Baby Blues has been running a series of comics this week on Good Parenting, then and now. Not only are they funny, they are sadly true. Childrearing has changed a lot since I was a kid, and I'm not sure it's all for the better.
Of course, even with our foibles, it's better than this craziness in Iran (via No Watermelons Allowed). I guess that answers the question, who could do this to a child.