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Various Non-Bald Discussions => Sports Talk => Topic started by: Tyler on January 28, 2007, 02:32:48 AM

Title: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: Tyler on January 28, 2007, 02:32:48 AM
I'm not sure if any of you have heard this story, but it's something that's pretty crazy.

A young man by the name of Genarlow Wilson has been sentenced to prison for 10 years at the age of 18 for something probably all of has done and our sons will most likely do.  He's 2 years into his sentence and he's getting a ton of press on his injustice from ESPN, HDNET, NY Times, and others.

To read his story go here: http://www.wilsonappeal.com/index.php (http://www.wilsonappeal.com/index.php)

To read the ESPN story, go here: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=wilson (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=wilson)

Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: David on January 28, 2007, 03:34:08 AM
He deserves to be released based on the new law, but also I think people are naive if they think that 16 is the age of "adult" when it comes to sex nowadays.

Kids are starting even as young as junior high now, unfortunately.

When I student taught last spring, the high school had a daycare.   Not for faculty children.   But for the teen mothers at the school.    And there were many of them, unfortunately.

I'd be interested in wpruitt's take on this as he lives in georgia I believe.

Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: Blagadan on January 28, 2007, 05:57:38 AM
Man that's nuts ... 10 years w/o parole for that!!!   :o
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: wpruitt on January 28, 2007, 06:00:12 AM
I think the sentence is a bit harsh .... but by the same token, teen pregnancy is rampant.  I teach boys (under 18) who brag about how many babies they've fathered.  I have one pregnant girl per class. Something must be done to get the message across.  And 15 is TOO YOUNG for a girl or boy to be having sex.

Last semester I was livid when I heard some of the boys I teach bragging about how they were men because they had fathered X number of babies - and how it made them "men".  I ask them how much child support they paid.  The answer was Nada, Zilch, Zero.  I told them they would be men when they stepped up to plate and paid for their babies.

Teen sex is rampant - and this is across socio-economic lines.  I caught two of the kids about to go at it at the athletic fields . 

Rampant sex in HS is not a good thing.  The emotional maturity is not there.  The fiscal ability to step up to the bat is not present either.  We, as taxpayers, step up to the bat and assume this.

Some thing must be done to get the message across to students.  This is a step in the right direction; granted it is a bit harsh and extreme in this case.  Kids need to realize that sex is not all for fun and has it's cost and consequences.   

I suspect Wilson is being made the poster child for this issue.  And yes ... he should be released, or given a lesser sentence.
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: Blagadan on January 28, 2007, 06:18:08 AM
The problem is world wide, we have big problems with it too in Ireland.  The UK have the same, as do most European countries.  The solution is not prison sentences, the solution is education.
12/13/14/15 year olds are certainly too young to be sexually active but sticking them in jail for x no. of years will do nothing to combat the problem.
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: PBurke on January 28, 2007, 08:02:12 AM
my son is almost 14. i try not to be stupid enough to forget what it was like when i was that age. i feel likethe more active i am in his life and what he is up to that it might help him make good decisions. i know that if it is gonna happen, i can't stop it. i just hope he makes smart decisions. if you dig deeper it seems that the kids that don't have that closeness with dads get in the most trouble. just my opinion. kids will be kids. all we can do as parents is pray that our kids are listening. that punishment is extreme for that young man. the government is too worried about trivial crap like teen sex. why don't they worry more about the important stuff like drug dealers, murderers, stuff like that? that young man could have been a great leader one day. now he won't have that option because of something dumb that will haunt him for the rest of his life.
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: David on January 28, 2007, 09:39:04 AM
my son is almost 14. i try not to be stupid enough to forget what it was like when i was that age. i feel likethe more active i am in his life and what he is up to that it might help him make good decisions. i know that if it is gonna happen, i can't stop it. i just hope he makes smart decisions. if you dig deeper it seems that the kids that don't have that closeness with dads get in the most trouble. just my opinion. kids will be kids. all we can do as parents is pray that our kids are listening. that punishment is extreme for that young man. the government is too worried about trivial crap like teen sex. why don't they worry more about the important stuff like drug dealers, murderers, stuff like that? that young man could have been a great leader one day. now he won't have that option because of something dumb that will haunt him for the rest of his life.

It's not just the guys with no dads.   From my experience last spring, it seems love at home either way(guy or girl) is a main factor.   If they aren't getting enough/it, they are more willing to engage in this activity when a person says I love you.   
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: PBurke on January 28, 2007, 09:43:08 AM
i can see that. which is one reason i try to help coach sports for the local kids. hell if i can keep one of them from going down the wrong path then it is worth the sacrifice.
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: wpruitt on January 28, 2007, 12:24:09 PM
i can see that. which is one reason i try to help coach sports for the local kids. hell if i can keep one of them from going down the wrong path then it is worth the sacrifice.
Paul - I agree.  A lot of the crap kids are exposed to - especially the sex and violence - come from all the video games and television (or other forms of entertainment) they are exposed to.  If other parents would take time with the kids - and not be content to expose them to the electronic babysitters, we might have a better generation coming along. 

If we could also teach kids to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS, things would improve.  It's always the fault of everyone but the kid.  If parents would let kids take responsibilty for their actions at a younger age, problems occuring in high school would be lessened. 
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: PBurke on January 28, 2007, 01:39:07 PM
amen brother. you guys in the education field have one helluva tuff job. my hat's off to you. yall see first hand how kids can be, and your hands are tied as far as discipline. i couldn't do it.
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: Tyler on January 28, 2007, 03:05:12 PM
One of the reasons I posted this was to help all of you guys that are dads out there to remember what goes on with teenagers and that it's important to have those talks with your sons and daughters. 

