I was not comparing Ted Bundy to Mr. Arnet. I was just making a point that sometimes we don't really know anyone because we can't read minds.
I gathered that Maximum Life Skills Academy was a behavior modification program from the website. It was subtle, but those of us who have been fooled before know determine if the facility uses BM. Read on....
This is from the MLSA website:
The mission of Maximum Life Skills Academy is to teach every young man the importance of their unique individuality. In addition to a top notch academic environment, we teach our students a different, yet positive way of looking at themselves. Yes, there are behavioral problems that will need to be replaced by productive habits.
This system of positive reinforcement is used to encourage good habits and drown out the negative ones. This techniquie of helping your son to find his own individual worth is a unique aspect of Maximum Life Skills Academy that separates us from all other programs
Here they point out that they use a "system of positive reinforcement..used to encourage good habits and drown out the negative ones..this is a unique aspect of MLSA that separates us from all other programs."
The use of the word "drown" is violent - like kill, murder, snuff out. It's obvious that this was a BMP (behavior modification program) In addition the website points out that there is little contact with parents. Reports are given to them by staff. The website looks much better than the actual program. I'm not sure if Ah Quin was associated with the WWASP organization or not. If so, then he probably used the same techniques that are also used at the notoriously abusive Provo Canyon School (which I am very familiar with) The fact that the boys must stay 9 months or longer also indicates that they are doing more than just getting these kids sober - they are messing with their minds and values.
This can be damaging psychologically and emotionally.
When a human being is kept in a locked environment and denied basic human rights and freedoms - it is human nature - to want to escape. Anyone keeping them locked in may be seen as the enemy. Anson may have been a fine individual - He probably was not abusive to the boys and he probably was not using them sexually - he was just there - and these boys had the desire to escape as a result of being told that they had to stay longer in this locked environment. To them - Anson may have been seen as the enemy. Obviously they didn't have a good relationship with him. Again, they may have been cold hearted, cold blooded killers. Without more information about what was done behind those locked doors it is hard to know. They may have been sexually, physically, psychologically and emotionally abused at this program. They were locked in and had little contact with the outside world. Perhaps their escape was justified - perhaps you would have done the same in their situation.
All I am trying to say is that we can't jump to conclusions before we know more. We do know that the facility was flagrantly violating State law by having only one staff member for the night shift. Also that staff member was never cleared to make sure he wasn't a felon or child molester. Not to say that he was - it was just that this program was obvioulsy not obeying the law. So if they weren't obeying a simple law like having two staff members, then they may have been violating many other laws and codes.
What happened was a tragedy for everyone - Anson, The Ah Quins, the boys and all of the families involved. Still we can't march these boys before a Utah firing squad before all of the facts are known. So far it seems as though there is a serious cover-up (which is common in Utah)
Duct tape is like the force; it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together.
--Jedi Knight school drop out.
