UPDATE: Manson follower denied compassionate release

[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"?

[RICHARD]

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"?

AHA!

The ultimate quandry!

There are two sidewalks on any street. The sidewalk where "god will punish you for your sins" and "god will forgive you for your sins".

Since I haven't talked to him lately, I think that he leaves some of those decisions to us....Just to see if we are paying attention.

[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....

[RICHARD]

And that's why I don't think I could be Buddhist, Christian, Gandhi, nor MLK. Oh... my philosophical renderings....

But, you are human.

It all starts there.

[jennielynn1970]

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

Raised Lutheran, which at this point is almost like being Catholic, but I am non-practicing. Don't really consider myself any certain religion.

If there's anything that bugs me, it's those who preach about being such a wonderful Christian, and they are actually some of the nastiest people I know.

I have no problem with showing empathy or anything like that, I just don't see that it's justified in this woman's situation. Although, who am I to judge, right??

[Giselle]

Those who flaunt their religion and use it as a form of elitism are not following their supposed faith. I have met my fair share of those folks, too, and I agree with you on that.

However, above all, Jesus preached for compassion and honoring a person's dignity. In modern terms, I do believe MLK summed it up best in his speech "Loving Your Enemies". You do not need to passionately love or even LIKE your enemies. But you do need to love them as God supposedly loves and unconditionally forgives us. Hate and cruelty only bring about more hate and cruelty. The only thing with which to eliminate hate is love.

A second thing that an individual must do in seeking to love his enemy is to discover the element of good in his enemy, and everytime you begin to hate that person and think of hating that person, realize that there is some good there and look at those good points which will over-balance the bad points.
-MLK Jr

This woman committed an unspeakably cruel and heinous crime, but she is human. In all evil, there is good. If we truly understand and believe in our religion, we would see the inherent humanity and dignity in this woman and grant her compassion. And, by virtue of our love, we would hopefully urge this woman to see the gravity of her cruelty and the brevity of her life. And, hopefully, she would feel guilt and repent.

...But, wait, I'm not Christian I don't like the way Catholicism has become. I guess you can call me a Gandhi-ist or MLK-ist. I much prefer their views (which are all actually pretty fundamentally Christian) =)