More on the witch hunt

[drais]

Jacob,

You make some outstanding points, I especially like the neighbor analogy.
However, I'm not persuaded yet. Would you rather the schools say "Oh, a
trenchcoat, we'll not inspect it,  in the name of civil liberties, and hope
there's nothing there."? If I'm a parent of a kid at the school, I want them
to make sure there's nothing there. Is that unreasonable? You seem to be
saying it is.

trenchcoats are not only great for hiding things, it makes them real easy to
get to as well. Unlike a duffle bag. At some schools, they have inspected
the backpacks and the baggy jeans and all that as well. (I know they are
doing it in Baltimore) I think all of them should be doing that. That is not
being treated like a potential criminal. Do you feel like you're being
treated as a potential criminal when they x-ray your baggage at the airport?
Now, if a gun is found in your baggy pants, or your backpack, then you
should be treated like a real criminal. (I think)

And there's a difference between being suspicious of someone, and
pronouncing them guilty. None of these kids that I've heard have gone to
prison on criminal charges. That's what happens when you're found guilty.
Some have been misunderstood. So you're statement about "guilty on the first
whim of suspicion" is , I think, a false one.

As for being alienated and picked on, it  isn't right,  but can we agree
life isn't fair? I've been a harrassed schoolkid, not to the degree some of
these folks are, but I've been there. Maybe my sympathy level is lower then
it ought to be, but if that's the worse thing that ever happens to
someone.....they've done real good!

The list of horrible things happening to this kids was new to me. Hasn't
happened around here, and I live in Colorado. Some kids were suspended that
wore trenchcoats to school, but that was because they were also walking
around saying "I have some Tec-9's hidden here." So I wonder how many of
these events also have extenuating circumstances.

And you're not trying to compare your paranoia from what happened to Jews
50-100 and 1000 years ago with what the parents of Columbine kids are going
through with something that happened just 3 weeks ago, are you?

Hope it doesn't sound like I'm yelling at you through the computer, I do
have a habit of coming across a lot nastier in my writing then I do in real
life. Like I said, the neighbor analogy was good, and makes the point about
being judged on superficial apperances. If that was your main point, you'll
get no arguement from me. Just curious, did you come up with that analogy
yourself, or had you heard it before?

Take Care,.................Dave R