Teaching, But Not Learning

Repugnant gloating, but not loyalty.

I find Stanley Simpson's pathetic rant about the Garlington conviction sad and disheartening journalism in its lowest form. From a position of very limited information he garnished his opinion from inaccurate and spotty media reports and very little knowledge of Dr Derek Hopson's character if any. He made harsh and accusatory statements about Derek Hopson who was in fact and stressfully continues to be the actual victim of a sick, attempted murder plot by a number of very disturbed people. Mr. Simpson was spoon fed by Dr. Derek Hopson who repeatedly supported his efforts and in fact his livelihood. I find myself feeling completely disgusted by his disgraceful efforts to bite the hand that fed him while blaming the victims. This is clearly a blatant injustice and this repugnant ungrateful gloating demonstrates a sad lack of integrity and loyalty.

I have had the opportunity and the privilege of working with Dr. Hopson for the past 4 years. Dr. Hopson was instrumental in the development of a new DCF Parenting training program at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School. Dr. Derek Hopson is one of the finest people I have had the honor to work with. He is a knowledgeable, hard working and loyal colleague who has been missed since he and his loving supportive wife chose to escape the stress and fear of living in Connecticut. I found Dr. Hopson to be a soft spoken, kind hearted, caring and giving man in all his dealings with others. He was always very thoughtful and insightful in his work with guiding the families he assisted and inspired to be better parents. I often had the privilege of sharing Derek Hopson's sadness and frustration at the skillful alienation of the affection of his children and his feelings of powerlessness with his efforts to heal the situation. As they mature and learn the truth about their fine father, I hope his children find their way back to their father who has loved them through all this pain with open arms.

Can I remind you Mr. Simpson, that it was not Derek Hopson who carried on the multiple affairs that were revealed in testimony during the trial while living with his spouse and children? It was not Flo Allen-Hopson who purchased the murder of Ms. Garlington. It was not Derek Hopson's influence or actions that caused his children to make the choice to take the name of this convicted criminal or to pitifully call him "Daddy". What rational parent would allow this, never mind what mental health professional? This type of transparent poison is so contrary to what is known to be correct in dealing with and guiding the children of divorce.

Can I again remind you, Mr. Simpson that it was Derek Hopson who supported your efforts and career with a kind giving heart with his time and his wisdom? Do you write your column free of charge? I hope you find enough conscience to be ashamed of yourself and to not only apologize to this fine man personally but to also do it publicly as well. Hopefully the humbling effect of this effort will help you to regain some portion of your integrity and dignity.

You seem to be basking in the darkness of this tragic situation. Do you know how many people needed to hear Dr. Hopson's quote about dealing with emotional pain directly rather than self-destructing within a positive context--half of Hartford.
I (and most people) am no where near as accomplished Dr. Hopson, yet I can feel his pain. I know what it means to be on the other end of a vindictive woman's wrath.
I've experienced the malignment he suffered concerning his children--all because their immature mother was jealous of my "new" situation.
By then, destructive behaviors linked to childhood emotional pain had taken more of a toll than I was willing to will upon my own children.
The good thing about my situation is I was able to work on most of it constructively and my children are growing up well adjusted. My adult sons have even confided they understand some of the issues I had with their mother. They don't live with her anymore. Dr. Hopson and Mrs. Garlington's children will hopefully come to similar conclusions about their father.
My point is, life's issues for everyday people like myself are not seen through a clinical lense. So it is up to me to find practical solutions. Maybe that is where things went wrong for this couple.
If Mr. Garlington was convicted of this crime and Mrs. Garlington was not charged, this makes them, their children, and Flo Allen-Hopson, the victims in this case.
These events are not as sensational as they are sad. We've got enough sad news, books, and movies. Why not take a positive tack on this story and write about the need for qualified clinical psychologists in Connecticut's impoverished urban centers? A lot of African Americans are being incarcerated as a result of their issues.
This guy had all the help he needed in his own household.

Did the previous two posters read the same story? I don't believe it was Stan's intent nor did his story slant towards any attack on Dr. Hopson's character or impact his professionalism. What is did state to me is that he has somehow suffered at the hands of this maniac, he moved on from divorce and yes to chuckle..."I wrote a song about it, want to hear it?" Everyone is still in the place they need to be, Garlington is in jail, his wife is still employed, Flo Allen-Hopson is still basking in her own world and Dr. Hopson is still employed in the professional field he has always excelled in. Read the piece all the way to the END and you'll get the whole gist of the story - not some inferred diss that makes you whine for nothing.

RISING STAR wrote:

Did the previous two posters read the same story? I don't believe it was Stan's intent nor did his story slant towards any attack on Dr. Hopson's character or impact his professionalism. What is did state to me is that he has somehow suffered at the hands of this maniac, he moved on from divorce and yes to chuckle..."I wrote a song about it, want to hear it?" Everyone is still in the place they need to be, Garlington is in jail, his wife is still employed, Flo Allen-Hopson is still basking in her own world and Dr. Hopson is still employed in the professional field he has always excelled in. Read the piece all the way to the END and you'll get the whole gist of the story - not some inferred diss that makes you whine for nothing.

