Good grief. I despair.

[chaletian]

I have been reading some of the fall out following the decision not to deport Stephen Lawrence's murderer, and people's attitudes really bother me. This chap killed a man. Vee bad. But what gets me is the emotional way in which people seem to respond, and expect the courts to respond. "Rah, he's a killer... if anyone did that to my family, I'd want them hanged... rah, rah, rah."

You know what? If someone murdered one of my family, I'd damned well want them hanged as well. Possibly drawn and quartered. But that's EXACTLY why I should be given no say in the matter. My emotions would be beside the point, and would merely muddy the waters. The law cannot be a slave to rampant emotionalism.



On a happier note, it's my birthday!! And, in the traditional, er, tradition, of listing my birthday presents, I received some Monsoon vouchers from my parents, and some pretty writing paper, flower shaped cookie cutters AND the most genius t-shirt with a cartoon of Spock on it saying "That is soooooo illogical" (♥ ♥ ♥) from Katie. I love birthdays. Sadly the weather does not seem to have noticed that it is supposed to be a HAPPY day. Pah.

Comments

[xanantha.livejournal.com]

I would sing to you but I am still not really able to sing *woes*

However, hope you have a splendacious day & I shall see you on Saturday.

I have got you such genius gifts (she says, modestly) and am thus v excited about presenting you with them...

[chaletian.livejournal.com]

Hurrah! Thank you!

Looking forward to presenty joy (incidentally, isn't it great when you get good presents for someone? I love that feeling!).

[xanantha.livejournal.com]

Lo, for it is more blessed to give than to receive...

[davidbrider.livejournal.com]

I guess for me as a Christian, one of the most important values in my life is forgiveness. One of the most liberating experiences was being able to forgive my ex-wife - she caused me a lot of pain and anguish when she left me, but ultimately, being able to forgive her freed me from a lot of negativity and feelings of revenge/grudge sort of thing that I might otherwise have felt.

Murder, of course, is a somewhat different kettle of fish. I mean, if someone murdered someone I loved, I hope that in the midst of grieving I'd be able to forgive (I'm reminded of that Amish community who lost several of their children to a gunman recently). I don't know for definite.

Tied in to that, I try to see prison as less of a punishment and more of a pragmatic thing - y'know, if someone has murdered someone (or more than one), and is likely to do so again, then it's obviously in the best interests of society that they be kept away from society for some time. Although during their incarceration, they should also be given every opportunity for remorse and repentance and...oh, I can't think what the word is, but yeah.

All IMO.

And happy birthday!

David.

[nikkibeth76.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday!!!

Love the sound of the Spock T-Shirt!

Have a great day!

[b-liz.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday!

[ungratefulwench.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday! I'd wish you a good one, but since you are clearly already having an ace day there is no point ;)

Also, I agree completely with your emotional muddying of the waters comment.

[mrs-redboots.livejournal.com]

(http://photobucket.com)

[emeraldsword.livejournal.com]

First comment I make on your journal and I'm nitpicking :S It's Philip Lawrence, not Stephen. Philip Lawrence = Headmaster, father of 3, killed by someone who came from Italy when he was five. Stephen Lawrence = seventeen-year-old black teenager, murder unsolved because of institutional police racism. Both equally important for various reasons, both equally depressing. I do agree with the point you're making though.

Also, a somewhat belated 'Happy Birthday!'