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From: manis@ubc-cs.UUCP (Vince Manis)
Newsgroups: net.motss
Subject: Re: Turning the Other Cheek
Message-ID: <127@ubc-cs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 13-Dec-85 19:45:27 EST
Article-I.D.: ubc-cs.127
Posted: Fri Dec 13 19:45:27 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 14-Dec-85 01:54:24 EST
References: <1635@bbncca.ARPA>
Reply-To: manis@ubc-cs.UUCP (Vince Manis)
Organization: UBC Department of Computer Science
Lines: 20
Summary: 

Gee, I really seem to have difficulty expressing myself. I wasn't saying
these kids didn't deserve their prison sentence, but only that I felt they
were victims too. 

Canada doesn't have the death penalty; there certainly are life sentences,
but a common premeditated murder sentence is 25 years. Nine to twelve years
is on the light end of the spectrum, but is certainly a common murder 
sentence. In any case, it's more than what Dan White got.

Had I been called to the Dan White jury, I would have been excused pronto
because I'm opposed to capital punishment. However, I certainly wouldn't
have let my sympathy for the man (he was obviously extremely disturbed)
interfere with sending him to prison for a very long time. The same is
true here.

I guess what it comes down to is the distinction between punishment and 
vengeance. Sending someone to a Canadian prison for even five years is
a pretty awful punishment; all I've been saying is that even though it
had to be done, I take no joy in it.