Believe the children
I am finally heard!
Related Content
More About
I would like to thank Beth Walton for printing the child's side of the story ("In Plain Sight," 7/30/08).
Family court shouldn't be about the husband or the wife. It should be about kids—kids like me!
My dad beat my mom. Many people think, "That is her problem," but it was my problem, too, because I witnessed it! My father testified that he dislocated my mother's shoulder and broke my mother's nose three times. He also admitted (under oath) that he did it in front of us kids. The judge found that he was an abuser. Isn't that enough? Not only did we witness this wife beater in progress, we were victimized by him as well! He fractured my brother's skull. How can anyone ignore that?
Rosa Parks defied the law and wouldn't stand up on the bus. We applaud her today. Holly Ann Collins wouldn't stand for her children being abused. She should go down in history books as being a courageous battered woman who challenged the system. She was the first American to receive asylum in Europe and is going to be the catalyst for initiating change in our severely damaged family court system.
Thank you for giving me a voice.
Jennifer Collins Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Doctor haunted by case
I can't thank you enough for this article. I've worried about this family for years and think about them every time the Munchausen diagnosis is used as a cudgel against women trying to protect their children in family court. May I ask you please to transmit my warm greetings to Holly, with my respect for her courage and values, and my congratulations on raising such wonderful children?
Eli Newberger, M.D. Brookline, Massachusetts
Why do women put up with it?
As a woman escaping abuse, I am often asked, "Why did you stay for so long?" The answer is unthinkable, but simple—I stayed because all the threats my ex-husband made against me are real. My ex says that he will make up stories that I am crazy to get custody of the children, and not only will people believe him but I will never see the children again. The family court system fails to protect victims of domestic violence. It elevates abusers to heroes, while repeating their taunts: shut up and it's your fault.
Lynne Minneapolis
The bright side of north Minneapolis
As a 10-year resident of north Minneapolis, I felt somewhat ambivalent toward Bradley Campbell's article, "Murder Takes a Holiday" (8/8/08). While it's always great to hear positive news regarding the North Side, does it always have to be in the context of crime? How about spotlighting all the other great amenities about this area—beautiful (and affordable) housing stock, great parks, very active neighborhood groups, proximity to downtown, the Parkway, etc.? We don't seem to hear nearly as much in the media about other crime-plagued neighborhoods (Phillips, Powderhorn, etc.). Is City Pages simply too afraid to challenge their readers' perceptions about north Minneapolis?
How about some equal time for us North Side residents who live here by choice, and love it? For example: The GLBT Northsiders group has begun a promotional campaign, "Get to NOMI", which lists north Minneapolis properties for sale on their website. Get to NOMI has also hosted two home tours this summer. Grassroots efforts like this are slowly turning the tide for our neighborhood, and it would be fantastic to have stories like this featured in the press, instead of yet another story about yet another shooting.
John Rossakis Minneapolis
Parallel universe
Bradley Campbell's article "Murder takes a holiday" begins with the sentence "On the corner of 26th and Lowry avenues..." Now, I'm just guessing, but I'd bet Mr. Campbell hasn't spent much time on the North Side. Those two streets run parallel—four blocks apart.
Paula Pentel Minneapolis
Correction: In the article "Murder takes a holiday" (8/8/08) I listed 26th and Lowry avenues as running perpendicular and having a camera looking down at their intersection. This is not possible. The streets run parallel. And apparently my brain does not run at all. The correct intersection is Lowry Avenue North and Logan Avenue North. —Bradley Campbell
