tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604607987271147807.post6088789253565194711..comments2023-09-22T13:43:29.141-04:00Comments on Michaelann Land: Three men arrested for the arson of a black church. Now what?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03455366984301716210noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604607987271147807.post-76662289757754909982009-03-10T16:43:00.000-04:002009-03-10T16:43:00.000-04:00I personally know 2 of these 3 men, and i can tell...I personally know 2 of these 3 men, and i can tell you all for a fact the Mike Jacques comes from a racist background. His father is a hardcore racist and instilled that into him. I do believe that this crime was racially motivated, and these 3 men should get the mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. <BR/>On a side note, you will not hear in the news that Mike was addicted to prescription pain killers which he was getting from his now handicapped father.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604607987271147807.post-58761348102556665802009-01-26T11:12:00.000-05:002009-01-26T11:12:00.000-05:00Snap! Great, thought-liberating post. Like your li...Snap! Great, thought-liberating post. Like your list of different kinds of acts of crime and retribution, and your questions regarding our human impulse for revenge: "And then what? Have we made our world safer or better?"<BR/><BR/>The thing is that the 3 young white men who set fire to the New Macedonia Church in Springfield MA did not appear mysteriously from the void. These guys, like the rest of us, come out of a culture that was founded on racist acts. <BR/><BR/>Sure, they as the perps need to be held accountable for the racist act they committed. They need to be required to help rebuild the church or help pay for the rebuilding, AND to attend anti-racism workshops, AND to be monitored in some way by the community. <BR/><BR/>But there could be a lot of popular education organized in the community around this as well.AnnaMariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05431792837063585983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604607987271147807.post-63321557816324299012009-01-26T09:36:00.000-05:002009-01-26T09:36:00.000-05:00won't comment till facts come out,everyone's innoc...won't comment till facts come out,everyone's innocent till proven guilty, white, black whatever.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604607987271147807.post-76627129416987164122009-01-26T02:45:00.000-05:002009-01-26T02:45:00.000-05:00I think we NEED to have more information. We are s...I think we NEED to have more information. We are speculating on bits and pieces of news. It is very hard to accurately make a decision because "joe public" never gets the whole truth. It definitely is a news story I will follow. I pray for each and every member of the community because this tragedy affects many many people!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604607987271147807.post-19922701478199053522009-01-25T16:47:00.000-05:002009-01-25T16:47:00.000-05:00Some time ago when the Mosque in Mason Square, Sp...Some time ago when the Mosque in Mason Square, Springfield, was burned out, a beautiful thing occurred. After the 15 year olds were arrested members of the Mosque volunteered to become mentors to the youth. Many members of the Springfield community , Christians, Jews and Muhammed's Mosque came forward to assist the Mosque. <BR/>I agree with a previous commenter, the youth should be ordered to take part in the reconstruction of the Church for as long as it takes, and it would be a generous action if male members of the Church became mentors to the youth. Hatred is based on ignorance - the youth just may<BR/>learn that there are some pretty wonderful people who are members of the church. This solution could change some attitudes.peacesojournerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12197628157915601163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604607987271147807.post-31467516116756611132009-01-25T14:04:00.000-05:002009-01-25T14:04:00.000-05:00One of the other main theoretical purposes of crim...One of the other main theoretical purposes of criminal punishment is deterrence: convince other people that the cost of committing the crime is too high.<BR/><BR/>While it's certainly good that no one was physically hurt in this church fire, having seen my brother's family's house burned by an arsonist, I can attest to the fact that the damage an arson does to people goes far beyond the simple physical and monetary measurements that we can easily count. Arson certainly inflicts a serious emotional toll on its victims.<BR/><BR/>That said, I think criminal punishments in the US tend to be excessive, especially for first time offenders. I think short prison sentences, coupled with lengthy probation, would be better in most cases.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604607987271147807.post-64166260503364828972009-01-25T13:42:00.000-05:002009-01-25T13:42:00.000-05:00They should be required to help rebuild the church...They should be required to help rebuild the church everyday until it is completeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604607987271147807.post-84938182021821975732009-01-25T13:32:00.000-05:002009-01-25T13:32:00.000-05:00Show us the faces of EVIL !!!Show us the faces of EVIL !!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604607987271147807.post-59991931255421800172009-01-25T11:10:00.000-05:002009-01-25T11:10:00.000-05:00Take these 3 young men, and show them what people ...Take these 3 young men, and show them what people look like when they are burned in a fire, just thank god no one was inside,Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10405939514907633255noreply@blogger.com