With the vast array of available resources for parents out there, their failure to learn how to take care of a baby properly was willful ignorance. There are CONSTANTLY classes of a wide variety for new parents available, at community centers, hospitals, and elsewhere (I took most of them, back when our firstborn came along). They neglected to care properly for the child. They refused to see a doctor even when others advised them to do so.
Was this child born in a hospital or under the care of a midwife? If not, that's more negligence on their part. And a hospital or midwife would shower them with educational resources as new parents.
That they chose to starve this child on a diet of juice and soy milk was nothing but pure willful ignorance and neglect. They should be executed after a lengthy and uncomfortable imprisonment.
Z, you may not realize this, but you are working your way to the position that stupid is a punishable offense, even capital offense. I have held that position for years, and would like to use capital punishment on a rather lengthy list of stupid people. Luckily, for the more compassionately minded than me, I am not allowed that latitude. (On the balance, it is a good thing.)
Are you familiar with Robert Heinlein's take on the matter?
It goes something like this: There is no sin (crime??) in the universe but stupidity, which is punishable by death.
Taking that a step further, into the realm of the politically possible, substitute the word "clinically insane" for "stupid" and you find some chilling ways to put people away, once you so judge them "stupid/of wrong mental outlook or capacity."
They lost their child. Note that they did not abort their child, they had it. They wanted it. Yes, it was from being dumb enough to buy into all of the wrong ideas about being vegan, as our friend volatile has so eloquently pointed out. For that error in mental capacity, they lost their child. They don't belong in jail. Jail is for criminals.
Are you a parent? Do you understand the pain involved?
DR
