[mojo]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Hmmm, interesting. I'm not sure being mentally ill is "trendy". I actually think what is *more* trendy right now is "blame-shifting".

Take the Mel-Oksana case, for example -- late last week and since then, there has been a concerted effort to shift the blame back toward the victim (Oksana). In my opinion, Oksana is clearly a victim here (of emotional abuse and threats, at the very least, and quite possibly physical abuse). However, there has been a real effort (and rather sick effort) to shift "blame" back onto her.

Whether Mel is mentally ill or even if he has some brain damage from chronic alcohol abuse - it wouldn't excuse any behavior, it may only help explain the extremity of some of it. It wouldn't, however, change the intent of threat - nor whatever abuse has already occurred, ya know?

Malingering in mental illness is taken very seriously, especially in court - and it is extremely difficult to do here in the U.S. - so, even if someone tries to play this card, they will be evaluated at length before the claim would ever hold a shred of legal validity.

At this point, Oksana's motives for creating the tapes, in my opinion, are really a moot point - the real point right *now* is whether or not she and her child are truly safe...whether Mel Gibson is capable of harming them, or not.

Exactly! I've heard it on the radio, people I work with, comments on the internet all blaming her! She somehow entrapped him to behave this way. Or who cares, she is just a gold digger. On and on. Really, those are valid excuses for hitting a woman holding a child or threatening to kill her or speaking to her in the most vile manner I have ever heard? Just amazing!