The caning case

The caning case

Bravo Gary Gentry--at last someone gets closer to the crux of
where the "punishment-fit-the-crime" debate should be focused.

It is a brave person indeed who from the relative comfort of
Jakarta tries to step inside Michael Fay to determine whether he
is a criminal, a victim or a naughty boy.

What we can say for certain is that rather than treasuring his
liberty and the responsibility it demands he has abused it.

For the punishment to fit the crime, only deprivation of
liberty and/or reparations for the damage relate directly to his
actions.

The more fundamental challenge for us as a society is to
assess what permanent damage has been done to Michael Fay, to his
associates, his parents, to the person who administers such
punishment and to us who sit back willing to pay someone else to
do what we would not do ourselves.

Or would we?

To witness a good guillotining, hanging, stoning, whipping or
crucifixion has historically been popular spectator sport.

So perhaps we could hear from readers who would like to be
there or actually be holding the cane when the skin and blood
start to fly.

GRAEME ST. JOHN

Jakarta