thank you. That is the same reason why deterrance does not work in the criminal justice system. The idea that someone will read in the paper the punishment for a particular crime and thus not do it too. Of course, papers often don't print it, or its now somewhere hidden on the back pages.
Interesting post Wonderdog.And an encouraging one too! It's good to see reason prevail if it is only once in a while. Good for Travis for winning his case. And good for you for supporting him and bringing the happy ending to our attention. And....er....thanks for introducing me to the Trenchcoat Chronicles. What a disgusting little right-wing blog it is. It caters to the dark fascination some people have for the murderous acts of disturbed kids. But instead of trying to cast some light on the tragic problem, it just attacks the kids and their parents.
And of course, it's hideously homophobic.
" And if you think being called a "fag" in high school is bad just wait until you get to prison. You'll wish you were back in high school."
If he only knew how angry anti-gay teasing or bullying can make a young teenager, as I do, I'm pretty sure he'd shut his foul mouth.Or shed his trenchcoat so he could run faster!
But the way I see it just fits naturally into the big picture of our times. The right wingers are increasingly desperate.Everything is falling apart for them. Their absurd, greedy and planet torching policies are being exposed for the sham they are. The only thing that will keep them in power is to try to recreate the climate of fear that followed 911, over and over again. For that they need to find more and more enemies. Not just terrorists abroad, but terrorist sympathisers and traitors at home as well. If they can label Americans who stand up for human rights and precious civil liberties "terrorist enablers" why not call sick kids monsters as well? The idea is to make people believe that the world is a frightening jungle.And that only the craziest beasts in that jungle can save us from that nightmare world, filled with the real and imaginary dangers. The world that they created in the first place.
It seems to be working in the United States. Congress just signed away some precious civil liberties in the name of fighting terror.
But I'm confident Canadians will be brave enough, and smart enough, not to let that happen here...
Excellent commentary, Wonderdog.
Mtl Simon, you can find equally unsavoury left-wing blogs. I've come across one or two where the paranoia and hatred are so thick you seriously wonder if they should be medicated. And they all pump each other up. It's not a right wing or a left wing problem, it's an extremist problem.
He should change his name. That's what I'd do, and never look back.
Thanks for this. I had read the original story over a year ago and would have had no idea of the change in outcome if I had relied on the original source of report.
He should change his name. That's what I'd do, and never look back.
Hmm. I'm having a prophetic moment here.
Thanks for this story.
No, he should blasted well not change his name. What, the scumbuckets failed to convict him of a crime, but he's supposed to let them hound him into giving up his name?
Anyway, nobody's going to remember the name--it wasn't *that* big a story at the time. I remember the story, but I'd forgotten his name.
I'm glad everything is turning out "okay".
Thanks for this blog and this news. Was cleaning out my bookmarks and went for one last Google of Travis Biehn and found your blog. Had lobbied politicians and anyone I could think of at the time I was so outraged.
You are right on. I heard nothing of this appeal of the witch hunt after hearing everything about this 'canadian madman'. It's a paranoid world down south but I am heartened that Americans are starting to finally wake up and reign in their president and their judiciary.
Hey, good for Travis. Is there anyway you could give me a way to contact him preferably email or IM!
I went to high school with him. Regardless of anything, the kid is an asshole.
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