I am deeply disturbed, not by the news that Justice Scalia has passed, but by the reactions of so many of my acquaintances.
The man died. His family is grieving.
If you are celebrating this event you are a classless individual. I am saddened to see so many people in the country professing joy while the widow is still wiping the tears of her children and grandchildren.
Regardless of your political leaning, have the common decency to wait till the man is in his grave before you dance on it – at a minimum.
You can be glad the suffering is over. You can be relieved the medical bills are no longer piling up. You can be many things. But if you take joy in the death of another person, there is something wrong with you.
There are people I think need removed from office. There are people I feel should be off the streets. There are people I think need punished for their crimes, up to and including execution. Thinking it needs done does not make me a fan, nor do I feel it needs to be the punishment in any but the most extreme case. There are many things that are necessary to protect this country and our way of life, not all of them are pleasant or popular.
In the event a criminal is punished in accordance with constitutional law and a jury of peers and a death penalty is pronounced:
- I may conclude the world is safer
- I may feel justice was served
- I may even participate, as a juror or voter or citizen
- I will never rejoice.
