Posted on 12/02/2014 9:59:00 AM PST by Kaslin
No matter whose side you are on in the upheaval following the killing of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, everyone should agree on the profound sadness of it all: sadness that an 18-year-old boy-man walked a path that led to his destruction; sadness that a police officer felt the need to defend himself by shooting another human being; sadness over the rioting and looting that followed a grand jury's decision not to indict Officer Wilson; and for some, sadness that Wilson was not indicted.
Much of the sadness was encapsulated in a sound bite I saw on one TV network. An African-American business owner, surveying the destruction of his store, plaintively asked, "How am I going to feed my kids?"
I have an answer and it is one that should be applied to anyone convicted of riotous behavior, destruction of property and looting. It's called restitution.
Restitution is an Old Testament concept instituted to remind people that when one harms another person, or steals or destroys property, someone else suffers and deserves reimbursement. It says the state is less a debtor than the victim of a crime. Restitution can also instill true moral guilt in a person, which can lead to genuine repentance and a decision by the perpetrator to make different choices leading to a better life.
As the authorities in Ferguson examine videos that show the faces of many of the rioters and looters, charges will undoubtedly be filed. If convicted, the perpetrators should be forced to pay for the damage they caused. If they have jobs, their paychecks should be garnished. If they are on welfare, those checks should be forwarded to the businesses they destroyed. If they receive food-purchasing assistance, that assistance should be withdrawn. This should be the practice going forward. Those who destroy their communities will be required to pay back those harmed by their hooliganism and forfeit any government benefits they receive. This might require legislation, but politicians should have the public's support. A close relative of restitution is shaming. The convicted should be brought before those harmed by their behavior and publicly shamed. No one seems to be ashamed of anything nowadays, but shaming might help prevent future violence. Rioters and looters who are black could be shamed by law-abiding African-Americans. They can be asked, "Is this why Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marched and went to prison? Is this why he paid the ultimate price? Would he and other civil rights leaders dating back to Frederick Douglass be proud of your behavior today? Don't you owe them something better than this?"
Perhaps if people realize that their destructive behavior will cost them something, they think might twice about harming others and robbing them of a living. People from around the country are reportedly donating money to help those whose businesses were destroyed. That again demonstrates the generosity of Americans of all races and backgrounds.
While donations will help, along with insurance, if it covers damage caused by violent protesters, the lawbreakers should still be required to take responsibility for their actions. In addition to whatever legal penalties might result, restitution and shaming should be part of the punishment.
We've gotten away from personal responsibility and accountability, preferring instead to cast lawbreakers as "victims," when the true victims are often ignored. Too often many blame others for their circumstances. Too often many feel entitled to what others have achieved through hard work and dedication. Too often too many feel justified in taking and destroying the property of others instead of working and building for themselves.
If they don't feel ashamed, they should.
I would build only parks in the neighborhood. No housing. No stores. Give them emptiness, since they have rejected things of substance.
They won’t.
These are people who still feel the world owes them something. Many have not worked an honest day in their lives, so how can they know what an honest day’s work is worth? Sadly, we have a 47% taker class, which is growing and will soon (with the President’s help through amnesty) exceed the 50% line necessary to cement the “mob rules” system in the USA.
Has Cal gone senile? Restitution?
As we FReep; Bammy is planning on GIVING millions to Ferguson to rebuild the burned out business with OUR money.
And all those words, all that "soaring rhetoric", is trumped by the one phrase that they all know and embrace:
We've gotten away from personal responsibility and accountability, preferring instead to cast lawbreakers as "victims," when the true victims are often ignored.
But who's filling their heads with such crap?
Those people -- and we all know who they are -- need to be held accountable.
The Obama-Holder demagogues, the Sharpton race-grievance industry, and many MSM employees surely can be sued by people harmed by the violence. I am no lawyer as you will soon discern; but..
Traditional principles of vicarious liability include
Though associated with criminal law, these theories can be used to attribute fault to persons not directly related to an act that harmed a victim.
It must be proved that the others 'provided substantial assistance or encouragement' to those who did harm the victim.
In the SPLC suit against Tom Metzger and WAR the skinheads were not members of Metzger's WAR. But Metzger's rantings had influence over the mindless skinheads due to his reputation in the white supremacy movement
Tom Metzger recruited 16-year-old Mazzella and schooled him in the world of racist violence. Mazzella was sent to Portland to join up with and train the East Side White Pride [skinheads]. Members of that group later brutally murdered an innocent black man.
How is that any different that being "recruited" in college or by progressive ideologues?
The aiding and abetting theory fits because
Lawyers can invoke the aiding and abetting theory with relative ease. Invoking the aiding and abetting assumes two independent actors.
To prove an aiding and abetting claim
Civil conspiracy was also used and proved against the Metzgers because he had contacted the East Side White Pride skinheads and after the murder and their arrest one skinhead called Metzger from jail. Here civil conspiracy might be proved by any contacts between the criminals and Sharpton, Holder, Obama, et al.
Obviously I am not a lawyer and this is a kind of an outline of information available on the Internet. Why can't it be used against the "progressives" and racists of all colors?
You’re too generous. Parks?
Hell No.
Let Ferguson step up and be the next Detroit. Let the burned out stores and the trash (Michael Brown Memorials) on the streets be a lesson for years to come that liberal progressiveness results in a bleep-hole like Ferguson. MO.
#$%k that arrogant pos occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave
Sean Hannity set the pattern by showing pictures of the rioters on tv via his show. Good for him.
Umm, if we’re going the Law of Moses restitution route, let’s go all the way.
Those who have a judgment of restitution against them but no funds or income with which to pay it are sold into slavery to labor till the debt is satisfied.
That’ll make people’s heads explode.
” Where’s my free $hit? “
Why, it is in your read end, m’lady......
Kid - or BOY, was just another ‘late term abortion’.
Cal, are you suggesting the officer should have allowed the "giant" to continue to inflict serious bodily harm that might have ended in death if the weapon had been obtained?
Yes, it was a sad occasion, but not because of the officer's "feelings".
Wouldn’t the Old Testament solution be for them to be sold into slavery in order to pay for their crime?
It’s been pointed out Obama didn’t have even one representative of looted and burned businesses at his meeting.
I hope you go back and read the entire article when you have more time
The left side of the Bell curve is well represented here.
Now Fred Reed has really gone and done it! Dang the truth - it just won’t go away!: http://www.fredoneverything.net/Ferguson2.shtml
Sure wish I could photo-shop.
The Rams players need to be worked into the Ferguson looting photos — ala tourist guy.
If you look closely you can see two aliens on the back of Obama’s head!
We live in a guilt culture.
It defines us and how we deal with life. We consider ourselves mortified whenever we do something we know we shouldn’t do.
People living in honor-shame culture place emphasis on appearance above moral norms. People in a guilt culture consider right and wrong to govern the relations between people.
We have lost of sight of that and its time to restore it. Good can never come out of evil.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.