The rights of children

The story of the murdered Powell children in this week’s The Seattle Times leads me to the conclusion that the legal rights of children in our society must be expanded [“Grandparents say boys didn’t want to see dad,” page one, Feb. 7].

No agency should be allowed to force children to spend time with any noncustodial parent, or other adult, who the children are uncomfortable spending time with. When the Powell boys told their grandfather that they did not want to visit their father that day, their wishes should have been respected.

Children are not always able to articulate the reasons for their feelings, but that does not mean that their feelings should be disregarded. Children should be given a chance to have a say about what happens in their lives, especially when the adults involved may have serious problems.

— Wynne Schweid, Seattle

It is our job to protect the innocent

I am stunned and broken over the deaths of Charlie and Braden Powell. How is it possible that this is the best protection that the state of Washington could offer those two little boys?

After all the bureaucrats from Utah and Washington are finished making excuses for themselves, there will be two little boys to bury. Children in the custody and under the protection of the state of Washington died an unthinkable death.

We as a society trust in the laws, police, judges, Department of Social and Health Services, etc. to protect the innocent, but that was a mistake in this case.

Our blind faith in justice wasn’t enough to save the lives of Susan Cox-Powells’ children. The failure of Washington state to prevent Josh Powell from murdering his sons should end the careers of all the state workers involved.

We pay the salaries of these people and should demand justice for Charlie and Braden. I don’t want to hear how no one thought it could happen, because that isn’t true. Charlie and Braden knew and were afraid, Chuck and Judy Cox knew and were also afraid.

— Cheryl Parrish, Redmond

Why was he allowed to visit them at home?

As a former Department of Children and Family services social worker, it is hard for me to fathom the court’s allowing visitation at the home. It should have been at a neutral, secure site under the circumstances.

How will DCFS and the court possibly explain this, especially since Powell was to undergo a psychosexual evaluation?

— Andy Thompson, Spokane

Letter from an 8-year-old

I read the newspaper Monday yesterday (I think it was the front page) about that man who killed himself and his kids [“Boys’ death ‘an act of evil,” page one, Jan 6].

I am very sad about that. I think the government should say that the police department should protect all kids that have criminals for moms or dads.

P.S. If they find Susan Powell alive, she’s going to be very sad.

— Samuel Merel Llanillo, age 8, Seattle