The bottom line of this story is that a man murdered his son. Premediated murder.

It really doesn't matter how old the son was, 15 or 51. What that man did was MURDER!

For heaven's sake people!!!! Do we believe in the rule of law or not?!?!?

Vigilanteism is NOT JUSTICE!!!

And don't give me any crap about how "you would feel differently if it was your daughter."

This is correct. I would feel differently. That is why laws are not based on emotions. That is why people have to recuse themselves from investigating, representing, judging, or serving on a jury when they have a personal connection to a case.

If that boy had molested my daughter, it is entirely possible that I might have harmed him (I can't picture cold-blooded murder, but you never know). Guess what? It would still be a crime. And I would still deserve to be arrested, and possibly convicted, and serve whatever sentence I was given.

This is how civilization works. If you don't like it, go live in the jungle.

in the last few days. Not all, by any means, but there are more trolls and idiots than I ever suspected.

I mean, who "un-recs" stories about miners being rescued, kids getting organ transplants, and worst of all, the Khmer Rouge being brought to justice? Are they evil or just stupid?

I don't direct my criticism at the administrators; by providing the tool they were assuming the best of the DU community. But it sure has given a voice to the worst!!

In my nearly 40 years of life, I've found the non-human species that I have interacted with to be generally nicer than the humans.

Don't get me wrong, there are many humans that I love and that are wonderful specimens of their species.

But in general, I've found that (domesticated) animals are more loving, accepting and fun to be around than people.

And wild animals very rarely kill out of any urge but fear or hunger. They haven't started any wars in my lifetime and they don't cause any pollution that Mother Nature hasn't planned for.

Yep, it seems to me that non-humans are generally better than humans.

First, I dispute your assertion that Barbaro is getting "all the press". It seems to me that there are a LOT of different issues in the current news right now. Barbaro has not been big news for quite some time. A follow-up story once in a while hardly constitutes complete domination of all news media.

Second, you compare Barbaro's coverage to a theoretical human child who had been hurt. But that is really comparing apples to oranges. This horse hurt himself in a spectacle that was seen all over the country (if not the world). He was the favorite for that race and was expected to have a long and glittering career. He was destroyed by human greed. It's an important story, symbolically, for the abuse and dominition of other species on this planet by humans. His injury and recovery raises important questions that should be pondered by the news-reading public.

Third, your point about people rallying around animals is true. There are reasons for that, which I could go into with a lot of depth, but this post is getting long-winded already. The short reason is that animals are seen as innocent victims of much of what is done to them by humans. It creates a certain amount of instinctual sympathy in those that have an empathetic spirit. That is a good thing. We need more empathy for our fellow creatures on this planet, not less.

Fourth, it is possible to care about both people AND animals. BOTH should receive the best medical care available. The money that has been spent on Barbaro would never have found its way to the healthcare of impoverished children. That's just reality.

If it bothers you, your energy would be better spent campaigning for a universal healthcare system for this country, rather than griping about one horse's well-deserved vetinary care for an injury resulting from human greed.

ALL THE VOTES WILL BE COUNTED!

This issue is not about counting votes or not counting votes. The votes are being counted as we speak. Each day brings an updated tally.

The issues are:

Does Hayworth have a chance in hell of winning fairly?

Answer: NO!

He has been behind CONSISTENTLY by about 5700-6000 votes.

What is happening is that Maricopa county (one of the largest in the country) had about 250,000 early and provisional ballots dumped on them on election day. They all have to be hand-verified. (Once verified they are scanned optically).

Only about 25,000 votes can be hand-verified per day. This is why it is dragging on so long.

BUT! Only a SMALL proportion of those 250,000 ballots are from CD 5!!!

This means that Hayworth has to carry the remaining votes to be counted by AT LEAST a 2:1 margin. A NEAR STATISTICAL IMPOSSIBILITY!!!!!!!

But the longer this race is held in "suspense" (which it isn't really) it builds plausibility for stealing it.

