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The Murderer Set Free

Posted By: Randy GageJuly 29, 2010

I promised to give you my take on how the scenario of a killer going free because of an illegal search would play out in today’s world.  Boy would the memes be flying.  

There would be a huge outcry from the public.  Vigilantes would come out of the woodwork, and the media would be milking the situation to sell the most papers, and get the most viewers.  We could expect tearful interviews with the mother of the murdered child, non-stop tearjerker photos of the child when she was alive, and scathing exposes on every bad act ever committed by the criminal in his lifetime.  Larry King, Nancy Grace and Glen Beck would go into overtime frenzy, with breathless sensationalism specials for weeks.

People would be outraged.  Including both you, and I.  But that’s where we would have to stop...

Because we would have to rise above the sadness, the anger and the outrage—and know that if we want to have a free society, individual rights must be sacred, even in a horrible situation like we’ve described.

This is what separates people of higher consciousness from wild animals.  And what separates lawful states from anarchies.

Yes it would be difficult, yes it would be gut wrenching, and yes it would be unjust.  But if they don’t hurt sometimes, they wouldn’t be principles.   Principles don’t work on convenience.  They’re really messy sometimes.

We need principles, because they guide us on how to react in changing and troubling circumstances.  Now of course you shouldn’t expect the herd to understand this.  They won’t.

They will be so affected by the emotions of the moment, they will be consumed by the prevailing meme complexes.

So where are you in this process?  Are you using your intellectual abilities, or falling for the emotional triggers?  Let me know what you think below.  And next post we’ll look at the meme complex factory known as organized religion.

-RG

23 comments on “The Murderer Set Free”

  1. Randy,

    As you were describing the scenerio I thought this would be one of the few times CNN and Fox were airing the same message.

    Of course all the things that you stated are true, but in the final analysis human rights prevail and is what our forefathers wrote about in the Constitution. Anything else would be assassination by public opinion.

    If you don't believe that public opinion can change on a dime; look at the two major stories of the networks for the past week and 90 days. Shirley Sherod and BP. Shirley who was besmirched by FOX and then vindicated is now possibly being investigated for being given a job after winning a law suit with the US gov't.

    Now the Gulf tragedy is not being considered so serious by many scientists.

    What a difference a day makes!

    Thanks for what proves to be a spirited discussion.

    Jim Story
    "this meme's for you!" new slogan

  2. I agree with your post Randy but you can have mixed feelings... I'm not normally in favor of the death penalty but I could slowly beat to death this sadistic teen killer Bernardo to death with a baseball bat and not miss a wink of sleep...
    I remember when his trial was going on, and I was sickened and outraged over the testimony and my ex was against the death penalty and I said, "Well what if somebody did that to Catherine?"
    And she pulled out the old liberal argument, Well it wouldn't bring her back would it?"
    Then she saw Dead Man Walking, which was supposed to be this liberal anti-death penalty movie, and said, "I'm for the death penalty now."
    Easy to be liberal but when you confront pure evil...

    1. Haha... I love the quote - "but I could slowly beat to death this sadistic teen killer Bernardo to death with a baseball bat and not miss a wink of sleep…"

      I laugh because I feel the same way 🙂

    2. Some food for thought: you may or may not label yourself as "pro life." If someone does, they have an incongruent philosophy if they also support the death penalty, war, or killing of any kind.

    3. There has too be a TONNE of Emotion (PURE ANGER) to follow that through, when the bat is in your hand and he is there before you..... IDK been in a situation similar but not I did not know the others (a very, very nasty fight a lot of people in the hospital) you do get blinded by anger, hate, what have you, but i found it was from a lot more than just the moment....
      Thats how it was for me ... when i read that I just feel sad... not that he deserves better but that there is that much anger... peace be with you

  3. In terms of eroding pesonal liberties for "safety;s sake" and in favor of the Nanny State taking care of us "for our own good", you know what the very worst meme is?

    "If only it saves one life .......... it'll be worth it"
    I try to rise above it but it's often deliberately used in connection with kids' safety leading to massive emotional blackmail - who can argue against when we're talking about the cute, defenseless lickle babies' 'lives?

    And who can point to *anyone* and say "see, iff we hadn't have done X,Y or Z in the name of safety, that guy wouldn't be here now"
    It's a perfect and nasty emotional tool for control of somebody against their will and all they stand for.

  4. Here is the thing about rights, they are all relative.

    Whose rights are more important, the accused or the victims.

    Are rights absolute?

    And when it come to principles, is a principle more important that allowing a murderer to go free who will probably do it again?

    I know, this is where principles get messy.

    I made this point before but allowing an accused to go free because of a rights violation is a remedy not a right in of itself.

    So if I believe that there is another remedy to this issue is that a result of a meme or a result of critical thinking.

