UPDATE: Manson follower denied compassionate release

[RICHARD]

Guess I'll never be Buddhist or whatever, huh??

Shaving you head and dressing in a sheet really is over-rated.


I guess I come from the stand point of making someone think about what they did.

I remember being a kid and having to sit on the sidelines while the world passed by. I had the ability to get up join the fun, but because of an sickness or an accident, I could not.

What could be more screwed up than being free, but not being able to do anything you have dreamed about for 37 years?

Sometimes anger can be jail sentence too.

[jazzcat]

Shaving you head and dressing in a sheet really is over-rated.


I guess I come from the stand point of making someone think about what they did.

I remember being a kid and having to sit on the sidelines while the world passed by. I had the ability to get up join the fun, but because of an sickness or an accident, I could not.

What could be more screwed up than being free, but not being able to do anything you have dreamed about for 37 years?

Sometimes anger can be jail sentence too.

My sister is currently caring for her husband's aunt who is dying of multiple cancerous tumors, one being a large brain tumor. As of June 1st she was given 4-6 weeks to live. Here we are 6 weeks later and she is still going but has lost a lot of her memory. From what my sister has told me she can no longer remember why she is there, why she needs a wheelchair or what exactly is going on. She's lucid but I doubt she is pondering the past -she's more like a child living in 30 second moments. My guess is things are probably similar for Atkins so I doubt she would be punished like you think.

My opinion is it probably doesn't really make a difference to Atkins at this point (she's probably not that aware or at least won't be soon) and for the families of her victims having her serve her full sentence of life is more important.

I have to say though, I do like your thinking.

[kt_luvs_kitties]

Richard, she will have plenty of time to think about what she did in Hell

[RICHARD]

Jazz,

Not to be a jerk or anything.....Was your BIL's aunt an evil person? I didn't think so.

Sometimes the worst possible scenarios are the kindest. My dad had AZ and I was glad that he didn't really realize what he was going through before he died. Your sister is a saint in my book.

It's very sad to see a good person suffer, the opposite would be to see an evil person outlive their victims while in jail.

You made a very interesting point.

...for the families of her victims having her serve her full sentence of life is more important.

I think that the Tate and LoBianco families wanted her to die under the death sentence. Now that she has been given a death sentence - And for sure, doctors aren't gods and unless the state had given her the DP, no one will know when Atkins will check out.

I know that the families were very involved in the hearings for her parole. But the thought of putting my life on hold to make a trip to a prison hearing every few years puzzles me.

The thought of putting a few hours into a victim's rights cause seems more creative. The recent 'cottage industry' of passing laws or starting foundations is one way of honoring your loved ones or righting a wrong.

--------------------

KT,

Hell.....I've tried to find that on a map.
I don't think it exists!

[shais_mom]

KT,

Hell.....I've tried to find that on a map.
I don't think it exists!

not true
there is a Hell, Michigan!

[RICHARD]

not true
there is a Hell, Michigan!

Smart arse.

[shepgirl]

I'm split between the two decisions. In my eye she's already dead and just the carcass is here. If it weren't for the thought of the unborn baby that could have brought the families so much peace and joy I would probably say to let her go home. But the fact of that unborn child really makes me feel like she should keep suffering till the end.
Like Richard , I too feel she isn't aware of too much and wouldn't care where she died, they do keep these patients heavily sedated....but doctors have made mistakes before and how would the families feel if she lived another 2-5 yrs?
This isn't a one way street for me ...just really don't know. I keep asking myself "what would God want in this case"?

[shais_mom]

Smart arse.

you expected anything less?

[jazzcat]

I know that the families were very involved in the hearings for her parole. But the thought of putting my life on hold to make a trip to a prison hearing every few years puzzles me.

I think I might be that way. I hold a grudge for a long time and with something of this magnitude probably wouldn't be able to forgive. I'd want to make sure she pays - till her dying day since that is her sentence. Seeing how she was originally sentenced to death I think she's seen all the compassion I could take.

Something about this case struck a nerve with me, obviously since I rarely come to the Dog House.

[RICHARD]

Something about this case struck a nerve with me, obviously since I rarely come to the Dog House.

It is a tough and unique topic.

There's different ways to look at it and you see the answer in your own heart.

My 'interest' is in the ways that people conduct themselves and let other people and fate run their lives.

Letting someone destroy your life/family is one thing. I am not prepared to spend more than three decades jailed by hate in my own heart.

By the same token, you see the families of murder victims make the statements at trial and they forgive the criminals.

THAT blows my mind and I ask myself if I could be benevolent with my feelings.

Someplace in between is a human emotion that's as varied as there is people on the earth.

Good posts on a tough subject.

[Giselle]

For those of you who say that you could not be Buddhist, are you folks Christian?

I'm not religious, but I am familiar with the Catholic view. If there was any one thing Jesus was excruciatingly clear on, it was that he unanimously promoted love in all its forms: philia, agape, and eros. Compassion and human dignity were pretty high on his list, too. From a prostitute to a social outcast, Jesus forgave and loved and honored a person's inherent dignity. In all evil, there is good.

I'm not advocating for this woman's release. She did perform an evil crime. But she is still human. And if you're of the Christian faith, she has an inherent dignity and need for compassion. Unfortunately, I don't think I'd be capable of granting her that if I were personally involved in this situation. And that's why I don't think I could be Buddhist, Christian, Gandhi, nor MLK. Oh... my philosophical renderings....