I DO NOT TRUST THE AZ SOS OR THE COUNTY RECORDER!!!!!!!! They are both Republicans who have CONSTANTLY said "it's too early to call" and "we can't know a winner yet"

This means one of TWO THINGS: either they are STUPID or they are trying to steal it for Hayworth!!!!!!!!!!

WE NEED TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY FOLKS!!!

on edit: so angry, can't type correctly

I am a "values" voter.

My biggest value is the planet's health. This planet is dying, and all of humanity's petty squabbling is going to be irrelevant when the crash comes.

Now that the Democratic party has SOME power in Washington, DC., I am going to be watching LIKE A HAWK. Who is going to step up and do something about global warming, climate change, pollution, mass extinction, whatever you want to call it?

*That* is who I will support for POTUS.


Corporatists in Dem clothing (I'm talking to YOU Hillary!) are a non-starter with me, unless they start working NOW to prove to me that they care about this planet's future.

I am a child of the earth, before I am a Democrat, American, or even a human. I will do what is best to help Our Mother.

You are hereby on notice. I'm watching and waiting.

election.

The returns on election night gave Harry a solid win.

Hayworth refuses to concede.

The AZ SOS & the county recorder (both Republicans) insist that the race is "too close to call" and "way too early to declare victory" and say it will take 10 DAYS to count the ballots!!!

Who is going to monitor the situation for 10 days? Not the public.

Every day since then the local media goes on to say that the gap between Harry & JD is narrowing. (The actual numbers are small, but much is made of the narrowing gap.)

THEY ARE BUILDING PLAUSIBILITY FOR STEALING THE ELECTION!!!!

10 days from now, when it's announced that Hayworth has "come from behind to win!!!!" the public will merely shrug and say "wow! I guess JD was right"

Statistically, Hayworth has to win the uncounted votes by a 2:1 margin. Judging from how election night went THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE!

THE ONLY WAY HE CAN WIN IT IS BY STEALING, AND THEY ARE WORKING ON DOING SO RIGHT NOW!!!!!

"Never pay back evil for evil. Let your aims be such as all men count honourable....do not seek revenge, but leave a place for divine retribution; for there is a text which reads, "Justice is mine, says the Lord, I will repay." But there is another text: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink....Do not let evil conquer you, but use good to defeat evil." Romans 12: 17-21.


Last night I watched the McLaughlin group and was stunned to hear a self-proclaimed Christian, Pat Buchannon, state that torture is okay if it saves lives. Meaning American lives, of course.

How could anyone who professes to be a follower of Jesus Christ condone torture under ANY circumstances?

Torture is not about the person you want to hurt. Torture is about who YOU are, and the state of your soul, or if you are a materialist, the state of your moral fibre.

Right now there is a dispute in the Republican party, that I feel is also within the soul of America, about whether torture is justified against those who plot to kill us.

Tony Blankley, another McLaughlin panelist, stated his belief that the majority of Americans feel torture is justified if it saves our lives, and therefore, our government is justified in these extreme measures.

Frankly, my sorry life is not worth saving, if it comes at such a cost. If I am threatened or die by terrorism, please America, don't do me any favors by torturing anyone in my name or memory.

What happened to leading by example?

Once we condone the practices that we oppose, what is the use of opposing them anymore? We have simply sunk to their level, and any conflict is merely gangland-style warfare.

Oh America, where art thou?
Or perhaps I should say, Oh America, who have you become?

here:

"On one occasion a lawyer came forward to put this test question to him : "Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said, "What is written in the Law? What is your reading of it?" He replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." "That is the right answer," said Jesus; "do that and you will live."

But he wanted to vindicate himself, so he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was on his way from Jerusalem down to Jericho when he fell in with robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went off leaving him half dead. It so happened that a priest was going down by the same road; but when he saw him, he went past on the other side. So too a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him went past on the other side. But a Samaritan who was making the journey came upon him, and when he saw him was moved to pity. He went up and bandaged his wounds, bathing them with oil and wine. Then he lifted him on to his own beast, brought him to an inn, and looked after him there. Next day he produced two silver pieces and gave them to the inkeeper, and said, "Look after him; and if you spend any more, I will repay you on my way back." Which of these three do you think was neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" He answered, "The one who showed him kindness." Jesus said, "Go and do as he did."

on edit: typo

Last night, before I fell asleep I was channel surfing and came across a program on PBS about show cattle.