I also wanted to let you guys know about what could happen if you don't.

I don't think he was responsible in his actions that night, but I think 10 years is a too high of a price to pay for the irresponsibility.
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: wpruitt on January 28, 2007, 07:08:33 PM
I don't think he was responsible in his actions that night, but I think 10 years is a too high of a price to pay for the irresponsibility.
My point exactly
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: David on January 28, 2007, 07:19:41 PM
I don't think he was responsible in his actions that night, but I think 10 years is a too high of a price to pay for the irresponsibility.
My point exactly

What scares me in all of this is how young they are starting today.    I mean it's way out of control as far as i'm concerned.
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: wpruitt on January 28, 2007, 07:24:16 PM
I don't think he was responsible in his actions that night, but I think 10 years is a too high of a price to pay for the irresponsibility.
My point exactly

What scares me in all of this is how young they are starting today.    I mean it's way out of control as far as i'm concerned.
Scares the _________ outta me too.  I would surmise, easily, that 80% of all HS kids are sexually active by the time the graduate.
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: David on January 28, 2007, 07:31:38 PM
I don't think he was responsible in his actions that night, but I think 10 years is a too high of a price to pay for the irresponsibility.
My point exactly

What scares me in all of this is how young they are starting today.    I mean it's way out of control as far as i'm concerned.
Scares the _________ outta me too.  I would surmise, easily, that 80% of all HS kids are sexually active by the time the graduate.

Yeah imagine my reaction when I heard the school had a daycare with practically fuill usage for teen mothers when I arrived there.
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: Tyler on January 28, 2007, 09:46:57 PM
I don't think he was responsible in his actions that night, but I think 10 years is a too high of a price to pay for the irresponsibility.
My point exactly

What scares me in all of this is how young they are starting today.    I mean it's way out of control as far as i'm concerned.
Scares the _________ outta me too.  I would surmise, easily, that 80% of all HS kids are sexually active by the time the graduate.

Yeah imagine my reaction when I heard the school had a daycare with practically fuill usage for teen mothers when I arrived there.

In HS, all the teenage mothers and their kids went to a little house on campus near the baseball and football fields to learn "mom skills" and other things.  Our coaches used to tell us the last thing we should want is to have a kid that spends his day in that building.
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: wpruitt on January 29, 2007, 07:14:40 PM
Now ... it's the childcare center at school while mom is in class flunking all her courses
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: PBurke on January 29, 2007, 07:21:23 PM
i had the privilege of coaching this young man a couple years ago that was an unbelievable athlete. very humble. quiet. but more talent in his big toe than most teams have. problem is, about a year ago his dad passed away and his uncles, mom, family are letting go of him. it kills me cause i can see this kid going nowhere with his life now. it is truly a waste. seems like his family would be able to see this and stay on his butt like his dad did. this man was at every practice and game. even when he was sick. was always there to make sure his son was doing right. now i can see this kid blowing that. owell. all i can do is try to talk to him a little when i see him, and hope something sinks in.
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: Robmeister on January 29, 2007, 07:24:22 PM
i had the privilage of coaching this young man a couple years ago....

man!...
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: wpruitt on February 03, 2007, 11:36:18 PM
http://www.atlantamagazine.com/article.php?id=158
Title: Update on situation
Post by: David on June 11, 2007, 04:56:56 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=2900569
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: wpruitt on June 11, 2007, 05:10:12 PM
While this is good for Genarlow, his life has already been destroyed.  No chance of attending college and playing, plus a reputation that will follow him.  Hopefully he can pick up his life and get on with it.
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: warhawk on June 12, 2007, 08:04:19 AM
glad 2 hear that genarlow wilson will b  released.  i'm going 2 say a "prayer" 4 him that he is able 2 p/u his life and thrive like he did before as an honor student. 

WARHAWK O0
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: wpruitt on June 14, 2007, 04:12:59 PM
Looks like Genarlow Wilson may be in prison a bit longer.  The GA Attorney General has said the family "judge shopped" until they found a judge who was willing to order his release.  He is in favor of the release, but feels it was gone about the wrong way.  He feels it will start a bad precedent for sex offenders in prison.  The attorney general feels it will start offenders to begin "judge shopping".  He is in favor - for the current time - of releasing him on bond until it is resolved.  This is not sitting well with Wilson's family.  They want him released with a full pardon - or nothing.  The pardon issue is also not going over well with the attorney general. 
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: **sticks** on June 14, 2007, 04:49:07 PM
I agree that even if this innocent man gets released, his life is pretty much over...

He got called a child molestor while being a child himself...
the law changed right after his trial and due to his trial to make sure people in the same shoes as him dont get the same type of harsh punishment...

The DA needs to resolve this ASAP...

This is one of the VERY RARE cases where i hope the person actually does get a book deal and makes millions, just to spite the system a little...

just my .02
Title: Re: Injustice in Georgia for Genarlow Wilson
Post by: Scott on June 15, 2007, 01:24:12 AM
This is one of the VERY RARE cases where i hope the person actually does get a book deal and makes millions, just to spite the system a little...

just my .02

I'm with ya on that one sticks :x!