Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson certainly does not believe in the adage “better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” As he recently admitted in an interview that he uses a belt to discipline his son.
Back in September of 2014, Peterson was accused of child abuse while using a switch on his 4-year-old son. He eventually pleaded no contest in which he received a fine, probation and community service. Essentially a slap on the wrist by the legal system.
The NFL facing a backlash eventually placed Peterson on the exempt list, yet eventually reinstated him.
Also, when the story first came out it brought up an important discussion about discipline. Leading the way Cris Carter who said “my mom did the best job she could do raising seven kids by herself, but there are thousands of things that I have learned since then that my mom was wrong. It’s the 21st century – my mom was wrong. She did the best she could but she was wrong about some of that stuff she taught me and I promised my kids I won’t teach that mess to them.”
What doesn’t help Peterson now or give him any benefit of the doubt is that there are pictures of the injuries sustained by his son. There’s also text messages indicating he gave his son a few extra cause he was “tough” and “did not shed one tear.”
On social media there’s been plenty of reaction to Peterson. Here’s a look at some of them.
Gonna respectfully disagree. Don’t think you are in his house hold. This is one of those stay in ya lane type convos.
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) November 22, 2018
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This is revolting. I was shocked with how quickly ppl were willing to forget the details of the previous incidents – bruises & lashes lasting for days. On a 4 YEAR OLD.
Worse, ppl who excused it b/c they, themselves, had experienced physical punishment.https://t.co/nltPVaZ2ZU
— Sarah Spain (@SarahSpain) November 21, 2018
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Do you want a real answer? Most likely because they experienced similar treatment and don’t consider themselves abused. To consider Adrian Peterson to be a child abuser, a criminal, means they’d consider their own loved ones the same, that is threatening to their self conception.
— Freakonaut (@FREAK0NAUT) November 21, 2018
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Adrian Peterson was convicted of reckless assault because he beat a 4-year-old boy so severely the boy had injuries on his back, buttocks, ankles, legs and scrotum, and defensive wounds on his hands. Calling it “corporal punishment” understates what he did https://t.co/1kR0Cpo4vo
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) November 21, 2018
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