Curmudgeon's Corner

What Have We Become?

Posted by Al Campbell on June 19, 2010

Quality of Life

There are, unfortunately, occurrences that make one wonder whether or not we are truly a civilized people.

The morning newspaper contained a six paragraph story deep in an inside section with the following headline:

Prosecutors say Fitchburg boy was stomped to death for shoes, phone

It went on to describe what Dane County prosecutors claim happened.  It seems, according to investigators at least, that a 17 year-old boy stomped a 16 year-old boy to death in order to get his red-and-black Air Jordan shoes and his cell phone.  He then left the dead boy behind a shopping center.  The accused had a juvenile record that included two rapes while he was just 13 years old.

When the accused was arrested at his mother’s home, he was wearing the red-and-black sneakers that were two sizes too big for him.  He turns 18 years old today, so he was still a juvenile when this crime occurred.

Another story with an associated theme appeared today and that is one that questions if we still need two juvenile facilities in Wisconsin since fewer juveniles are incarcerated and there are only enough inmates to justify one facility.

Are we now so forgiving of juvenile offenders that we don’t need both the Wales and the Lincoln facilities?  Is that what leads to the story mentioned above?  Have we become so concerned about feelings and the worry that punishment might leave scars?

What kind of animal would stomp another human to death for a pair of Air Jordan shoes?  Has that become the value of human life to some in our society?  If so, is it those whom we wish to encourage by permitting them to be among us on the streets?

This speaks to all of us who are members of the human race.  We have permitted these kinds of acts to continue.  History is replete with stories of such horrendous acts.  The Bible is full of stonings and such.

Aren’t we so far advanced that this simply couldn’t have happened?  Don’t we have all the answers so far as permissiveness and feel good therapies?  This incident occurred in Dane County for goodness’ sake; that is the most liberal bastion east of Boulder, CO and things like this simply ought not to occur there.  Maybe Milwaukee can be the scene of such a thing, but certainly not Dane County.

Is it really possible for a human to be raised so that he or she has no concept of right and wrong; has no value for human life of something more than $100 or $200?  If so, is that the young person’s fault?  Or, is it the fault of the person who brought that boy or girl into this world and then abrogated their responsibilities of nurturing and teaching?

Are we reaping what we’ve been sowing for lo these many years?