Alfred Bourgeois did commit a horrific crime. There's no denying that. He sexually abused his 2 your old daughter & beat & killed her! I am a survivor of Sexual & physical abuse at the hands of my father & I have something to say about this.... Thread ⬇️
When I was just over one year's old I remember the first beating by my Dad. It was so horrifying to me that I disassociated it & remember leaving my own body & watching the beating happen from above.
My dad was taught by his father to use the belt & following his own training by his parents, that is how he punished his kids. I am not excusing this, merely explaining the cycle of abuse.
I was beaten by a belt from my dad more times then I could count all before the age of 4 & the beatings continued but decreased as I got older because I learned to fear my dad & walk on egg shells around him.
By the time I was 4, I learned that if I was good & pleased my dad, he would give me reinforcement. Unfortunately this turned into him molesting me. This went on up until I was ten years old.
At Ten years old, My mother's friend suspected my dad was abusing me. She got me to admit that my dad was sexually abusing me. She told the Bishop of our Mormon Church & he did the right thing & confronted my Dad. My Dad confessed to it.
I don't know how the Bishop did it, but he got my dad to turn himself in to the police. I still remember the day my Dad came to me & told me what he did was wrong & that I could tell the police the truth about it.
Many people don't understand this, but in that moment, I forgave my dad. It was the 1st time in my life he took responsibility for anything he did to me. This taught me that there is greater Responsibility in taking responsibility 4 one's actions than living life ashamed of them.
My Dad did go to jail, but only for a month. Another example of White Privilege. If my dad were black, he'd have been imprisoned longer, even though this was 30 years ago. Our system is Racist.
My Dad did not have an intellectual disability Like Alfred Bourgeois. He knew what he did was wrong. Yes, Alfred killed his daughter & there should be consequences 4 that. However, I believe as he is someone with an intellectual disability, he shouldn't receive the death penalty
Frankly I don't believe in the death penalty. It's a stain upon humanity & should be a crime against humanity. We serve no justice by murdering people. However, It is especially unjust in the case of Alfred Bourgeois as he has an intellectual disability.
Alfred Bourgeois will be executed today. There was no movement to try to stop it. Many people will NOT remember him. But I'll never forget him. I believe he should live & am devastated that he will lose his life. Few will remember him. Few advocated for him. This breaks my heart.
As far as my adult relationship with my dad goes, My father rehabilitated himself. He went to therapy & had a 2nd chance. His church was loyal & forgiving of him & so was I. My mother was too. As an adult, I had a healthy & good relationship with him & my mom.
My father passed away earlier this year of Leukemia. He was 91 years old. Right before he died, he once again told me how sorry he was for everything he did to me. I reminded him that he was forgiven & told him how much I love him. He died peacefully in his sleep.
"Greater Dignity in taking responsibility for one's actions than living life ashamed of them." *
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