We Need a New Kind of Justice
Recently I was watching a news report of a crime captured on someone’s Ring Camera. The video showed two black boys jumping from a car with guns and strongarm robbing an elderly Black woman, in broad daylight. The brazenness of the crime made me say out loud to myself “they need their asses whipped”. According to the report the culprits were caught, one being a 14-year-old.
I can't help wondering what or should happen to the cowardly culprits other than a stint in crime school (AKA Jail). It reminded me of a column I wrote many years ago about the City of Singapore Indonesia which is ranked the 3 rd safest city in the world. In that Muslim nation they believe in corporal punishment and “caning” their criminals. Caning is essential using a bamboo rod to whip the criminal across their backside. The practice is carried out by specially trained police and masters of pain. They literally whip on the criminal’s butt and produce blackout pain with each stroke. Maybe it’s time for America to bring back state suctioned ass whippings? Is it cruel and unusual punishment. Maybe? But allowing people to live in a perpetual state of uncertainty and fear because people have been made to believe that crime and mayhem is just life in the hood, and nothing can be done about it. That is cruel and unusual as well for society.
According to recent research on the subject caning is the most dreaded punishment amongst criminals according to some reports. It was said some convicts would rather serve more time is prison then face caning. Why not bring caning to America. These boys need their asses whipped for real. Something must be done to bring back law and order.
The sad fact is black people live under the tyranny of their own children. I'm certainly not suggesting caning will be a panacea for crime prevention, but it will give the courts another tool for rehabilitation. In today’s world going to jail is no problem with many young people. In fact, it can be a perverse red badge of honor for street cred.
As a school child I was paddled by teachers with inch thick wood boards of education. And was occasionally whipped with a belt by my father so I know the pain can be a real motivator to do the right thing. Nobody died. But the prospect of pain as a consequence of my actions greatly influenced me.
I know… I know ... some will object to caning on the grounds that it harkens back to slavery. But if you're in jail you are a slave. And if it requires cruel and unusual punishment to control you then so be it. If I were a presidential candidate, I would make canning campaign issue. I bet I'd get many votes.
I’ve written previously about a relative though marriage that lived in Saudi Arabia for 20 plus years where there is a very low crime rate. He told me that it is attributed to religious customs and societal mores. He told me that in Saudi Arabia there are open air gold markets but there is little to no crime primarily because thieves will be apprehended by the people before the police. Also, those caught have their hands cut off. It might sound cruel and unusual, but it works.
In America a crazy person can massacre scores of innocent people but will not or cannot receive the death penalty. They get three hot meals and a cot and get to live on with the hope someday they will be free, at the taxpayers’ expense. It is crazy and irrational.