[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

We do? I guess my black, Latino, white trashy and generally fatherless clients who started abusing alcohol and serious drugs at age 12 just made bad choices stemming from a weak character.

I understand what you are saying. But at some point they are going to have to decide what kind of life they are going to live. They may not be able to do that at 12, but at some point there has to be some personal responsibility.

Kids that are molested often molest other, smaller kids. If an eight year old that has been sexually abused molests one of my kids, I'll do my best to help him and his parents get the help they need. If that same person turned 30 and molests one of my kids, I'm going to try to chop off his balls. The reasons for the action haven't changed, but the accountability has.

We do? I guess my San Francisco Russian Hill neighbors who did not regularly bust liquor bottles in the street and shoot each other made better choices and had better character than my San Francisco Western Addition housing project neighbors who did.

So what is the difference between the two? I'm not familiar with the areas.

I've been a crime victim, I didn't care for it, and I believe that people need to be protected. However, we should approach criminal justice with sadness and humility. The conservative spin on that is "There but for the grace of God go I."

I agree. Perhaps it's that this particular issue is too close to my heart, because I really have no compassion for people that hit kids. Even if I understand (but don't excuse) why they do it.