Something's Really Wrong
I'm always on the lookout for stories about my future home: Colorado. This time of year, most of the news is predictable: Colorado Springs has freezing temperatures. Some of it is bizarre: jammed garage doors.
And some of it is heartbreaking, like this article about an unfortunate victim of abuse and a jail-happy Colorado culture. When a young man is violated by his parents in gruesome and savage ways, how should he react when the state refuses to take action? The kid in question killed his mother and will live the rest of his life in prison as a result.
We must learn from Nate Ybanez. His experiences could help change destructive policies that leave all kinds of children behind - changes that would make both Colorado and our country a better place for abused children and everyone else as well. We can learn from criminals. We can learn to prevent future crimes by getting at the real reasons many "bad guys" strike in the first place.
Jails provide an ugly but necessary service. And I'm all for the death penalty. But taking a child who was forced to save himself and throwing him into jail for the rest of his life is wrong. Get that key out of the garbage and unlock Nate's secrets so it doesn't happen again.
That would really be justice served. For a change.
posted by kate @ 6:14 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Thanks for this Im an old Jail Customer myself. Live a normal life now and has done that for at least 20 Years but I Just passing thru and I think you have a great blog here! I'm definitely going to put you in my favorites! It was quite useful reading, found some interesting details about this. Thanks.
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There are some crimes so heinous that the offender deserves to die. It offends me, as a human being, that true murderers and child abusers are able to live and breathe the same air as the rest of us. I believe it is an affront to God. If God exists...but that's a whole other post.
I do believe our justice system is flawed, but I probably come out on the side that believes we aren't executing *enough* of the types that deserve it. In other words, we should get 'em all - not just the poor minorities. I'd start with ex-priests, for example. Oh, right. Yet another post.
There are some, though, that deserve to be studied and serve as excellent bad examples. We should allow such "bad guys" to help shape our world for the better.
And I am troubled by the lucrative business angle of a system jailing kids for life. Smells like neocon bullshit. Oh yes - another post.
My work is never done.
Right On Katie---just totally agree with you---no surprise.
Hope this doesn't start another 23 post go-a-round.
There is more than enough corroboration to suggest that this kid grew up in an abusive home - not your average, run-of-the-mill "my dad drinks too much and acts like an asshole" crap (big fan!) but something much more sinister and disturbing. Generation after generation of violence finally took its toll. Don't discount the work of a reporter who thoroughly researched this issue or the people who are fighting for kids who deserve a second chance.
I'm not the least bit interested in death row stories. As I said before - some crimes are so bad that the criminals deserve to die. But yes, most of them were failed as well. And we owe it to - Christ, *someone* to get at the reasons behind the crimes. If only to prevent future ones.
And you know it.
There are other ways that criminals can be of service as well. Several states have programs where victims and offenders get together in the spirit of reconciliation. It works wonders. Check out this link: http://www.beyondconviction.com/trailer.htm
There are different ways for justice to be served. I'd just like to explore more options so to prevent future crimes and the need for future punishments. Oh, and fewer victims as well.
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