Dear Miss Star,
When you regain your sanity and take a break from songwriting about the pain and misery of others you might want to take a literacy course to strengthen your reading comprehension. What did you not understand about the following?......
"Now, we're left to ponder whether ALL OF THEM were frauds, hypocrites or simply acutely imperfect humans. THEY talked and wrote passionately about the importance of uplifting others, reaffirming families and self. But when faced with their own adversity, THEY (the hypocrites… an inferred diss) imploded."
"The real sad part is those children and how they'll probably be scarred for the rest of their lives because of their PARENTS."
One would assume that you would take no exception with being called a FRAUD or a HYPOCRITE. I would guess that SCARRING YOUR CHILDREN FOR LIFE would be no big deal for you? YOUR children have my sympathy.
Well! I guess you would not object to IDIOT?......but maybe STUPID would make you whine a bit more?
Let's just say that YOU and STAN should learn to choose your words more carefully while YOUR reading to the end…..

Richard V Daly III LCSW wrote:

<quoted text>
Dear Miss Star,
When you regain your sanity and take a break from songwriting about the pain and misery of others you might want to take a literacy course to strengthen your reading comprehension. What did you not understand about the following?......
"Now, we're left to ponder whether ALL OF THEM were frauds, hypocrites or simply acutely imperfect humans. THEY talked and wrote passionately about the importance of uplifting others, reaffirming families and self. But when faced with their own adversity, THEY (the hypocrites… an inferred diss) imploded."
"The real sad part is those children and how they'll probably be scarred for the rest of their lives because of their PARENTS."
One would assume that you would take no exception with being called a FRAUD or a HYPOCRITE. I would guess that SCARRING YOUR CHILDREN FOR LIFE would be no big deal for you? YOUR children have my sympathy.
Well! I guess you would not object to IDIOT?......but maybe STUPID would make you whine a bit more?
Let's just say that YOU and STAN should learn to choose your words more carefully while YOUR reading to the end…..

It's MISTER.....a**hole. Get real, if that COUPLE didn't get divorced, this story wouldn't have happened. Rarely do you get out a situation such as this unscathed or BLAMELESS. I don't understand why you an "educated" person wouldn't perceive this, but.....

You guys just don't get it. Especially the one who made this a place to vent about his own experience with a "vindictive woman's wrath" as if men are never vindictive. The point is that tragedy, even the self-made kind, is not exclusive to poor undereducated people, and that highly educated affluent and successful people can make foolish and destuctive choices just as easily as any other person. In this case money and education did not buffer these people from misery brought on by poor choices and bad behavior.

Divorce, revenge, tragedy, and other life-changing events can happen to anyone regardless of income, status, and educational background. That was the point of the story.

Richard V Daly III LCSW wrote:

<quoted text>
Dear Miss Star,
When you regain your sanity and take a break from songwriting about the pain and misery of others you might want to take a literacy course to strengthen your reading comprehension. What did you not understand about the following?......
"Now, we're left to ponder whether ALL OF THEM were frauds, hypocrites or simply acutely imperfect humans. THEY talked and wrote passionately about the importance of uplifting others, reaffirming families and self. But when faced with their own adversity, THEY (the hypocrites… an inferred diss) imploded."
"The real sad part is those children and how they'll probably be scarred for the rest of their lives because of their PARENTS."
One would assume that you would take no exception with being called a FRAUD or a HYPOCRITE. I would guess that SCARRING YOUR CHILDREN FOR LIFE would be no big deal for you? YOUR children have my sympathy.
Well! I guess you would not object to IDIOT?......but maybe STUPID would make you whine a bit more?
Let's just say that YOU and STAN should learn to choose your words more carefully while YOUR reading to the end…..

Stan Simpson writes an OPINION column. What about the word OPINION don't you get? What you have written here is YOUR opinion and what Stan Simpson has written is HIS opinion. It's always easy for people to claim they have the facts on their side, but that doesn't mean it's true, because like everthing else, that is just an opinion also.

Okay...Mister A**hole, I don't want to waste my time debating with an id**t.....

RISING STAR wrote:

<quoted text>
It's MISTER.....a**hole. Get real, if that COUPLE didn't get divorced, this story wouldn't have happened. Rarely do you get out a situation such as this unscathed or BLAMELESS. I don't understand why you an "educated" person wouldn't perceive this, but.....

Thank you for stating the obvious. Duh! Brainless! but... Please do not get upset stupid!!! I am only stating my opinion!

Maxie wrote:

<quoted text>
Stan Simpson writes an OPINION column. What about the word OPINION don't you get? What you have written here is YOUR opinion and what Stan Simpson has written is HIS opinion. It's always easy for people to claim they have the facts on their side, but that doesn't mean it's true, because like everthing else, that is just an opinion also.

RVDIII wrote:

Thank you for stating the obvious. Duh! Brainless! but... Please do not get upset stupid!!! I am only stating my opinion!
<quoted text>

And you're how old?? It seems like it's ok for YOU to state YOUR opinion, but not any one else. Grow up.

Aw c'mon...can't we all just get along??

This is getting very interesting I must say! I guess situations like these do get heated. I do think everyone has a right to their opinion but you can't blame Derek for a divorce cause by a cheating wife. I know all parties involved and I just don't think it is fair to Derek to take the blame for Darlene's infidelity. He is a wonderful, kind man and I feel very sorry for the pain he has suffered. I just hope one day he is able to repair the relationship with his children. I think the damage that Ernest and Darlene have caused is distrubing given their "background", but I guess that goes to show that education isn't everything.