It has come to Pretty Lady's attention that a member of her community has been 'disappeared.' Pretty Lady does not know Daniel McGowan personally, but according to his biography, he sounds like a very nice person, if a bit naïve.
"He [was] hoping to practice acupuncture on a sliding scale, or even for free, to those in need. The interest dovetailed with his work on so-called 'really, really, really free markets,' including one set up at a church in the East Village to allow people to contribute and take anything they wanted...The premise behind the market is that everyone has skills, ideas, objects, smiles, talents, friendship, excitement and many other things to share and that if people would share these resources there would be less need to buy new things and everyone would live a more balanced and full life using fewer of the Earth's resources and fewer working hours, leaving more time to devote to ourselves and our communities."Unfortunately, Mr. McGowan is currently under house arrest for "eco-terrorism." Evidently he has a Past, which the federal government suspects included 'arson, conspiracy, use of destructive devices and destruction of an energy facility.' Highlights include the $12 million arson of Vail Ski Resort and the sabotage of a high-tension power line in Oregon.--"Linewaiters' Gazette," Park Slope Food Co-op, May 25, 2006
My oh my.
Supporters are referring to his arrest as part of "a well-coordinated, multi-state sweep of numerous activists by the federal government, who has charged the individuals with nearly every earth and animal liberation case left unsolved in the Northwest." They are calling this "an FBI offensive that appears to be only the beginning of a nationwide 'green scare.'"
Pretty Lady doesn't doubt it.
Mr. McGowan may indeed be naïve, but naïveté is not a crime, and it tends to call forth its own brand of salutary corrections. Pretty Lady sees no reason to waste taxpayer money by keeping this nice person in jail. She feels that Daniel's chosen life path has enough self-selected hardships to resolve any possible karmic debts he may or may not have accumulated.
Plus, if everyone were sentenced to life in prison for their youthful indiscretions...well, best not to go there.
5 comments:
For your sake , PL, I hope your
community member is innocent.
Naïveté is no excuse for arson, vandalism, or terrorism.
If this sincere young man is guilty of these heinous acts, they go beyond mere youthful indiscretion.
Since the statute of limitations on these crimes is only seven years, I would hardly describe them as "youthful indiscretions".
Indeed, the brief description you gave of him clearly points to the self-flagellating nutcase who would actually do this sort of thing.
Excuse me, the above post should read "to the sort of self-flagellating..."
PL,
I am sorry, but I must disagree. If he is found guilty of the acts of terrorism, then he should pay the penalty. It is called justice. If he didn't want to go to jail, then he shouldn't have done these things. Sorry, but I won't feel sorry for a criminal when they get punished.
How would you like it if a 19 year old burned down your new house, your boyfriend and all your other belongings. Would you be comfortable with someone saying.. well, he is only 19, it is just a youthful indiscretion.. let him go.
19 isn't too young for the death penalty, by the way. 19 you can get killed in the military, 19 you can be sentenced to life in prision. If a person is too stupid to realize what they are doing, they still deserve it, ignorance of the law is no excuse. Too bad. If he is guilty, I hope he finds Jesus, REAL quick. He will need him.
BTW, That last comment was in now way trying to be rude... I said it in a very nice way... just doesn't seem like it when you can't hear my tone when you read it. :)
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