Comments | ontd_political: Sandy Hook controversy: Is it wrong to sympathize with a killer?

dhamphir in ontd_political

Sandy Hook controversy: Is it wrong to sympathize with a killer?

Jan 03, 2013 20:38

Sandy Hook controversy: Is it wrong to sympathize with a killer?

A high school student is suspended for writing a poem in which she says she "understands" why Newtown gunman Adam Lanza committed murder.

"I understand the killings in Connecticut. I know why he pulled the trigger," Courtni Webb, a 17-year-old high school student, wrote in her notebook ( Read more... )

stupid people, california, somebody please think of the children!, education, *trigger warning: violence, connecticut

Comments 37

evilnel January 4 2013, 19:15:17 UTC

Being able to understand those you disagree with is, in my opinion, a sign of maturity. You may hate what they did and never be able to do the same yourself, but showing compassion to somebody who was clearly disturbed and probably in pain is not a bad thing. It's easy to give mercy to those who treat us well--it's entirely different to give mercy to those who hurt you or others. I'm sure this kid didn't want to invalidate the evil he did through her compassion, but to take a look at a problem which is far more complex than gun policy and school security. The school was right to ask questions about what she meant and maybe even get a counselor involved, but suspending and possibly expelling without really listening seems kind of extreme.

Edited to rephrase slightly.

miriamele January 4 2013, 19:28:07 UTC

This, so so so much. Counseling? Yes. Discussion about it? Absolutely. This action is far too excessive though.

lizzy_someone January 5 2013, 02:52:53 UTC

And even compassion aside, surely trying to understand the motivations behind a crime would help people craft public policies to prevent such crimes. If you know why someone did it, you have a better idea of what would stop them from doing it. People like to just stamp NUTCASE on a person and shove the whole issue aside with a conveniently too-easy answer.

evilnel January 5 2013, 02:55:05 UTC

Exactly.

Thread 7

seasontoseason January 4 2013, 19:18:27 UTC

how Orwellian of the school. Thoughtcrime it is.

(The comment has been removed)

seasontoseason January 9 2013, 09:40:18 UTC

its actually not a stupid comparison, but thanks for saying so. Thoughtcrime is a fictional concept intended to demonstrate the general idea that crime that exists only in thought should not be considered a crime at all. And this case is actually one step FURTHER removed from the reality of a crime, since the girl didn't even think of a crime at all, but merely had an "crime-sympathizing" emotion. That is a whole new level of thoughtcrime that even Orwell didn't think of.

I do not get the idea of supension fenris_lorsrai January 4 2013, 19:56:47 UTC

I have never understood the idea of suspending a student that has had some type of behavior issue. at all. go home where there's fewer resources to help you, fewer adults around to monitor you, and where you'll fall behind in school. These things will totally help deal with the issue ( ... )

Re: I do not get the idea of supension ayashi January 4 2013, 20:00:22 UTC

Yeah I have never really understood out of school suspension for many of the same reasons.

Re: I do not get the idea of supension redstar826 January 4 2013, 20:53:09 UTC

same here. It seems like such a lazy, irresponsible punishment. When I was in high school, the punishment for getting caught skipping a class was a 1-day suspension. Which I always thought was hilarious. They 'punish' you for trying to get out of one class by giving you an entire day off? Really?

Re: I do not get the idea of supension lurkerwisp January 4 2013, 21:38:09 UTC

Not all schools systems handle discipline the same way.

Out of school suspension in my area for a public school student means days spent attending a different school, made up only of students that have been suspended or expelled from other public schools.

Similarly, not all schools have a psychologist on staff. That's not something that frequently happens in places with tight budgets.

Thread 9

tilmon January 4 2013, 21:43:17 UTC

I don't understand why this girl is being punished at all. If we don't make an effort to understand why people kill, to attempt to comprehend their thoughts, how are we supposed to prevent violence? Or are only certain people, with certain official credentials allowed to imagine?

How have we come to this point that poetry is murder, that art is crime, yet we rain hell on villages and gang-rapes by football players are covered up? I'll believe this so-called "Life Learning Academy" is sincere in its concerns about violence when they start conducting community awareness sessions on institutionalized violence.

kitanabychoice January 4 2013, 22:15:10 UTC

This fills me with all kinds of disgust and exasperation.