[Vision2020] [Vision2020 liberals, courts, and Tony (was Pledge)

[Saundra Lund]

Hi Sunil,

Thanks for providing those links -- I was absolutely stunned and deeply
saddened when this travesty of justice was uncovered a few years back.

How absolutely delightful, though, that Tony chose to mention the Central
Park Jogger case!  It does a great example of illustrating exactly what he's
arguing against, doesn't it?

Personally, I was getting a little frustrated that the discussion seemed to
be focusing only on those WRONGLY convicted of capital offenses.  While
that's definitely an important aspect because the stakes are so high, I
think the necessity of a vigorous defense as a vital part of our system of
checks and balances offers protection for *all* of us against unjust
deprivation of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in more . . .
mundane daily living.  Absent our checks and balances, the average citizen
is at far greater risk of wrongful conviction for lesser offenses than
capital murder, IMHO, convictions that continue to have a devastating effect
on those wrongly convicted for the rest of their lives.

And, for this reason, I'd like to offer my sincere gratitude to any criminal
defense lawyers reading this!!!  Were it not for your dedication to the
notion of the necessity of a vigorous defense, no matter how distasteful the
client or crime in some circumstances, the rest of us would be at a far
greater risk for wrongful arrest, conviction, and sentencing, IMHO.

One last thing:  as an actual SURVIVOR of a random violent crime, I take
strong exception with Tony's blustering about "victims."  While my attacker
was never caught, I didn't want just anyone punished -- I wanted the actual
offender punished, imagine that!  Without the safeguards built into our
judicial system -- including a vigorous defense to make the State prove its
case and that proper procedures were followed -- survivors like myself would
be far worse off because we would have no faith that those actually
responsible for the crimes were being punished.  Survivors of crimes,
violent or otherwise, have enough to worry about without adding to the
burden as Tony would seem to advocate by rattling on & on about the
worthlessness of criminal defense attorneys who are actually a vital part of
our system of judicial safeguards.

OTOH, there is a certain appeal to doing away with such lofty notions  ;-)
Tony, it seems to me, would likely be up a creek without a paddle if he were
wrongly arrested under the system he advocates  :-)))  I'd certainly
volunteer to collect his rantings -- racist and otherwise -- and share them
with any and all attorneys who might be tempted to take him as a client  :-)
I'm always looking for the silver lining . . . 


Saundra Lund
Moscow, ID

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
nothing.
- Edmund Burke

***** Original material contained herein is Copyright 2006, Saundra Lund.
Do not copy, forward, excerpt, or reproduce outside the Vision 2020 forum
without the express written permission of the author.*****


-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Sunil Ramalingam
Sent: Sunday, November 26, 2006 10:47 AM
Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] [Vision2020 liberals, courts, and Tony (was
Pledge)

Tony,

When you demonstrate that you know what you're talking about, you'll get a
different response from me.  The next time you use the truth in one of your
posts on this issue will likely be the first time.

Your use of the Central Park jogger is a fine example of what I mean.  What
happened to her was terrible, and deserving of punishment.  But it appears
innocent men - some if not all teenagers at the time - were convicted and
did prison time for a crime for which someone else has taken responsibility.

Here's a link to one article about this event:

http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/crimelaw/features/n_7836/

Here's another:

http://www.cjr.org/issues/2003/1/rapist-hancock.asp

You want respect?  Earn it.

Sunil


>From: "Tony" <tonytime at clearwire.net>
>To: "Sunil Ramalingam" <sunilramalingam at hotmail.com>
>CC: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] [Vision2020 liberals, courts, and Tony (was
>Pledge)
>Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2006 10:21:00 -0800
>
>Your postings are getting nastier and more condescending by the minute 
>Sunil.
>
>Truth hurts?
>
>There is still time before church for you to compose a substantive 
>response.
>
>Cordially,  -T
>
>


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