Did you not entitle this thread "your opinion"? ::puzzled::
You are right. I am sure you DO know more about "Ed" than I do. I am basing my opinion solely on the information YOU provided, and I suppose my tolerance is low for people who would abandon their kids. Maybe this is what happens when you have a couple of your own - it tends to make you less sympathetic. It makes you ask "could I EVER do this to my own kids?", and "how might giving my children away negatively impact their lives?"
I am sorry you didn't make him out to be such a hero, but if all you wanted was for people to try to rationalize what he did, you should have called this thread "please reinforce that my "friend" is a swell guy".
Relax... I'll need some information first. Just the basic facts - can you show me where it hurts?