On 16 Nov 2005 12:09:15 -0800, "rigger" wrote:

I don't consider doing nothing when
a crime is being committed being a better person. We appear to have

different standards, don't we.

Harold

Afew years ago some of the local college students and their friends
started throwing bottles at police who were attempting to control
their activities (setting sofas and dumpsters on fire, etc.). Later
they were unable to positivley identify those directly responsible
despite the fact of many dozens of people being in the immediate
vicinity of the "throwers". During the aftermath many school
orginizations spoke out about "the throwing was done by outside people
and not students, who after all, were all good citizens". This "good
citizen" comment was proven false because no student, of all those
present, ever stepped forward to identify the actual throwers (who
incidently permenently disfigured one policeman).
Social responsibility is a learned value; we're not born with it. Some
never learn ANYTHING; witness the terrible sociopathic types of
activity around us. No one would deny a citizen's right and
responsibility to step in if someone were being PHYSICALLY attacked
(although many documented cases of people NOT doing this exist). Your
actions mark you as someone who realizes your responsibility as a
citizen doesn't stop at your doorstep. I wish you were my neighbor.

dennis
in nca

Kitty Genovese

38 good citizens witnessed her being murdered over the course of a
half hour or more. And no one did dick to help her.

I wonder why this thread brings her to mind?




"The importance of morality is that people behave themselves even if
nobody's watching. There are not enough cops and laws to replace
personal morality as a means to produce a civilized society. Indeed,
the police and criminal justice system are the last desperate line of
defense for a civilized society. Unfortunately, too many of us see
police, laws and the criminal justice system as society's first line
of defense." --Walter Williams