On Sat, 28 Aug 2004 14:57:23 +0900, Eric Takabayashi
<etakajp@yahoo.co.jp> wrote:

>> >Right. People who die or kill themselves before an opportunity for trial are never
>> >criminals, like Hitler, the 9/11 hijackers, or the boys from Columbine.

>> Says who? They're criminals who just happened to save us the trouble
>> of euthanizing them.

>It is YOU (don't snip your own post) who say we cannot label people criminals without
>even the CHANCE to defend themselves. Those "criminals" had none.

I do think you're being just a bit extreme here. I never said that
killing oneself exonerates them of crimes nor does the justice system
in the USA. It doesn't automatically make them guilty either.

However, considering that the most severe possible punishment in the
US judicial system is the death penalty such suicides do tend to make
guilt or innocence a moot issue.

>If even YOU, who are so "perfectly happy" with the current system, are allowed to label
>people criminals (who deserved death) without trial, why should anyone else be
>restricted?

Now you're talking about freedom of speech which is another wonderful
right I fully support. As an American I'm allowed to label anyone
anything I like. 

>Just pray crime or false accusation never involves you. I would be confident under my
>own system, as criminal or victim.

I'm confident I could defend myself against false accusations and for
my part I do my best to stay "clean".

>I now recall that live in rural Shikoku, and have a hard time understanding what
>happens in larger communities, even one as small as Fukuyama. You even pretend there
>are no homeless.

Not to rehash that old crap again but I never said that. I said I
never personally encountered any homeless here in Shikoku. I'm sure
they exist. I have seen many homeless on trips to Osaka and Tokyo
however.

>> because no system is perfect unfortunately. As forensic science
>> advances I think/hope it will only help to reduce such tragedies.

>Then why aren't you even willing to propose that funding for law enforcement be
>increased, so they can do a better job of investigation, or even that more money make
>its way to public defenders? Why don't you wish their were better government or
>community support for falsely or mistakenly accused or punished, instead of allowing
>those lives to be "oh so easily destroyed"? Why must you claim to be "perfectly happy"
>with even imperfections you claim to see?

I'm always in favor of more funding for law enforcement. This is
PRECISELY because I do not fault the system for the bad things that
happen. 

Raj

>> I have acknowledged the problems.

>With yourself?

With my written words.