The Death of Ariel Castro and Prisoner Assisted Suicide

Trigger Warning:  Suicide

Let's start wading back into the blogging waters with the subject of suicide.  Since I have recently experienced a situation involving suicide, I feel it is only appropriate to provide a trigger warning first.  This post is not intended to be about the subject of suicide in general, especially as it pertains to mental health issues and those struggling with other issues where counseling is probably the best course of action.  This post is going to be more on the subject of suicide/death penalty, and the actions taken by law enforcement that results in the death of a suspect.

My first reaction to seeing the news on the death of Ariel Castro was pretty much along the lines of good riddance.  I am in no way saddened by his death.  I even commented on a friend's Facebook post that I doubt law enforcement officials did much to make sure materials were not available to him.  Crime and death is always a tricky minefield to navigate, so let's step with care and see where it takes us.

There have been several recent, high profile incidents in the last year with respect to criminals being killed (or killing themselves) prior to being taken into custody.  I'm going to dispense with the alleged part of this since these are cases where the person was clearly guilty of committing a crime.  Two recent examples are the Tsarnaev brothers of Boston Marathon fame and the former LA Police Officer that was the subject of an intense manhunt in and around the LA area.  His name escapes me and is not relevant.  The bottom line is that I have no issue in either case with the criminal being killed in the process of searching for them and barricading themselves and fighting back.  I simply have no moral dilemma on this matter.  They clearly chose a path of resistance and have shown themselves to lack the necessary moral compass for me to consider having any compassion for them.  Good riddance and I won't lose any sleep over their passing.  I'm not even going to lose sleep over the fact that we may not know their motivations for their crimes, although in this case, I think those were clear.  The acts that were committed by the individuals in these two circumstances clearly have no basis in rational thought and if there is one thing I've learned over the years, trying to apply a rational reason for an irrational behavior or act isn't going to get you anywhere.

So, Ariel Castro killed himself.  I'm not sure we are going to know why, and I don't think it matters.  Maybe he had a change in conscience and couldn't live with his actions.  Maybe he couldn't stand the thought of living the rest of his live in conditions that were probably far better than what he subjected his victims to.

There are thousands of people in jail for life without parole and/or on death row.  It is routine to see a court order a prisoner be placed on suicide watch.  What if we abolished the death penalty and commuted all death sentences to life without parole, then offered an assisted suicide option to prisoners?  Would this be morally wrong?  Is it a better solution than an explicit death penalty?  Should the victims have a say in whether or not the criminal can make such a choice?  I don't know.

I would imagine that there are plenty of prisoners sentenced to life that would take the option if it was administered in much the same way the death penalty is (perhaps via lethal injection), but without all the creepy stagecraft and allowing victims to watch or observe.

For now, I simply pose the questions.  I'm not sure what my answers would be to those questions, but I am leaning toward being in favor of what I guess would be called prisoner assisted suicide.

Time to Start Blogging Again

I've been away from blogging for quite some time now.  There are many reasons for it.  However, I can assure you that it is not because I've softened in my convictions on various subjects.

One of the reasons I stopped blogging was because I was shocked at the continuing escalation of insanity in the various Republican Presidential candidates.  I mean, you can only call someone quanophrenic so many times before it loses its impact.  I really didn't think they could keep topping themselves in stupidity, and yet, here we are, experiencing ever increasing levels of bat shittery.  I simply ran out of adjectives and I haven't really found any new ones.

Second, I just felt that many people didn't care, so why bother.  It's not like I'm an expert voice on many of these subjects.  In fact, what I realize now is that blogging about some of these things have helped me to really think about some of those gray areas and moral dilemmas.  For example, the death penalty.  I've been neutral on it for quite some time.  I felt that I could justify it at times, but not others.  I read a lot of other blogs on the subject and listened to their arguments.  Then came the realization that if you can make arguments for and against a position, then you should probably adopt a morally defensible position as the default, and that is, quite simply, to be against the death penalty.

Third, I found myself in a very unexpected relationship.  I simply didn't feel the need to sit down and and write about a bunch of this stuff.  Again, not that I changed my position or abandoned those beliefs, but for the first time in a long time, I simply had something much more important to do, and that was to engage myself quite happily into this relationship.  I'm very happy to say that we will be getting married in October.

Now, for the reason to start blogging again.  There have been some news items recently that have left me with some dilemmas as to how I feel about it and the best way for me to resolve those dilemmas is to write about them.  The two big things recently are the Bradly/Chelsea Manning and Snowden affairs, and Syria. Just today, the suicide of Ariel Castro and how that all plays into the right to die/assisted suicide issue.

There are other subject that I want to comment on such as Obamacare and the game of chicken the GOP is playing with the debt ceiling.  The implosion of the atheist blogosphere with respect to the war on feminism and rape culture.  Recent rulings in marriage equality.  And, all the other usual suspects that I have written about in the past.

So, expect to see some blogs on these subjects over the next couple of weeks.  I can't promise much in terms of blogging frequency, but I will try and write something a couple of times a week and see how it goes.

