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Over the centuries, more crimes have been committed in the name of religion (in name only - the usual true reason being control and power) than any other one factor except, possibly, hunger.

I have watched in dismay the news of the prosecution of Angela Yates, who horribly and viciously drowned her children.   I watched as the defense brought forth testimony that she was diagnosed as mentally ill, depressed, probably suffering from post-partum depression, and probably schizophrenic.   She had been under treatment, on and off powerful drugs, for years, and even hospitalized.  

Forget the legal definitions and jargon of the law.  Who can really believe that a sane person could do these things under these circumstances?

Andrea Yates has been found guilty - guilty of knowing she was doing wrong.   One can only hope there will be some intervention that will send her to a mental institution rather than a penitentiary or the death chamber.

There's an old joke - usually aimed at a father after the birth of his third, fourth, fifth or more child:  "Have you figured out what's causing it yet?"    Not so funny in the case of Andrea Yates.

Here is a woman whose husband knew that she was mentally ill, unhappy and in distress.  Presumably he knew about birth control.  If his religion forbid it, he knew about abstinence.   If his religion commanded him to "go forth and multiply", let's ask a hypothetical question.  If a competent Doctor had assured him without doubt that another pregnancy would kill her, would he have gotten her pregnant anyway?

Since this is a subject many will argue over, let's consider that perhaps they were both incapable of rationally deciding to stop having more children.

But how about this?  He required her to home school the children, to "protect" them from evil influences, apparently.  How could any rational man figure that schooling by a mentally ill, depressed, unhappy, unstable, drugged woman was more productive than the public school system, no matter overcrowded, underpaid, etc. that system is?  And even if he was so convinced on this point, where was his consideration for his wife?  Why didn't he take an evening job, teach the children daytimes himself, and let her babysit a mere eight hours at night?

Who drove this sick, unhappy woman to the brink, to the point she would do the unthinkable?    The doctors?  Society?  The devil?  No, I don't think so.  

When someone commits an armed robbery and kills someone, the person outside keeping the car running is also charged with murder.  Women who stand by - out of fear or disinterest - while the man of the house beats or molests her children, are often charged with child abuse also. 

In the case of Andrea Yates, I think perhaps the wrong person was on trial.

What are your thoughts?