    Some of my memes are very easy to identify and work on, while others are very messy 🙂

  5. I've always been faulted on being too rigid - to me everything is in absolutes, so needless to say I agree with you. I think principles are there so all involved can be honored at all times, saint or sinner. I also believe that it's not our place to pass judgment on another regardless how heinous their crime, so i am completely against the death penalty. We have no right to take the life of another sentient being just because they took the life of someone else. The messy part is just how I feel, and nothing to do with the principles involved. Funnily, I actually had an incredibly heated debate with a date of mine once about this EXACT hypothetical situation - and I don't think he wants to see me again because apparently I'm so cold. Oh well.

  6. Dreaming and people who succeed in this business is because they did not follow their limiting beliefs. They saw and follow their emotions that could be done.
    As always,Randy, the world is not black or white.

  7. It's interesting that we are viewing this "killer goes free because of illegal police search" as a hypothetical. In our U.S. society this happens all the time. Tons of criminals go free because police intentionally or mistakenly didn't follow procedures. Judges routinely kick free suspects because of this. That's just a fact of our system of justice. However, police also continue to follow through and pursue that suspect. Tragic and horrifying...you bet? But a consequence of our system of rights and rule of law...absolutely.

  8. Right off the bat emotions flow, but soon after thoughts pour out. Do you start validating the negative and lack programing or do you let intellect take over and think it through before you cir-come to the emotions.
    The stronger and closer it hits to home the harder to step back.
    I do find it somewhat easier as I've grown the last couple years, two years ago it would be "ALL MEME"

  9. This is a tough one that I really had to think about. Nine years ago, my cousin decided that she no longer wanted to be married to her husband and filed for divorce. He decided that she would never be with another so he waited for her to finish work, pulled up to her car, got out, walked up, and shot her in the head. Sadly, she was lost to us all, including her children. The only lucky thing was that a camera, mounted on the top of her work captured the whole thing. Because he is on death row, he has been allowed numerous appeals, which have all failed. Should he be set free, on a technicality in any future appeal, I'm not sure how I would feel or react.

    Natural human emotion, shouldn't be faulted as a meme or reaction to a meme. It's human to suffer loss. It's human to want justice. I miss my cousin, but I also don't dwell in revenge, which could be all consuming. It's only through thought and reflection that we evolve.

    1. Good to have you on here! So sorry to hear about your cousin.

      Very perceptive thought here. The more emotional a meme is, the faster it spreads. But you are correct in pointing out that natural human emotion doesn't mean it is a meme.

      -RG

  10. I agree & here's the other side. The judical system has more then likely executed innocent people.

    We already know that innocent people have been falsely convicted. Remember the Central Park Jogger case?

    So yes these are prices we pay to live in a free society. The price of intergrity is very high indeed-which is why so few people are willing to pay the price.

  11. What separates people of higher consciousness from "wild animals" is for example to read energy fields. In such a society, you have to be real, because everyone can see right through you anyway, and that's what the legal system is built upon as well.

  12. You see it all the time! "It isn't fair" would be flying everywhere in regards to this particular scenario.

    Amazing how people will complain about how corrupt the system is when the outcome falls short of their expectation. If a murderer was found guilty due to an illegal search, that wouldn't make sense. You cannot break the law to uphold the law?

    An "illegal" search is just as bad as the murder itself. Sure, people will fight you tooth and nail about how that isn't so, however....

    A lie is a lie, a half truth is a lie, the truth is the truth.

    Right or Wrong, there is no in between!

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  • 23 comments on “The Murderer Set Free”

    1. Randy,

      As you were describing the scenerio I thought this would be one of the few times CNN and Fox were airing the same message.

      Of course all the things that you stated are true, but in the final analysis human rights prevail and is what our forefathers wrote about in the Constitution. Anything else would be assassination by public opinion.

      If you don't believe that public opinion can change on a dime; look at the two major stories of the networks for the past week and 90 days. Shirley Sherod and BP. Shirley who was besmirched by FOX and then vindicated is now possibly being investigated for being given a job after winning a law suit with the US gov't.

      Now the Gulf tragedy is not being considered so serious by many scientists.

      What a difference a day makes!

      Thanks for what proves to be a spirited discussion.

      Jim Story
      "this meme's for you!" new slogan

    2. I agree with your post Randy but you can have mixed feelings... I'm not normally in favor of the death penalty but I could slowly beat to death this sadistic teen killer Bernardo to death with a baseball bat and not miss a wink of sleep...
      I remember when his trial was going on, and I was sickened and outraged over the testimony and my ex was against the death penalty and I said, "Well what if somebody did that to Catherine?"
      And she pulled out the old liberal argument, Well it wouldn't bring her back would it?"
      Then she saw Dead Man Walking, which was supposed to be this liberal anti-death penalty movie, and said, "I'm for the death penalty now."
      Easy to be liberal but when you confront pure evil...

      1. Haha... I love the quote - "but I could slowly beat to death this sadistic teen killer Bernardo to death with a baseball bat and not miss a wink of sleep…"

        I laugh because I feel the same way 🙂

      2. Some food for thought: you may or may not label yourself as "pro life." If someone does, they have an incongruent philosophy if they also support the death penalty, war, or killing of any kind.

