A Freaky Friday
It probably won't be today. But soon we will know why the two suspect (one now dead) in the Boston bombing did what they did. Their twisted motive will probably come out and make no more sense than the motives of the perpetrators of Columbine, Sandy Hook, Fort Bliss, and so on.
Most of America, and the rest of the world, will tune in to the news coverage of the effort to bring this last suspect to justice. Many don't care if he will be judged by 12 or carried by 6 when this chase concludes. In fact, some would prefer to see him carried by 6 pallbearers, although that's not a funeral that will draw much in the way of media attention.
In the end, innocents died because two people wanted to cause death and destruction. They didn't use guns in their initial assault on society. They didn't need to. And as we were reminded in the middle of this week, something as simple as fertilizer can cause unimaginable destruction. Vigilance must be our watchword, but we must also remember that the price of living in a free society is that on occasion, people will choose to use that freedom to harm others.
Think for a moment of the film "Minority Report". Would you want to live in a society where just your intent to commit a crime would result in your life being essentially ended? I'm working on a piece of fiction at the moment that involves someone who kills people. Does that make me a potential murderer, or just another writer trying to come up with a good story?
People who commit acts of terror need to be captured and prevented from ever again harming others. But their actions do not justify the complete and total suspension of our Bill of Rights. As much as we hate those who do this, due process must be observed. On the other hand, once this last terrorist is caught, tried and convicted, if volunteers are needed for his firing squad, sign me up. I'll pull the trigger and not lose one iota of sleep over it.
* * * * *
The fact that the best player leaving the ranks of women's college basketball this year is a lesbian is not news. The fact that she won't be the only gay woman playing in the WNBA is not news. What is news is our society's double-standard toward athletes who step out and announce to the world that they are gay. If they are women, little to nothing is said. If they are men, other athletes in their sport and others will speak out about how these gay athletes don't belong in the sport they compete in.
It is one of the most ridiculous double-standards in our society. It isn't as bad as not allowing same-sex couples the right to form legally recognized unions, so they can not become victims of government discrimination, but it's still bad. If someone can put the puck in the net, or the ball in the basket, or hit home runs, or score touchdowns, or whatever, the gender of who they love is not relevant.
I didn't care if Kobe Bryant was getting laid by basketball groupies when he was on the road. I was bothered by the allegation of rape, but that's a crime and he wasn't convicted. Why is it we will tolerate infidelity among pro athletes, but not homosexuality? One is wrong both morally and legally. Maybe we don't prosecute adultery, but there are still some statutes against it on the books in some jurisdictions. A spouse who discovers they are the victim of infidelity can sue for alienation of affection. So we seem, as a society, to be more worried and providing more avenues of recourse for those who are victimized by infidelity. Someone choosing to love another of the same sex has no impact on anyone else outside of the couple. Except perhaps to forment fear in those who are not that comfortable with their own sexuality.
* * * * *
$21 billion over the next five years. That's one estimate of how much will be stolen in tax refunds by scam artists filing fraudulent tax returns using the identity of others. I think some of these frauds can be detected. I had a client whose identity was used in 2010 to claim a refund that the client wasn't even entitled to. Someone got the client's name and social security number, and then using an address that was not the client's, filed a tax return that claimed no income, but did claim educational expenses and a $1,000 refund for an educational credit. The taxpayer had not attended college in 2010, but had earned money. Yet the return wasn't rejected even though no income was claimed on it. Computer systems can be improved to check for expected levels of income based on history, at a minimum. I'd rather see returns delayed slightly to ensure the avoidance of fraud.
* * * * *
This Date in History:
On this date in 1770, James Cook sights the eastern coast of what is now Australia.
On this date in 1770, Marie Antoinette marries Louis XVI.
On this date in 1839, the Treaty of London establishes Belgium as a kingdom.
On this date in 1927, Mae West is sentenced to 10 days in jail for obscenity over her play "Sex".
On this date in 1948, Burma joins the United Nations.
On this date in 1951, General Douglas MacArthur retires from the U.S. Army.
On this date in 1956, Grace Kelly marries Prince Ranier of Monaco.
On this date in 1971, Charles Manson is sentenced to death for the Tate/LaBianca murders.
On this date in 1987, "The Simpsons" premieres as a short cartoon on the Tracy Ullman Show.
On this date in 1993, the Branch Davidian siege at Waco ends. (by the way, God did speak to David Koresh at the end. God said "bake at 750 degrees for four hours).
