Monday, January 7, 2008

What would be just?

On my way home from work today I was listening to Adler on CJOB 68, and he had an interesting conversation brewing.
Apparently, not too long ago, there were a group of thieves aged 13-15 in Camrose, Alberta who broke into a home a couple of times, and then proceeded to steal things and then... something really quite awful; they took the house cat and put it in a microwave oven until it died.
Now Adler asked an interesting question (interesting to me because it was the first thing on his mind, and the first thing on the minds everyone that hears the story), he asked his listeners "if you could decided the punishment for these kids, what would it be?" People were sending comments in that ranged from years in prison (or something like it) to comments like "I think they should get their faces smashed in!" Apparently there have been death threats for these kids... Apparently when these kids serve their "time" (and they will get out soon, whatever the sentencing is) there are people ready to drive them out.
What would you say to this question "what should the punishment be?" Is that even the right question to be asking?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think this is really sad. In no way is what those kids did right, however, it is so sad to see how revengeful people can be. I'm pretty sure Jesus said, whether murder or anger, it's the attitude of the heart. And in reality, I think the community probably has more hate in their hearts towards these kids than they did towards the cat. Reality is, the kids probably just thought it would be funny. Obviously, it's not.
I think it's a little absurd that people seem to care more about animals, than humans. People spend so much money building fancy, new humane centers and wanting to bash in the faces of people who harm animals, yet where is that passion for humans who are in need, for humans who are suffering?
I don't agree with what those kids did, but I also do not agree with the response of the community. Where is the love, the grace, the mercy??? Imagine the world without a merciful, gracious, loving God? I'm pretty sure we'd all have more than just our faces bashed in.

Anonymous said...

They should all be given pet cats to care for. Then once they're attached to the animals, they microwave them all to teach them a lesson.

That's what Jesus would do, right?

I'll be a great parent...

Unknown said...

love it man..i got one of these things now...you inspire me thanks for tyhe thoughts.

cody anderson said...

anonymous, I like your response...I feel much the same. peace.

gavin said...

Is it a crime to microwave cats?

I should get a lawyer....

mrsrichter said...

i'm currently situated not very far at all from camrose. and i have to agree with anonymous, and thankfully, this is the opinion i am hearing most dominantly in my circles of conversation here in alberta. seriously. it drives me insane, but i can honestly say the public outcry over this has been greater than it is for the death of a child. and most sickeningly, i have actually heard people say 'but animals have no choice, and no voice'. how the heck does an infant have a choice or a voice?
yeah. this one gets me all riled up. people shock me. and, unfortunately, in this circumstance, disgustingly so. the kids who did this included.
one other thing thats crazy, in this day of technology, camrose is a decently small town, and alot of people know who the kids were, and they were writing their names in various discussions on facebook, and the police honestly intervened because the kids are minors. so, some of the kids who posted the names could be charged with naming a minor, and since all the kids will be minors, its possible all of them could come out with the same sentence! how ludicrous is that? and i don't mean ludicrous like the guy who sings about getting it on in an escalade.
okay i'm done. for now.

San Gregorio said...

They should just make the kids eat some microwaved cat. Teach them the lesson that if you kill an animal you better be eating it. And no ketchup (or catsup?) to hide that sick cat flavor.