby over a balcony's edge. But it is beyond the pale when 580,000 children linger in US foster care on far less serious allegations, while celebrities act with impunity.

California's Child Protective Services has more than enough reason to act here. Because they don't, it behooves us to ask the question WHY they don't. Could it be that placing their policies and procedures under a microscope of public scrutiny would expose them for what they really are and bring their house of cards crashing down? To steal a highly appropriate phrase here, Inquiring minds want to know!

24,203 views 110 replies
Reply #101 from JoeUser Forums Top
Who didn't ride on their parents' lap when they were a kid?? Those were the old days, 20+ years ago. I am sure your father didn't put you on his lap on a Highway "outrunning" the paparazzi though. Brittney Spear's Dad probably let her ride in the front seat when she was little and that's why she thinks that it is ok. POINT IS, it's not- there are carseat and seatbelt laws put into place for good reason- SAVING CHILDREN'S LIVES! Do I think that she is a horrible parent no, do I think that it was a stupid thing to do, yes. That's it. Aswell, people with money are treated differently by law enforcement, they are treated differently by everyone, everywhere they go, especially celebrities. This will always happen, forever, everywhere, get used to it. I don't think that Britney really gets the gravity of her responsibility as a parent, it is careless to think that it "won't happen to me". I would say this of anyone, loaded ($) and a blond pop star or not.

However, I don't think that some of the name calling and conceited comments happening here are a true waste of time. Are there better things to do?
Reply #102 from JoeUser Forums Top
Just a bump for your top article.
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #103 from JoeUser Forums Top
im am a young mother and ever young mother makes mistakes i think everyone should get off her back and give her a chance. a child is going to get hurt and it just makes everything worse because shes on needles because everybody is watching her. I think people should leave her alone and worry about there own lives.
Reply #104 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think (from my many years riding them) seatbelts are not on schoolbuses because they pose a hazard to kids. We had to do evacuation practices as if 1. the bus were on fire or 2. we were somehow stalled on a railroad track with a trian coming. In these situations, time matters -- every second of it. Five-year-olds (and older kids) get into panic mode, can't get their seatbelts undone and waste time. At least that's what I was told by our school board.

About the child seat facing forward: I had to ride facing forward when I was little because I would get extrememly car sick if I faced the back. I have no idea if Brit's baby is the same way... don't really care. Just thought I'd bring that up.

And about removing children from the home: Even bruises aren't enough to remove a kid sometimes. Even suspecting the parents for drug use / abuse / making or selling isn't always enough. My mom has to deal with DHS (what it's called here) often enough with few results. It's sad, but it's reality. Some high-profile cases make it seem like it is very easy to take a person's kid from them, but I don't think it's really as easy as all that. At least not in my hometown.

Just my two cents.
Reply #105 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think she is a great mom everyone makes mistakes it is all part of life. I myself have two kids im 21 years old my son is 3 years old and my othere son is 11 mon old and it is rough i belive that she learned from her mistake so y ppl wont leave her alone i donno but i will say i think she is a great mom
Reply #106 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think she is a great mom everyone makes mistakes it is all part of life. I myself have two kids im 21 years old my son is 3 years old and my othere son is 11 mon old and it is rough i belive that she learned from her mistake so y ppl wont leave her alone i donno but i will say i think she is a great mom
Reply #107 from JoeUser Forums Top
Destined to be one of the Gidman's top articles!
Reply #108 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think she is a great mom everyone makes mistakes it is all part of life. I myself have two kids im 21 years old my son is 3 years old and my othere son is 11 mon old and it is rough i belive that she learned from her mistake so y ppl wont leave her alone i donno but i will say i think she is a great mom


Would you please READ the damn article before offering your opinion on it? Good grief!
Reply #109 from JoeUser Forums Top

THe reason this picture has found its way on the site is because she is Brittany,were she someone from the ordinary she woudnt have been photographed,there would have been no hue and cry on the subject.

Its not such a big deal,its only cuz she's Ms.Spears that the above mentioned people have taken out their time for mud slinging.  
Reply #110 from JoeUser Forums Top
Its not such a big deal,its only cuz she's Ms.Spears that the above mentioned people have taken out their time for mud slinging.


When did I mudsling? I did not. I asked a simple, legitimate question about the double standards of our system.