Saturday, November 20, 2021

Stupidity Rewarded

 You could call it a coincidence but I just finished watching “For Life,” on Netflix series that it loosely based on the story of Isaac Wright Jr at the time when the Kyle Rittenhouse trial was coming to an end. The “fictional” courtroom drama, which I was watching the real-life drama in courts was unfolding underscored one of the largest issues at hand – namely the dramatization of justice.

Whist court cases are meant to be independent of the political process, the truth is that they are often an expression of political and ideological differences.

The entire trial of Kyle Rittenhouse was the prime example of how a court case was about everything other than the facts of the event that took place.

OK, I got to admit that when I first started following the cases, my initial reactions were to start laughing at the pictures of Kyle Rittenhouse sobbing on the stand. His body language as shown by his photos read “Bully getting just deserts.” He probably thought he looked cool and had respect because he was given a gun and to “protect” property. Then, once he was minus the gun and fighting for his life, he started sobbing. I live in a part of the world where there is an infestation o Gwai Tzai (White Brats) who think its their god given right to push people around.

However, it one takes an objective look at things, Kyle Rittenhouse is a sad victim of an unhealthy political culture and going on trial was the chance for everybody to use him to further their own agendas.

 


 Carrying a Weapon Feels Good

 


 Until you have to be responsible for what you do with it

You had the crazies from the Tucker Carlson Show (Tucker Carlson has served all of zero days in the military or any other public institution) who were pushing him as a martyr or a hero who was defending the rest of the “politically correct” world.

On the other hand, he was also being used as a punching bag for the “woke” crowd, who wanted to portray him as fascist extremist, gunning down innocent black protestors (never mind the fact that the people he shot happened to be white).

The truth is, Kyle Rittenhouse is probably neither of these things. He is without doubt, a stupid teenager (which teenager isn’t). Somehow, someone gave him the idea that he would be a really cool guy if he crossed over to another state and his position in the world would be greatly enhanced cause he would be allowed to carry a military assault rifle.

To be fair, his probably genuinely thought he was acting in self-defense. Hey, its one thing to be told that you are important to be asked to help “protect” property. It’s a different story when guys are rushing at you. He was probably scared when he discharged his firearm.

So, I don’t disagree with his self-defense claim and I don’t think “prison” would have helped him at all. However, what we do not need is for him to be held up as a champion of anything in particular. Even if you leave out the racial undertones of what’s been happening, encouraging vigilantism is never healthy (its one thing to shoot an intruder breaking into your home – it’s another to cross over to another state fully armed) as the report from the Guardian explains:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/commentisfree/2021/nov/19/kyle-rittenhouse-verdict-acquitted-protest

In fairness, his defense lawyers tried to keep out the “crazies,” but it’s also hard to ignore them completely when they’re throwing money at you just when you need it most.

https://edition.cnn.com/us/live-news/kyle-rittenhouse-trial-verdict-watch-11-19-21/index.html

 

Copyright CNN

Prison would have been the wrong verdict. However, allowing him to walk away without anything is also wrong. What young Mr. Rittenhouse needs is court mandated counseling and time away from the crazies on both sides of the political divide. He’s 18 and should do what normal 18-year-olds do, go back to school and focus on his future. Perhaps some mandated time in black communities would help him understand the world beyond his own.

A young boy had a moment of stupidity. He should be given the chance to learn from his mistakes and move on. What we should not do is to encourage situations where the stupidity is rewarded with money and fame.

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Maira Gall