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I could not renounce my own child for being an alcoholic. I honestly don't know what would have to happen for me to do that or if there is anything that would cause it. That's just not reason enough.
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Posts:
15
Registered:
12/5/06
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(6 of 6)
Re: It Would Take More Than That...
Apr 16, 2008 3:20 PM
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> I could not renounce my own child for being an
> alcoholic. I honestly don't know what would have to
> happen for me to do that or if there is anything that
> would cause it. That's just not reason enough.
I'm sure it was a difficult decision for John Adams to make. I guess his attitude towards his son's behavior is what we would refer to now as "old school." Clearly, self-pity wasn't tolerated back then like it is today. Given what we've seen in the series, it's easy for us to blame Mr. Adams for the way Charles turned out. I mean, he did grow up without his father at home. However, I'm also sure that sort of thing was more common back then than it is now.
Anyway, I don't have children, but I'd be willing to be that I wouldn't be able to renounce a child for alcohol abuse either. Times have REALLY changed.
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9
Registered:
3/15/02
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(5 of 6)
Re: It Would Take More Than That...
Apr 15, 2008 12:40 PM
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> Charles Adams was more than a lush, he was an
> embarrassment to his family and a man who wasted the
> considerable advantages to which he was born. Unlike
> what was shown in the series, Charles Adams
> accompanied his father and brother to Paris and
> Amsterdam. But his problems with drinking seemed to
> begin when he was at Harvard. And it was hinted
> Charles may have been a homosexual (although there is
> nothing but rumor about that). While in New York, he
> became involved in shady financial schemes before
> finally abandoning the law and his family.
> Apparently, John Adams, although he seemed to love
> e his son, considered Charles morally degenerate and
> they never reconciled. Thomas Adams, the youngest
> t Adams son, was also something of a lush, but not
> quite as bad as Charles.
Thank you, Anyacat, for that historical background. It makes JA's renouncement of him seem less harsh. Charles' story was particularly wrenching to me, as I had a brother who was an alcoholic. Like Charles, he was no man's enemy (beautiful line from Abigail Adams), but he squandered his life. However, my father, instead of renouncing him as JA did, enabled him, sending him money so he wouldn't end up on the streets. The result -- he died at 50 instead of at 35 or however old Charles was -- thankfully after my parents had died, for it would have broken their hearts. The entire family tried many times to help him overcome his alcoholism, including paying for an intervention and treatment -- but some people cannot be saved from the demons which haunt them. I don't know that an earlier death instead of 15 more years of a miserable life would have been worse. . . . I thought the original poster might want to hear this as food for thought. . . .
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Posts:
204
Registered:
8/16/01
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(4 of 6)
Re: It Would Take More Than That...
Apr 14, 2008 4:15 PM
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Charles Adams was more than a lush, he was an embarrassment to his family and a man who wasted the considerable advantages to which he was born. Unlike what was shown in the series, Charles Adams accompanied his father and brother to Paris and Amsterdam. But his problems with drinking seemed to begin when he was at Harvard. And it was hinted Charles may have been a homosexual (although there is nothing but rumor about that). While in New York, he became involved in shady financial schemes before finally abandoning the law and his family. Apparently, John Adams, although he seemed to love his son, considered Charles morally degenerate and they never reconciled. Thomas Adams, the youngest Adams son, was also something of a lush, but not quite as bad as Charles.
I am hoping they don't show Nabby's mastectomy, which was done without anesthetic in her bedroom, with her parents in attendance.
--
Ego venit , Ego vidi , Ego trinus super meus own feet:
I came, I saw, I tripped over my own feet.
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Posts:
847
Registered:
1/17/08
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(3 of 6)
Re: It Would Take More Than That...
Apr 14, 2008 1:33 PM
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I would guess that until you have really walked in their shoes and lived that life you really don't know what you would do. Either way that is a very hard choice to make.
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Posts:
1,556
Registered:
3/6/07
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(2 of 6)
Re: It Would Take More Than That...
Apr 14, 2008 1:10 PM
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Back then, whining wasn't tolerated. Heck, my father renounced my sister for less than that, but like Charles, she was always...difficult. Angry even as a baby, she preferred tearing up magazines in her playpen, rather than playing with toys.
Abigail wondered if they were to blame in some way, but all things being equal, people just have different personalities.
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Posts:
6
Registered:
3/20/06
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(1 of 6)
It Would Take More Than That...
Apr 14, 2008 1:52 AM
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I could not renounce my own child for being an alcoholic. I honestly don't know what would have to happen for me to do that or if there is anything that would cause it. That's just not reason enough.
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