Children Given Nazi Names Won’t Be Returned to Parents

[conuly]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/06/nyregion/06hitler.html

Children Given Nazi Names Won’t Be Returned to Parents
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TRENTON (AP) — A New Jersey couple who gave their children Nazi-inspired names should not regain custody of them, a state appeals court ruled on Thursday.

The state removed the three small children of the couple, Heath and Deborah Campbell, from their home in January 2009. A month earlier, the family drew attention when a supermarket near the family’s home in Holland Township, in west-central New Jersey, refused to decorate a birthday cake for their son, Adolf Hitler Campbell, now 4. He and his sisters, JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell, who are younger, have been in foster care.

A family court determined that there was insufficient evidence that the parents had abused or neglected the children, but a three-judge appeals panel, in reviewing that decision, determined that there was enough evidence not to return the children to their parents’ custody. The panel sent the case back to family court for further monitoring.

A gag order remains in place and the parties refused to discuss the decision.

Last year, Heath Campbell accused the state of removing the children because of their names and said government officials were relying on unproven accusations made by a neighbor and by an ex-wife who charged him with abusing her years ago.

In the ruling on Thursday, which did not mention the names or the birthday cake, the court found that there were myriad reasons that proved the need for continued protection services for the children. According to court records, both parents are unemployed. The court found that both parents were themselves victims of childhood abuse and said that they had not “received adequate treatment for their serious psychological conditions.”

Mr. Campbell, 37, cannot read, and Ms. Campbell, who is in her mid-20s, left school before finishing the 10th grade, according to court records.

This is probably for the best. I mean, Adolf Hitler is bad enough, but who names their precious baby "Honzlynn"? Seriously? (Joking aside, this still probably is for the best, if what I recall from earlier articles is accurate and correct.)

But with that said, I sure hope there's more to the ruling than that. I would hate to think that these children really were taken (and kept!) from their parents for nothing more than shitty names, unemployment, and the fact that the parents were abused as children. That's not actually the way the system is supposed to work.

Comments

[marveen.livejournal.com]

I don't get the Honzlynn one. I'm probably pronouncing it entirely "wrong"....

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

Deborah insists they are not part of the Aryan Nation or fans of what Hitler is famous for and said the swastika tattoo her husband displays on his arm is simply art. (http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/archive/Hitlers-Mom-Speaks-Out-Defies-Court-Order.html)

and

Campbell said his ancestors are German and that he has lived his entire life in Hunterdon County. On Tuesday he wore a pair of black boots he said were worn by a German soldier during World War II.
He said he was raised not to avoid people of other races but not to mix with them socially or romantically either. But he said he would try to raise his children differently.
"Say he grows up and hangs out with black people. That's fine, I don't really care," he said. "That's his choice." (http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/weird/Nein-Cake-for-You-Little-Adolph.html)

and

The court found that both parents were themselves victims of childhood abuse and said neither "have received adequate treatment for their serious psychological conditions."

Heath Campbell, 37, cannot read and Deborah Campbell dropped out of high school before finishing the 10th grade, according to court records.

In its ruling, the panel found the parents "recklessly created a risk of serious injury to their children by failing to protect the children from harm and failing to acknowledge and treat their disabilities."

The judges considered a typo-riddled note signed by Deborah Campbell and given to a neighbor. In it, Campbell says that if she were found dead, her husband was to blame.

"Hes thrend to have me killed or kill me himself hes alread tried it a few times. Im afread that he might hurt my children if they are keeped in his care. He teaches my son how to kill someone at the age of 3," the letter read in part.

Deborah Campbell later acknowledged writing the letter but claimed it was all a lie. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/05/adolf-hitler-campbells-pa_n_672045.html)

and

According to the few visitors who have been allowed inside, the Campbells' home has many displays of Nazi memorabilia and symbolism. (http://www.mahalo.com/adolf-hitler-campbell)

[feebeeglee.livejournal.com]

Wow.

[cumaeansibyl.livejournal.com]

I kind of hate the assumption that because these parents are neo-Nazis, they must be child abusers. Believe me, I hate white supremacists as much as the next embarrassed white person, but repellent ideology doesn't necessarily translate to abuse or neglect. Ditto illiteracy, poverty, or childhood history.

Granted that unemployed, uneducated parents can have a difficult time providing for their children; I'm still waiting for actual evidence of neglect.