Elizabeth Smart testimony today

[Jarid in Cedar]

Woot,

I am going to own my previous comments in the thread.

I know rationally that there is not a punishment on Earth that will offset the horrors that Mr. Mitchell inflicted on that little girl. I know that society will remove him from the circulation so that he cannot do it again. I know that we are taught to not think "eye for an eye". These things I have learned outside of a "standard" mormon upbringing.

However, I am afterall human. When I see Miss Smart, I see my own 14 year old daughter. When I see her, I think of the horrors that Mr. Mitchell rained into that innocent girls life, it raises a gutteral response in me that comes from deep inside the biology that makes us human. It makes me want to see Mr. Mitchell castrated with a bolt cutter. The base human response that many feel is that they want to see him suffer, even though the rational mind knows that it cannot erase the acts that he has done. The base human response is to have him suffer for the suffering that he has inflicted.

It is through the rational mind, cultural upbringing, religious beliefs/tenets, that we, as a human animal are able to overcome the gutteral feelings that we have. The religious and cultural environment that humans espouse are the very thing that gives us success to overcome the base emotions. It is not the cause of our failure to overcome that which makes us the most human...emotions.

As I am not a follower of the mormon faith, I am not certain that there is a hell, or that Mr. Mitchell will receive his punishment in the afterlife. Therefore, I am not going to feel bad if he receives some punishment in this life.

If that makes me a sick fuck, so be it. Personally, it makes me human.

[woot]

Woot,

I am going to own my previous comments in the thread.

I know rationally that there is not a punishment on Earth that will offset the horrors that Mr. Mitchell inflicted on that little girl. I know that society will remove him from the circulation so that he cannot do it again. I know that we are taught to not think "eye for an eye". These things I have learned outside of a "standard" mormon upbringing.

However, I am afterall human. When I see Miss Smart, I see my own 14 year old daughter. When I see her, I think of the horrors that Mr. Mitchell rained into that innocent girls life, it raises a gutteral response in me that comes from deep inside the biology that makes us human. It makes me want to see Mr. Mitchell castrated with a bolt cutter. The base human response that many feel is that they want to see him suffer, even though the rational mind knows that it cannot erase the acts that he has done. The base human response is to have him suffer for the suffering that he has inflicted.

It is through the rational mind, cultural upbringing, religious beliefs/tenets, that we, as a human animal are able to overcome the gutteral feelings that we have. The religious and cultural environment that humans espouse are the very thing that gives us success to overcome the base emotions. It is not the cause of our failure to overcome that which makes us the most human...emotions.

As I am not a follower of the mormon faith, I am not certain that there is a hell, or that Mr. Mitchell will receive his punishment in the afterlife. Therefore, I am not going to feel bad if he receives some punishment in this life.

If that makes me a sick fuck, so be it. Personally, it makes me human.

This is a good post. As one who does not hold any supernatural beliefs, it would make sense for me to want this guy to be tortured in prison, more so than it would make sense for one who thinks he'll suffer for all eternity, as such punishments would be less than trivial in the grand scheme. Nevertheless, I don't desire those things, as there is no gain for anyone to be had from it beyond the primitive desire for revenge, which I acknowledge can be very strong.

I also appreciate you owning up to your words, and am easily convinced that your words on this matter are not representative of your moral stature. The same can not be said for those who continue to dodge the issue or who pretend that my indignation is an equivalent evil.

I suppose I view humanity as being in somewhat of a continuing adolescence, wherein we are beginning to figure out that revenge is hurtful to the society that condones it more so than the victim thereof, and am glad that our justice system mostly reflects that today, some lingering instances of capital punishment and an at least perceived blind eye toward prison rape notwithstanding.

[scottie]

Brian David Mitchell receives life sentence

[Borg]

Brian David Mitchell receives life sentence

Excellent. I agree with the outcome, other than cutting off a certain appendage from Mitchell, it is what you would want if you were Elizabeth Smart's family.

[Art Vandelay]

Here is a short blurb about her talking at Penn State. She seems to be doing some kind of awareness tour, as she was in my town a couple weeks ago.

I'm kind of surprised she didn't take her husbands last name and try to fade into relative obscurity. From what little I know about her, she seems like a remarkable young lady.

[byu71]

Here is a short blurb about her talking at Penn State. She seems to be doing some kind of awareness tour, as she was in my town a couple weeks ago.

I'm kind of surprised she didn't take her husbands last name and try to fade into relative obscurity. From what little I know about her, she seems like a remarkable young lady.

Yes, she has handled the whole thing with a great deal of class. I have been amazed at how poised she has seemed in all of her TV interviews.

Seems to me those that those in the press who were throwing out crap about the parents, especially Ed, owe them a big apology.

[LA Ute]

Excellent. I agree with the outcome, other than cutting off a certain appendage from Mitchell, it is what you would want if you were Elizabeth Smart's family.

I just saw this post. It occurred to me right off that Mitchell might have a rough time of it in prison.

[wuapinmon]

This has been more fun than torturing a den of baby mountain lions, but I really don't have time for it. I have to evict a single mother this afternoon before heading to the missionary fireside tonight.