More on the witch hunt

[Jacob Sommer]

drais wrote:
> 
> Well,  I'm sure this will sound fascist to some, but I  am saying it's okay
> to put on more limits. Isn't that what laws are? Limits on what we can do.
> We put  these limits in place when we feel they are needed for the greater
> societal good (At least that's the theory)  I'm sorry all the trenchcoat
> wearers are being treated poorly (They'll get over it, like I've maintained,
> this is not the worst thing that'e ever happened to anyone) but, gee, other
> people would really prefer not to have thier school shot up, is that
> unreasonable? it's not that trenchcoats are inherently evil, but they are
> good places to hide guns, and yes, some are worried...I for one can't blame
> them.

Well, since *most* kids don't just go around and shoot up their
schools I have to wonder why all *those* kids are being treated
like criminals.  Remember, we have a premise in our society that
is called Innocent until proven Guilty; it seems to be going 
back to the olde Guilty on the First Whiff of Suspicion, Factual
or Unfounded.

Sure, trenchcoats can hide things.  So can long skirts, parkas,
backpacks and duffel bags.  So can baggy jeans, sweatsuits, prom
dresses and kilts.  I haven't heard "No sweatsuits are allowed 
in school because a gun or knife can be easily concealed"!

You say "they'll gt over it..." and no doubt some of them will.
But why should they be alienated and picked on in the first 
place for *not doing anything wrong*?  If your neighbor shot
someone, killed them, and your house looked similar, would you
meekly submit to people treating you like a criminal because
your house looks a lot like your neighbor's?

Maybe you should try to imagine yourself in the position of
these harrassed schoolkids.

> As for the goths or whoever, those people have been whinning about how
> unfair life is since way before this happened (At least the two I know) it's
> hard to take them serious now. Even in these notes all we get are "We are
> being treated unfairly" or "like potential bombers." (Never any specifics on
> how this is taking place,we're just suppossed to take thier words for it) I
> must ask, the innocents "paying the price" How are they "paying the price?"
> have any been sent to jail? Fired from thier jobs? Dipped in boiling oil? Or
> has it merely been name-calling?

A number of schoolkids (who have few legal rights, remember)
have been sent home from school, sometimes suspended, been
told to change their attire, been sent to counseling, and had
their computer privileges and sometimes their computers taken
away amongst other things.  Suspending a bright, willing 
student from school for a few days will *always* impact their
grades badly and it will also leave a bad taste in that kid's
mouth.
Going with that neighbor analogy again, how would you feel if
you were told that because your neighbor shot and killed 
somebody and your house looks similar that your house was 
going to be inspected, you'll have to live in a motel while
they determine if they'll have to take your house away?
You seem to be conveniently overlooking the fact that the kids
being affected are already considered outcasts to some degree
and are considered to be fair game for teasing and sometimes
beating up by their peers.  Now they are facing a suspension
of what few rights they have by the adults who supposedly are
fairminded and want to help.

> Come visit me some time, I'll drive you up to Columbine, maybe the paranoia
> will be a little more understandable to you when you see the monuments.

I know paranoia.  I am a Jew.  For most of the past two
thousand years my ancestors have been mistrusted, treated
like vermin, beaten, unfairly taxed, even killed for their
religion.  It's only been in the past two hundred years that
the guilt of all these evil acts has started softening them
a little; only in the last fifty years that it has finally
become less than acceptable to do more than call Jews names
for being Jewish in a significant portion of the world.
Even now there are countries where being Jewish gets lots
of undeserved scorn.  Look at most Arab nations; look at 
Russia; look at Poland.

I have not been scared for my safety due to my religion for
my entire life.  Even so, I still sometimes look over my
shoulder.  A habit two thousand years in the making is not
an easy one to break.

Jacob