Gone Baby Gone (Full Version)

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inthysite -> Gone Baby Gone (8/3/2008 12:06:15 AM)

WARNING: This thread is based on a scenario from the movie of the same name. If you haven't seen the movie and you don't want to spoil it then please don't read any further.

NOTE: This isn't a discussion on the movie itself but rather on a decision that was presented in the movie.

Okay, now that I've gotten all the "legalities" out of the way here is what I would like to know.

Scenario: A drug addicted mother has a 5 year old daughter whom she neglects due to her lifestyle. She frequently leaves her alone, fails to feed her due to being doped up, etc. You can get the picture.

A family member arranges to fake the child's kidnapping so he can place her in a loving home, one that will properly take care of her. Then they proceed to fake the girls death so that the search will stop and the mother will believe her girl is gone forever.

Here is where you come in: You discover the girl is still alive and well. You learn of the fake kidnapping and fake death. You know of the mother's previous lifestyle. So now you have a decision to make.

Do you

A)Walk away, leaving the child in a home you know she will be well cared for and loved.

B)Call the police and have the well intentioned family arrested, knowing that the child will either go back to her mother or be placed in foster care?



Wonder_Woman -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/3/2008 12:35:49 AM)

I choose option A.

A child needs love and a sense of security.



LCannon -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/3/2008 12:40:06 AM)

Two bad choices? Personally, since kidnapping is a felony, whatever the mother's sins are, and this 'well intentioned family'(two wrongs don't ever equal a right)didn't count the cost before the kidnapping foster care will be the final resolution most likely anyway so, probably, contacting the authorities is my vote. If the 'well intentioned family' really had her best interest in mind trying obtain legal custody would be a better tactic.



Liveloved -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/3/2008 1:42:57 AM)

quote:

You discover the girl is still alive and well.


It isn't clear who the 'you' is in this scenario. Does 'you' mean a new, random person who has learned of this?

Many actions have lasting consequences. So is the consequence of losing your child because of drug addiction unreasonable? I don't think so. But I'm glad these decisions aren't mine to make.

However, if the choice were mine, the child would not live in the midst of the chaotic lifestyle chosen by the mother. The high price of sin is clearly illustrated by this example. I think God gives us situations like this to show us just how depraved we are. And how thankful we should be that Jesus chose to die for the wretches that we are. I am. Those are my thoughts.



deliveredarling -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/3/2008 12:31:29 PM)

That's a really tough one. On one hand knowing the life I once lived, I would say choice A. Knowing what Christ did for me, I would say B.

People can change by the Grace of God. Keeping a child in that condition until the change occurs or even waiting for the change, No. Children need safety and security. Being a parent is not a right, it's a privilege.



mvic -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/3/2008 12:54:40 PM)

If you know a felony has occured and you keep quiet about it you are accessory (implicated) in the crime - even though you did not personally commit it.

By keeping quiet ... evil moves a step forward.



deliveredarling -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/3/2008 1:02:29 PM)

Maybe, maybe not. Jesus broke the laws of their day. He "worked" on the sabbath, by healing. The point being is He did it for the well being of that person and as a testimony of His Father.

What would be in the best interest of the child. Only prayer and seeking God's will could answer that.



mvic -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/3/2008 1:23:36 PM)

Let's fast forward this film a few years further.

The child is now an adult. By keeping quiet about it you have denied her the right to know who her real mother is.

Sure, her mother may not be able to care for her right now. The authorities may put her into care etc ... etc ...

But who are we to interfere with a chain of events placed there by those who govern us for the benefit of all?

We chose those people in authority to create rules, and part of the understood contract is that we'll obey these rules. We can't choose which rules to obey and which to ignore. This will lead to chaos.

Jesus never broke the law as such. When He healed on the Sabbath it was to teach a lesson about compassion; and He knew He was being tricked into a corner.

Render to Caesar ... etc ...



deliveredarling -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/3/2008 1:46:24 PM)

quote:


But who are we to interfere with a chain of events placed there by those who govern us for the benefit of all?


You aren't familiar with the foster care system in the US, I take it?

BTW, I haven't seen the movie. It just sounded like an interesting question to ponder.



inthysite -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/3/2008 1:52:05 PM)

All very good answers as I agree this is a tough decision to ever have to make and I for one I am glad I don't have to make it. However when I saw this movie it made me stop and think what I would do and then I wondered what would most Christians do, so I posted the question here.

quote:

It isn't clear who the 'you' is in this scenario. Does 'you' mean a new, random person who has learned of this?