      3. There has too be a TONNE of Emotion (PURE ANGER) to follow that through, when the bat is in your hand and he is there before you..... IDK been in a situation similar but not I did not know the others (a very, very nasty fight a lot of people in the hospital) you do get blinded by anger, hate, what have you, but i found it was from a lot more than just the moment....
        Thats how it was for me ... when i read that I just feel sad... not that he deserves better but that there is that much anger... peace be with you

    3. In terms of eroding pesonal liberties for "safety;s sake" and in favor of the Nanny State taking care of us "for our own good", you know what the very worst meme is?

      "If only it saves one life .......... it'll be worth it"
      I try to rise above it but it's often deliberately used in connection with kids' safety leading to massive emotional blackmail - who can argue against when we're talking about the cute, defenseless lickle babies' 'lives?

      And who can point to *anyone* and say "see, iff we hadn't have done X,Y or Z in the name of safety, that guy wouldn't be here now"
      It's a perfect and nasty emotional tool for control of somebody against their will and all they stand for.

    4. Here is the thing about rights, they are all relative.

      Whose rights are more important, the accused or the victims.

      Are rights absolute?

      And when it come to principles, is a principle more important that allowing a murderer to go free who will probably do it again?

      I know, this is where principles get messy.

      I made this point before but allowing an accused to go free because of a rights violation is a remedy not a right in of itself.

      So if I believe that there is another remedy to this issue is that a result of a meme or a result of critical thinking.

      Some of my memes are very easy to identify and work on, while others are very messy 🙂

    5. I've always been faulted on being too rigid - to me everything is in absolutes, so needless to say I agree with you. I think principles are there so all involved can be honored at all times, saint or sinner. I also believe that it's not our place to pass judgment on another regardless how heinous their crime, so i am completely against the death penalty. We have no right to take the life of another sentient being just because they took the life of someone else. The messy part is just how I feel, and nothing to do with the principles involved. Funnily, I actually had an incredibly heated debate with a date of mine once about this EXACT hypothetical situation - and I don't think he wants to see me again because apparently I'm so cold. Oh well.

    6. Dreaming and people who succeed in this business is because they did not follow their limiting beliefs. They saw and follow their emotions that could be done.
      As always,Randy, the world is not black or white.

    7. It's interesting that we are viewing this "killer goes free because of illegal police search" as a hypothetical. In our U.S. society this happens all the time. Tons of criminals go free because police intentionally or mistakenly didn't follow procedures. Judges routinely kick free suspects because of this. That's just a fact of our system of justice. However, police also continue to follow through and pursue that suspect. Tragic and horrifying...you bet? But a consequence of our system of rights and rule of law...absolutely.

    8. Right off the bat emotions flow, but soon after thoughts pour out. Do you start validating the negative and lack programing or do you let intellect take over and think it through before you cir-come to the emotions.
      The stronger and closer it hits to home the harder to step back.
      I do find it somewhat easier as I've grown the last couple years, two years ago it would be "ALL MEME"

    9. This is a tough one that I really had to think about. Nine years ago, my cousin decided that she no longer wanted to be married to her husband and filed for divorce. He decided that she would never be with another so he waited for her to finish work, pulled up to her car, got out, walked up, and shot her in the head. Sadly, she was lost to us all, including her children. The only lucky thing was that a camera, mounted on the top of her work captured the whole thing. Because he is on death row, he has been allowed numerous appeals, which have all failed. Should he be set free, on a technicality in any future appeal, I'm not sure how I would feel or react.

      Natural human emotion, shouldn't be faulted as a meme or reaction to a meme. It's human to suffer loss. It's human to want justice. I miss my cousin, but I also don't dwell in revenge, which could be all consuming. It's only through thought and reflection that we evolve.

      1. Good to have you on here! So sorry to hear about your cousin.

        Very perceptive thought here. The more emotional a meme is, the faster it spreads. But you are correct in pointing out that natural human emotion doesn't mean it is a meme.

        -RG

    10. I agree & here's the other side. The judical system has more then likely executed innocent people.

      We already know that innocent people have been falsely convicted. Remember the Central Park Jogger case?

      So yes these are prices we pay to live in a free society. The price of intergrity is very high indeed-which is why so few people are willing to pay the price.

    11. What separates people of higher consciousness from "wild animals" is for example to read energy fields. In such a society, you have to be real, because everyone can see right through you anyway, and that's what the legal system is built upon as well.

    12. You see it all the time! "It isn't fair" would be flying everywhere in regards to this particular scenario.

      Amazing how people will complain about how corrupt the system is when the outcome falls short of their expectation. If a murderer was found guilty due to an illegal search, that wouldn't make sense. You cannot break the law to uphold the law?

      An "illegal" search is just as bad as the murder itself. Sure, people will fight you tooth and nail about how that isn't so, however....

      A lie is a lie, a half truth is a lie, the truth is the truth.

      Right or Wrong, there is no in between!

    Leave a Reply to Peter Fuller MBA Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


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