Emma Sutherland - Mother inappropriately cheers after 4-year-old son was tossed off bridge

SUMMARY:
             At the Wynoochee River in Washington state, a 4-year-old boy was thrown off a bridge into the river by a man, Jeremiah Goodwin. The mother of the boy, Taylor Richardson, was said to have "cheered on" the event as it was occurring. Kaylub Fawley and Brianna Jones, bystanders and experienced jumpers, witnessed and recorded the video that went viral soon after the crisis. Goodwin and Richardson claimed that they meant no harm to the child, and that he "wanted to be tossed into the river". However, later, after many jumpers witnessed the incident and called Richardson out on bad parenting, she exclaimed, "He's my kid, and it's none of your business." Many spectators at the river were distressed about the boy's physical health following the jump. Jones admits that she thought the child had broken his neck, given from the large splash from the water and the underwater boulders that he barely missed. Apparently, explained by Fawley, swimmers that jump off the bridge are experienced and usually older than the age of 18. Frequent jumpers are familiar with the physical characteristics of the river, so they have taken caution into avoiding the steel posts and underwater rocks. Therefore when the seasoned bystanders witnessed the 4-year-old plunging into the 8-12 foot deep stream and screaming simultaneously, it was an unusual event that was rather frightening for the viewers. There was recently a court hearing, and more to come in the next month. So far, Richardson's other two children have been placed in foster care, and Goodwin has not yet been punished.


ANALYSIS:
             This article brings into play the ongoing crisis of child endangerment and poor treatment of young children. It raises awareness and prompts discussion on this universal dilemma, and how to define what is included in parental neglect and abuse. Before reading this article, I understood that this was a big problem in America, but I find it hard to believe that a parental guardian would put their child in harm's way for something so unnecessary and recreational. Furthermore, when Richardson and Goodwin defensively explained that the child "wanted to be tossed into the river", I believe that few would argue that 4-year-olds possess the judgment required to decide what activities are safe or not. This issue is really about what is fair treatment to a human being and just because someone has authority over someone doesn't make treating them unfairly right. This same issue could be directed toward slavery and political oppression, such as Britain's unfair treatment of the colonists for their own benefit before the American Revolution.




https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2016/08/29/shocking-video-shows-mother-cheering-as-her-4-year-old-boy-is-thrown-from-a-bridge/