On Sat, 28 Aug 2004 19:57:50 +0900, Eric Takabayashi
<etakajp@yahoo.co.jp> wrote:

>> 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.

>But your labeling them "criminals" without being properly judged so, when you claim we
>cannot, is not a moot issue, even when considering Hitler, 9-11 hijackers, or the boys at
>Columbine.

What court of law will convict a dead person?

>Is it all right to decide and declare people are criminals without the chance to "properly
>defend themselves", or not?

It's alright for individuals to think any way about anything they
like. That's freedom.

>> 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.

>You mean, someone living under the protection of a Constitution or law enforcement which
>allows it, not always true everywhere. It is you who should be careful where you live or
>travel, because Japan for one, does not protect their own Constitution, which in theory,
>grants their citizens even more rights than the US grants theirs. Lawyers in Japan could
>and should be having a field day, and I do not know why they do not. Perhaps they, like you
>are "perfectly happy" with the gross abuses of their legal system, and choose not to even
>say anything about it or hold it responsible for itself.

I've never been under the mistaken conception that the US Constitution
protects me in any way here in Japan. Thanks though. We were
discussing the US Judicial System.

>Then why do you tell me not to label people criminals (unless my concept of criminal such
>as Hitler or suicide hijacker, agrees with yours)? 

Because I am as free to do so as you are to label.

>Is that just your exercise of freedom as well?

Bingo!

>> I'm confident I could defend myself against false accusations

>Then you who are so concerned about false rape allegations (or was it necojeff) should pray
>you are never accused of rape, even in the US.

I am thankful, for the thousandth time, and I do hope I never face
such a nightmare.

>> and for my part I do my best to stay "clean".

>That's you. What of most men who are not as clean living as you, who might make the stupid
>yet common decision to have casual sex with a woman, and could legally (that is, under the
>current system) be convicted of rape or other assault on what would amount to her
>allegation alone, even years later?

I said I do my best. I didn't say I was Captain America. One does have
to be very careful in this day and age.

>Naturally, I will never support most of their views or actions, but their concerns are
>PERFECTLY valid:

>http://www.accused.com/
>http://www.accused.com/overview/rape.html

Interesting.

>You see no need for better protections, even for that? Of course you and most other readers
>still don't get it, but my system would protect against that as well, even while being
>harder on criminals.

No, I don't get it. Your system seemed to be one step above a police
state. That's not my bag.

>> I'm always in favor of more funding for law enforcement.

>Then why not simply say so, instead of claiming to be "PERFECTLY HAPPY" with "reality", and
>telling me to "LIVE WITH IT", "DEAL WITH IT" and (was it you or necojeff) suggesting I go
>to some totalitarian state if I could not?

I am perfectly happy with the system. I said nothing to the contrary.
The great system we have can always do with funding.

>> This is PRECISELY because I do not fault the system for the bad things that
>> happen.

>Then why not voice your disagreement with the legality or humanity of the death penalty, or
>your concern for the need for more law enforcement resources, even under the current
>system? Why don't you acknowledge that there are ways to improve the system, using existing
>legal means, instead of telling people to simply "Live with it" "Deal with it", or perhaps
>get out of the country and live in a totalitarian state?

Because the death penalty is a hot-button topic that I avoid engaging
in discussion about as mentioned above.

Raj