US Boat Washes Up in Spain

This is a cool story.  Almost.  Two men were washed overboard on their boat of the coast of Massachusetts three years go and the boat has just now washed ashore in Spain.  Read the article for the whole story.  So, two points.  First, this is really cool in understanding how ocean currents work and perhaps a testament to the builder of the boat for it to have survived intact for three years in the harsh North Atlantic ocean.  Very cool indeed.  But then, there is the part about the insinuated miracle.  The older man, only a year removed from heart surgery, was fortunate enough to have a inflatable life preserver float next to him after being thrown overboard.  Oh, boy, here we go with this miracle crap again.  First of all, why bother saving the men after throwing them overboard.  Wouldn't it have been easier for god to simply keep them on the boat in the first place.  Second, these are supposedly experienced men out on the sea off the coast.  They note that these waters are often rough and unpredictable.  Then why the hell weren't they wearing life preservers to begin with?  If you ask me, they were stupid, and damn lucky to be alive.  Don't go spouting all this miracle nonsense.

The Legacy of Joe Paterno

I have been horribly derelict in my blogging duties over the last several  months.  I have, however, been finding myself writing blogs in my head at times when I am not near the computer and I say to myself, "you need to write that down."  Well, here is one of those times.  I meant to write about this days ago, but better late than never.

PZ Myers wrote a blog about Paterno and his legacy.  In this blog he simply asked the question, "How many football games do you have to win to make up for one broken child?"  Yes, if you judge Paterno's legacy solely on his on field accomplishments and try to weigh those against the molestations of children after the reported Sandusky incident, then absolutely, the man's legacy is wanting.  But let's not discount the off the field things.  He gave many young men an opportunity to get an education that may not have gotten the chance otherwise.  Were some rules bent for eligibility and grades on occasion?  I'm sure they were.  Show me any major college program where that does not happen.  Let's not judge him against what all other coaches have done.  So, in that respect, the harsh judgement is perhaps, not fair.

However, let's take a look at the Catholic priest scandals.  There are quite a number of priests in positions of authority, while not having committed any of the crimes, knew about them and did not report them, or did not follow through on such reports.  We judge those men harshly and demand that action be taken, not only the Catholic Church, but by authorities as well.  Those men are tarnished, and their legacy's found wanting.  Why should we give Joe Paterno a pass for doing the exact same thing?

The Guinness Difference

I just got back from a business trip to Dublin, Ireland.  While there, I had the pleasure to enjoy a vast quantity of Guinness.  I've always heard people say that the Guinness in Ireland is so much better than what we get here in the States.  I would have to agree wholeheartedly.  I think there are several reasons for this.  First, the Guinness in Ireland is simply fresher, but I'm not sure that alone is sufficient.  I also heard (no idea if this is true) that the Guinness brewed for export to the U.S. is brewed in Nigeria.  If so, that changes two important ingredients (this applies no matter where it is brewed, except in Ireland).  First, the water source will be different.  Being a home brewer myself, the mineral content of the water can have a direct affect on taste.  Second, the Guinness brewed in Ireland is all brewed with Irish hops.  I suspect that the hops used in Nigeria (or whatever) would be imported from Europe and is simply not the same.

After having sampled the Ireland Guinness, I did have a Guinness (or three) at my local bar last night.  It was clearly inferior to the Ireland Guinness, but even then, the Guinness here is still a damn good beer.

Insomnia Beer

I am a beer snob.  I don't drink any beer that has "light" in its name.  I don't drink beer out of a can.  I don't drink beer out of a bottle that has a twist cap.  I like trying foreign beers and I like trying regional and local beers when I travel.  One of my favorite beers is Four Peaks Kiltlifter.  It was my regular beer of choice at one of the bars I frequent.  During the first couple of months when I started to frequent this bar, I started having bouts of insomnia.  I eventually narrowed it down to the nights when I had been to the bar, and narrowed it down even further to the beer itself.  I changed beers for a few weeks and the insomnia went away.  This was very disappointing, but ultimately necessary.  Unfortunately, I need to add another beer to my insomnia beer list.  Smithwick's.  I've had a few while visiting Ireland and had very poor nights of sleep.  The good news is that if I stick to just Guinness, then no problems.  Yay!  Fortunately, I have a short list of favorite beers that don't give me insomnia.

To be Thankful to...

Another Thanksgiving is upon us.  Thanksgiving is a holiday that I never really gave much thought to.  For me, spending time with my family wasn't that big of a deal because, well, we were always home and together anyway.  It always seems like a lot of work for 10 minutes around the table.  Anyway, as my life as changed, through marriage, separation, and divorce, the meaning of Thanksgiving has changed a bit for me.  So, here is who I am thankful to.

To Kathy, for being a good friend over these last 4+ years, and for introducing me to a whole host of new friends through the Parrothead Club.  I now have people that I know and care about (and care about me) all over the United States, from Southern California, to Salt Lake City, Iowa, Rocky Point, and numerous places in between.  Yes, I lived a pretty solitary life, even when married, and I am very thankful to her to have given me this opportunity to meet so many others.

To Rick and Julie, for also being good friends over these same 4+ years.  For letting me share a bit of your family with you, whether it be a house boat trip, trips to Rocky Point, Key West, or even being able share with you the marriage of your son and daughter-in-law.

To Annette and Eric, for sharing your home in Rocky Point and allowing me so many opportunities to come and visit and enjoy some raucous times with good friends.

To so many other of my AZPHC friends.  You guys have become like family to me.  Welcoming me into your homes and allowing me to share in all the joys, triumphs, and a few tragedies.

To Jen, who I have known since grade school, and now have an opportunity to know so much more.  I am very much looking forward to tomorrows.

To my kids, Isaak and Emma, while I have missed the opportunity to watch them grow up on a day to day basis, I am very proud of who they have become and enjoy seeing the growth and maturity in them every time I do get to see them.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!