Famous Folk Born Today:
Eliot Ness
Dick Sargent
Jayne Mansfield
Dudley Moore
Elinor Donahue
Tim Curry
Mary Jo Slater
Suge Knight
Ashley Judd
James Franco
Hayden Christensen
Maria Sharapova
Most of America, and the rest of the world, will tune in to the news coverage of the effort to bring this last suspect to justice. Many don't care if he will be judged by 12 or carried by 6 when this chase concludes. In fact, some would prefer to see him carried by 6 pallbearers, although that's not a funeral that will draw much in the way of media attention.
In the end, innocents died because two people wanted to cause death and destruction. They didn't use guns in their initial assault on society. They didn't need to. And as we were reminded in the middle of this week, something as simple as fertilizer can cause unimaginable destruction. Vigilance must be our watchword, but we must also remember that the price of living in a free society is that on occasion, people will choose to use that freedom to harm others.
Think for a moment of the film "Minority Report". Would you want to live in a society where just your intent to commit a crime would result in your life being essentially ended? I'm working on a piece of fiction at the moment that involves someone who kills people. Does that make me a potential murderer, or just another writer trying to come up with a good story?
People who commit acts of terror need to be captured and prevented from ever again harming others. But their actions do not justify the complete and total suspension of our Bill of Rights. As much as we hate those who do this, due process must be observed. On the other hand, once this last terrorist is caught, tried and convicted, if volunteers are needed for his firing squad, sign me up. I'll pull the trigger and not lose one iota of sleep over it.
* * * * *
The fact that the best player leaving the ranks of women's college basketball this year is a lesbian is not news. The fact that she won't be the only gay woman playing in the WNBA is not news. What is news is our society's double-standard toward athletes who step out and announce to the world that they are gay. If they are women, little to nothing is said. If they are men, other athletes in their sport and others will speak out about how these gay athletes don't belong in the sport they compete in.
It is one of the most ridiculous double-standards in our society. It isn't as bad as not allowing same-sex couples the right to form legally recognized unions, so they can not become victims of government discrimination, but it's still bad. If someone can put the puck in the net, or the ball in the basket, or hit home runs, or score touchdowns, or whatever, the gender of who they love is not relevant.
I didn't care if Kobe Bryant was getting laid by basketball groupies when he was on the road. I was bothered by the allegation of rape, but that's a crime and he wasn't convicted. Why is it we will tolerate infidelity among pro athletes, but not homosexuality? One is wrong both morally and legally. Maybe we don't prosecute adultery, but there are still some statutes against it on the books in some jurisdictions. A spouse who discovers they are the victim of infidelity can sue for alienation of affection. So we seem, as a society, to be more worried and providing more avenues of recourse for those who are victimized by infidelity. Someone choosing to love another of the same sex has no impact on anyone else outside of the couple. Except perhaps to forment fear in those who are not that comfortable with their own sexuality.
* * * * *
$21 billion over the next five years. That's one estimate of how much will be stolen in tax refunds by scam artists filing fraudulent tax returns using the identity of others. I think some of these frauds can be detected. I had a client whose identity was used in 2010 to claim a refund that the client wasn't even entitled to. Someone got the client's name and social security number, and then using an address that was not the client's, filed a tax return that claimed no income, but did claim educational expenses and a $1,000 refund for an educational credit. The taxpayer had not attended college in 2010, but had earned money. Yet the return wasn't rejected even though no income was claimed on it. Computer systems can be improved to check for expected levels of income based on history, at a minimum. I'd rather see returns delayed slightly to ensure the avoidance of fraud.
* * * * *
This Date in History:
On this date in 1770, James Cook sights the eastern coast of what is now Australia.
On this date in 1770, Marie Antoinette marries Louis XVI.
On this date in 1839, the Treaty of London establishes Belgium as a kingdom.
On this date in 1927, Mae West is sentenced to 10 days in jail for obscenity over her play "Sex".
On this date in 1948, Burma joins the United Nations.
On this date in 1951, General Douglas MacArthur retires from the U.S. Army.
On this date in 1956, Grace Kelly marries Prince Ranier of Monaco.
On this date in 1971, Charles Manson is sentenced to death for the Tate/LaBianca murders.
On this date in 1987, "The Simpsons" premieres as a short cartoon on the Tracy Ullman Show.
On this date in 1993, the Branch Davidian siege at Waco ends. (by the way, God did speak to David Koresh at the end. God said "bake at 750 degrees for four hours).
Famous Folk Born Today:
Eliot Ness
Dick Sargent
Jayne Mansfield
Dudley Moore
Elinor Donahue
Tim Curry
Mary Jo Slater
Suge Knight
Ashley Judd
James Franco
Hayden Christensen
Maria Sharapova
posted by me at 7:36 AM
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