Sunday, June 08, 2014

Eric Zoen, Chicago Trib, on child murders

Change of Subject | 
Eric Zoen, Chicago Trib, on child murders:
Almost as shocking as the accusation that two 12-year-old girls from near Milwaukee stabbed a friend nearly to death Saturday was the news that authorities are charging the girls as adults. Adults?
Anyone who has ever lived with 12-year-olds — and my wife and I have reared three — knows that they're impulsive, naive and malleable by nature. Delightful as they can be, you wouldn't trust them to vote, drive, carry guns, have sex or drink alcohol responsibly. You wouldn't leave them home alone for a weekend.
 Because they're children. "
Kipling:

  WHEN the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride, 
    He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside. 
    But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail. 
    For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.



Should girl-children be forgiven their crimes, no matter how abysmal, because "they're children?"

How about boy-children of the same age ... who are often given guns and sent out to murder, because their gang members know that they will be given minimal sentences, because "they're children"?

You and I are not part of their culture; can we legitimately condemn them for murder?

After all .. they're children.

Even though older children have imposed this onus upon them.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

As good progressives, we are tolerant, multicultural, and open to diversity. So it is taught.