I starting flipping between it and SNL.

I haven't eaten beef in more than a decade. My reason for quitting was mad cow. I read an article in "In These Times" when mad cow was still "underground". It scared the living daylights out of me and I stopped eating beef that day.

I've never been particularly interested in cows as a species, but the longer I've been away from the consuming of beef, the more disgusting it has seemed to me. But that show last night was a real eye-opener. Now that I know about cows, their relationships, behavior, etc. I could no more eat a cow than I could a human child.

Does that make me a vegetarian wacko? To compare a cow to a child? And if so, why? Scientists often compare an animal's mental ability by equating it to the age of a human child. IIRC, a dog has the mental age of a 3 year old and the emotional life of a 7 year old. It gives us an idea of the experience of the animal we are dealing with. It can never be "just" like that, but roughly equivalent.

The raising of cattle for slaughter and consumption is morally reprehensible. Yes, I said it. I stand by it. I'm not going to pussyfoot around it and say it's the WAY we do it (factory farms) but that we do it at all.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here. But the sad fact is, there is no way I could post this on DU anywhere BUT here and not get jumped on like a trampoline on gym day.

I hate everything about it.

Of course, it doesn't help that I'm on the "hassel to fly" list and always have my bags searched and it's always a hassel to check in.

I hate airports, they are my idea of hell. High stress environment, horrible traffic. Lousy food. Uncomfortable chairs. Everyone acts like a jerk.

Then you get on the plane. Like getting in a metal coffin. Knowing that the airlines are practically broke. Where are they cutting corners?

No control over your destiny at that point.

Crowded, germy. Everyone goes from being a jerk to being a psycho. Don't want to pee on the plane because I don't want to take off my seatbelt and use the horrible bathroom.

It all sucks.

I actually was not trying to make light of tragedy.

I have had close friends and relatives lose children through accidents and illness and it is a terrible thing. The worst loss a person can go through, actually.

Having said that....there are worse things than death. We are all going to die sooner or later, from one cause or another. Frankly, I consider a miserable life to be worse than death.

This kid was headed for a miserable life. He had no discipline, and obviously his parents did not care about him.

Years ago, my dad hit a kid with his car. The kid had run out from in front of a city bus, and my dad never had the chance to stop. He went to the hospital emergency room and waited to hear the kid's condition (he was 14 and alone when he was struck). Everything turned out okay, thank God/dess.

However, the parents NEVER SHOWED UP!

Later, the cop called my dad and told him that when he called the dad at work and told him his son had been hit by a car, the dad asked, "Was he in a crosswalk?"

"No, he was nowhere near a crosswalk."

"Well, there goes the lawsuit."

HE NEVER ASKED THE CONDITION OF HIS SON! NEVER WENT TO THE HOSPITAL!

********************************************

You can disagree with me, that's fine. But I say, some things are worse than death. A child living a life where they know they are not loved.....
To me, that's worse than dying.

on edit: grammar

I think it is important that we know the history of the people we align ourselves with. If for no other reason than to keep from being blind-sided by "shocking revelations" later.

How many times have we heard the Senator Byrd was in the KKK thing?
Well, if you did not know that previously, a Freeper could throw it at you and it could really unbalance your opinion of him. But by knowing of it in advance, and knowing what steps and statements he's made since then is a great help.

Now, personally, I can never find it in myself to condone ANYONE who actively promoted the war. I just cannot do it. But if other people choose to support those who promoted and now have changed their position, that is a matter of their conscience and what they feel brings the greater good. I can understand that. But I think it still behooves them to know the histories of these people, what they said, and what they wrote and thought.

Just my .02