The "you" I inserted into this scenario is you personally. I was asking what would you do if you personally discovered this.

quote:

If you know a felony has occured and you keep quiet about it you are accessory (implicated) in the crime - even though you did not personally commit it.


quote:

The child is now an adult. By keeping quiet about it you have denied her the right to know who her real mother is.


These are two responses that the character in the movie struggled over.
The kidnapper confronted him, asking if he could live with himself when 10 years from now the girl comes up to him and asks why he put her back with her mother to be neglected and abused.

His response was how could he live with himself 10 years from now when the girl comes up to him and asks why he left her there, never to know her mother again.

Very tough decision. After deliberating on it I agree that leaving her there is wrong for the reasons mentioned above, it's criminal, the mother may change (or may not), if the kidnappers really cared about the child then call family services and have the chilid removed and then try to adopt her. (FYI: in the movie the mother's brother took the child and gave her to a police cheif with his knowledge of what was going on).

A couple of verses to help see things clearer:

and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, (Act 17:26 NASB)

God has already determined where and when we will be born. For whatever reason God put that child in that family.

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. (Rom 13:1-4 NASB)

We are to obey the laws of man as they are equal to the ordinances of God, as long as they aren't contrary to God's word. When they are contrary then we must follow Peter's advice;

But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. (Act 5:29 NASB)



deliveredarling -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/3/2008 2:01:54 PM)

Wow, Inthysight, you leveled that one nicely, without me trying to explain my answer and tripping all over my words in the attempt[:D]



SuspenseWriter -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/3/2008 4:45:16 PM)

I've seen the movie. It was wrenching. And I think the main character did the wrong thing at the end.



rcjames -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/3/2008 4:49:55 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: inthysite
Do you

A)Walk away, leaving the child in a home you know she will be well cared for and loved.

B)Call the police and have the well intentioned family arrested, knowing that the child will either go back to her mother or be placed in foster care?


Your (A) assumption is faulty. how could you know the child will be taken care of by lying, felons (state and Federal)?????

That family should have been sure their stuff was in order and called the authorities about the abuse and neglect; while applying for custody.

Option (B) would be the legal thing to do; if the observer knew of a felony and did not report it.

Thsnks
RC



inthysite -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/3/2008 9:51:40 PM)

quote:

Your (A) assumption is faulty. how could you know the child will be taken care of by lying, felons (state and Federal)?????


You are correct in that I am making an assumption. But just because they have committed a felony does not necessarily mean that they cannot be loving, caring parents.



rcjames -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/4/2008 9:11:25 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: inthysite
You are correct in that I am making an assumption. But just because they have committed a felony does not necessarily mean that they cannot be loving, caring parents.


You may be right, but committing felonies and living a lie is certainly not indicitive of loving, caring, people.

Thanks
RC



bluestone -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/4/2008 10:31:41 AM)

I would rat them out.



WesP -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/12/2008 2:10:51 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: bluestone

I would rat them out.


Eloquent as always, blue! [:D]



bluestone -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/13/2008 3:16:17 PM)

I just can't see stealing someone else's child. If the parent is in that condition, they would probably let you adopt the child, for money.

throw a hissy fit at protective services, if necessary.

Don't play Robin Hood with other people's lives.



solarflare -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/13/2008 3:25:13 PM)

quote:

I've seen the movie. It was wrenching. And I think the main character did the wrong thing at the end.



In the end, the main character was looking after the child while the mother went out on a 'date'..........it was a 'nobody wins' ending. And don't forget the whole twisted plot to begin with.......nothing was as it really seemed.......good was bad and wrong was right. It there is a message in that movie, it was not one to bring up your children on. You cannot take someone else's child....no matter how bad the circumstances are....people were 'playing' god through that whole movie. And that was what it was, a movie.



RubySparkles -> RE: Gone Baby Gone (8/24/2008 3:40:26 PM)

I've seen the movie & thought it was very good. I think it was better for the child to stay with the more stable family, but however neglectful the real mother was I couldn't agree with stealing her child.

I'm firmly on the fence.

Just in case anyone's thinking of renting the film it contains a great deal of bad language, violence and there's a paedo sub plot. The story is really strong though.



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