A perfect case for clemency
Mon, 2008-01-28 13:26
#1
A perfect case for clemency
Mon, 2008-01-28 13:26
#2
I revisit this case and start another thread, only because the previous thread was closed for length.
I felt the following, a quite compelling article:
[url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/columnists/story.html?id=7e99db3f-4b6... versus Vengefulness[/url]
[ 28 January 2008: Message edited by: bliter ]
Mon, 2008-01-28 15:31
#3
Agreed.
Mon, 2008-02-04 20:14
#4
In response to the article referred to in the opening post, six letters have been published, today.
I tend to agree with clersal, who stated elsewhere, that "forum fatigue" may have set in around the topic, but the injustice remains. And it would seem quite out of order that a progressive Web message board remain mute while renewed discussion was occurring in the mainstream press:
[url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/letters/index.html]Readers respond[/url]
ETA
I excerpt just one of the letters:
quote:
It would be so easy (and tragic) for this case to be yet another brief news sensation and then die down and be forgotten. We may (almost) all be thankful that we have not had to face the numbingly agonizing problems of Robert Latimer and his benighted family, but we are all nonetheless diminished by our collective refusal to treat the Latimers humanely and justly.
[ 04 February 2008: Message edited by: bliter ]
Mon, 2008-02-04 21:05
#5
saga
[i]His imprisonment at William Head on a life sentence for [b]what he considered[/b] the mercy killing of his daughter is an affront to the sensibilities of most Canadians.
...
Under our law, the governor-general or the federal cabinet has the power to grant mercy in exceptional circumstances in [b]deserving cases [/b]charged with federal offences.
...
Born with a severe form of cerebral palsy, his daughter Tracy was a 12-year-old who weighed barely 40 pounds, had no mobility, suffered unrelenting pain and endured five to six epileptic seizures a day. [b]She had little more than a newborn's consciousness.[/b][/i]
Latimer had a choice to drive her to town and give her up to authorities in fear that he may hurt her. However, he was too bullheaded to do that and chose to 'take care' of his 'own' problem himself. He did not murder her to stop her pain: He did it to stop his own. Now he sits grinning in jail, proud of what he did, and with NO feeling at all that what he did was wrong, because it was right for him. (sarcasm)
Let him rot in hell, the arrogant bastard! [img]mad.gif" border="0[/img]
He did not 'own' her: She was a gift.
Working for years with developmentally challenged children and adults like Tracey (most parents actually allow them to live to adulthood, imagine that!) I will say this: If we could rid the world of the hormone or social pressure that makes fathers feel shamed by a disabled child, then we would all be much further ahead as a society. And yes, it was the fathers that I observed feeling ashamed, and their kids damn well knew it.
In my opinion, anyone who speaks for Latimer's release is declaring open season on [b]300,000 severely challenged kids and adults in Canada. [/b] There are groups that advocate exactly that, and would welcome new members. Generally, they use the swastika as their symbol of solidarity.
I am not sure what the rate of a disability pension is, but it would certainly save a lot of taxpayer money and headache and heartache if we just got rid of them, following Latimer's example, and that is a popular idea in some quarters.
But think seriously before you go down that road. Hitler did it: Is that the example we want to follow?
I think the people most qualified to have an opinion on this are the developmentally challenged people themselves who would be put at serious risk by clemency for Latimer, and they have roundly condemned his acts and clemency.
'Pity parties' for Latimer make me nauseous. I hear the same 'assumption' by those who pity him as I see in him: [b]The arrogant assumption that Latimer's life, is more valuable than Tracey's.[/b] BS!: That's just another form of prejudice, imo.
Tracey did not give her consent to be 'mercy killed' and besides, that is not legal in Canada either.
Obviously I have personal and strong feelings about this, and I suggest a round of volunteer work at a local program for these amazing kids and adults for anyone who thinks they are 'disposable people'.
Preparing for defense now ... [img]biggrin.gif" border="0[/img]
Oh ... one more thing: If I was Latimer's wife and became disabled, I would be pretty damned concerned for my safety.
[ 04 February 2008: Message edited by: saga ]