Penn State Child Molestation Scandal

FAIL again.

 

I'm not sure whether you are expressing a preference for the legal system that obtains (or doesn't) in many sub-Saharan African countries, Eddie. If you are, I rest my case.

 

You'd also be surprised how many people are falsely punished (often using a permanent method like, say, dismemberment, disfiguration or death), based upon lies, rumors and false testimony. A short list of things for you to look up regarding good old fashioned "community justice" and their results: Salem Witch Trials, the Inquisition, Southern lynch mobs.

I'm also constantly tickled by both sides' absurd conspiracy theories that the judiciary is dominated by activist judges of the opposite political leaning doing everything possible to the system. I know a lot of judges in a lot of different courts. The only thing any of them care about is following the law and doing the most fair thing possible. With big questions, that might take on a political leaning, and there may be some judges in this country who look at their positions as an opportunity to advance their political agenda. If you ever talk to them, though, I think you'd quickly find that most judges take their jobs and their oaths very seriously, and politics are, at best, incidental to the reasons behind their decisions.

 

He certainly seems to be. Why shouldn't private citizens get to mete out justice against anyone at any time based on what they collectively believe at the time?

 

I think it's more posturing than serious comment, so won't comment further.

 

You know, I will admit, the burning of the unfaithful wife does seem extreme to me. Especially in light of the fact that all 3 of my sisters cheated on their husbands. That said, my sisters go off way too easy. Had my exwife cheated on me, I'm sure I wouldn't have been as tolerant as my sisters' husbands were.

 

I think you may have some anger issues that you should probably see a professional about. Not that adultery isn't a big deal, but....eesh.

 

You can't compare the Salem witch trials and the southern lynch mobs to the a rapist caught in the act or a drunk running over a little boy, or a man caught stealing or a woman caught cheating on her husband.
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Is that your professional opinion?

 

Seeing as I'm not a mental health professional, no. Seeing as how in this thread you have repeatedly advocated taking violent action against people whose crimes have not been proven in a court of law or whose actions may not even be criminal, it's my strong personal opinion. Obviously you're not going to, but there you go.

 

No, it will bring transparency to the process, the crime, and the justice meted out. It's the way it's done. To do otherwise is to relinquish ourselves to the worst of our nature.

Sandusky deserves his day in court as any of us would. I believe the families of these victims would feel cheated if he were carried off and killed without allowing them the benefit of watching him confronted, humiliated, and legally punished for his actions in front of the world.

 

Look I have no idea what happened or who did what, there certainly seems to be a lot of smoke around this guy and the media seems to think he's guilty. But really unless you've got some personal knowledge about the case or personal know people involved it's rather unlikely you know the truth. I remember when the McMartin Pre-School case was on every news channel every night and they were pretty much assumed guilty too until it turned out they weren't.

As for

That's kind of the opposite of the way the US justice system is suppose to work isn't it? I mean aren't people suppose to be proven beyond all reasonable doubt they are guilty... not be forced to find a smoking gun of evidence that they're innocent?

I'm not defending the guy. I don't know him at all. But we have a justice system for a reason. The media is not part of the system. Or at least it shouldn't be.

 

A court of law is not always the best forum for justice.

Either way, I've stated my opinion and that's that. Take it or leave it. We can direct this thread back to the OP.

 

I bet those families wouldn't feel cheated if they were allowed to administer the penalty themselves.

 

I'm not saying that street/community justice is appropriate in every case. But in cases where there are eyewitnesses to heinous crimes...then yes, I do believe that would be appropriate. It is ultimately the people who determine justice, whether in a court room or on the street.

 

Okay, here's a possible scenario, Eddie.

Mack's 6 year old boy was just killed in a hit and run. He didn't see it happen but his neighbor Bob saw it all from his front window. Bob tells Mack it was a little Red Toyota and he could swear the driver was Asian or Indian. Neighbors start streaming into the street. Word spreads. Cell phones calls are made. Dolores gets the call from her daughter while she is stopped for gas at the Quickie Mart 2 blocks away. She spots a maroon Nissan at the pump next to her. The guy isn't asian looking but rather a light skinned African American. She tells her daughter she thinks she's found the culprit. While the guy is inside paying for his purchase, the neighborhood drives to the Quickie Mart and grabs the owner of the toyota as he's leaving.

A few hours later the guy is found beaten and dead inside his car on a secluded side road just out of town.

The actual hit and run driver is pulled over in his candy apple red Camry later that evening for drunk driving. When police inspect his vehicle, they see a small dent in his grill with blood and hair evidence. They've found the boy's hit and run driver. The dead guy had 5 kids who have lost their father.

How does this sit with you, Eddie. Are you okay with this outcome because this is a likely result of the sort of justice you are advocating.

 

I would say that a wrongful conviction is no more likely to occur in community justice than it would in a court room. In fact, often, a fancy talking, lying sack of shit lawyer can persuade a jury to acquit.