"Jeeze louise!"

Larry,

I don't why you brought me into it. But since you did, I will break my silence.

I get the sense that you're mitigating the fact that this woman beat her kid because store security had identified her as a potential shoplifter. From what I've gathered about Ms. Toogood, their suspicion was not misplaced (regardless of her ethnic group).

However, SHE HAS NO EXCUSE FOR BEATING HER CHILD!

I was beaten as a child. Beleive me, even when there are not physical scars, the psychological scars last a very long time, if not a lifetime.

Louise