Archive for January 18th, 2006

Give me the white gloves

Michael got me to change my mind about the death penalty a while ago…I excepted his views on this with the idea that criminals should get really tough and rough sentences- no white glove treatment…no easy time in prison. Over in the Netherlands, where it’s legal to kill your child if he/she is born with a disablity, they are opening a state of the art prison. Inmates will enjoy freedoms they have outside prison walls. They claim this is progressive, and in a way I guess it is. But it sure wouldn’t feel like a punishment to anyone contemplating a crime now would it?

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — A high-tech prison is opening this week where inmates wear electronic wristbands that track their every movement and guards monitor cells using emotion-recognition software.

Emotion-recognition software? Do they have these monitors for the children who are euthanized every year?

Authorities are convinced the jail in Lelystad — quickly dubbed “the Big Brother Prison” by the local press — represents the future of correctional facilities: cheap and efficient, without coddling criminals or violating their fundamental rights.

What fundamental rights?? Oh this is Europe. Where doing time for a crime isn’t such a bad thing. For many criminals it’s a step up in the world. They would live a better life at this facility.

Detainees will be kept in six-man dormitory cells. They will do their own cooking, washing and organize their own daytime schedules via a touch-screen monitor at the foot of their beds.

“We hesitate to compare it to a youth hostel because the biggest part of being punished is that you’ve lost your freedom,” Justice Ministry spokesman Hans Janssens said.

Prisoners have limited choices for their activities — electives include drug education classes and exercise — and they are locked in their cells at night.

This isn’t so bad. It pays to commit crimes in the Netherlands. Lost freedoms? I say- allow them nothing, no choices, no schedules, a regimented life with few breaks and lots of hard labor. At the very least. This is white glove treatment if I ever saw it.

Pieter Vleeming of the European Organization for the Protection of Prisoner’s Rights said prisoners should be given more opportunity for self-improvement and job training, though he generally gave the prison positive marks.

(rolling my eyes) An organization to protect prisoner rights? OK I get it. The rights of those who commit crimes leads to these ultra modern, pansy ass *prison centers* where inmates do have it made. Before we know it here in America, civil rights groups will be demanding we model our own systems after this.

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Measures twice and cuts once

The Marine.

He has learned the meaning of Semper Fi. He doesn’t see black, white or brown, just green and we never leave green behind. He became comfortable being miserable and welcomes fear and knows how to deal with it. Sent around the world to do a man’s job and became a man in the process. He puts up with a shit ton of crap, bitches and moans but gets it done and better than most adults. Adapts to change easily like a chameleon and uses flexibility as a foundation. Smart, cunning and loyal. Will listen to what he is afraid to hear and acts on it. Will walk to hell and back with the ones he respects. RHazor sharp, smart and shinned. A bit cocky, and mean as hell. Full of fight because that’s all some have.

No wonder I love the Marines so much.

Proud disciplined, cleans up well and short haired. Keeps his body and mind tuned and improves both constantly. Follows direction even when he is too tired to know why. Proud enough to give his life for others but takes others if he has to. Returns home in the middle of the night, no welcoming bands, no flags, just his fellow Marines and gets ready to start all over the next day. He’s pushed his body to failure then continued and went further. Measures twice and cuts once. He can sleep on a rock, in the mud or out to sea. Walks in the footsteps of warriors past and isn’t afraid to stand and protect the weak. Because of warriors like him we are free.

Another dispatch from Capt. B…saying it so well about warriors who are sacrificing so much in the name of freedom.

Semper Fi

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