Doing The Wrong Thing

Prague, CZ
3 Aug. 2013
Thomas Secrest

Doing The Wrong Thing

I was listening to the BBC today. The subject was the trial of Bradley Manning. I listened to a similar program on the BBC a few days ago as well. In total, 6 guests, (who I call the Manning 6) with a variety of political leanings discussed the verdict in the trial. Some were supporters, some not, but they all agreed that the judge did the right thing is dismissing the treason charge. In fact that were almost giddy in their support of the judge, who won high praise from all.

It was both sad and disappointing.

Since I don't know these people, I am going to give them all the benefit of the doubt. I am going to assume that they failed to realize they were being led around by the nose, all the while saying "thank you."

Consider this example:

Suppose you decide to risk jay-walking. You look both ways and when you think it is safe you dart across the street. To your surprise, you are spotted by a police officer who rushes towards you. Oh well, you think; I guess I'm going to get a ticket.  You are about to offer a friendly greeting when the officer shoots you with a Taser gun, ZAP!, which drops you to the pavement. The officer immediately begins kicking you and hitting you with a baton -- all while yelling at you to stop resisting and comply.

You are arrested and charged with jay-walking, attempted suicide and resisting arrest.

At your trial the judge finds you guilty of jay-walking and resisting arrest and fines you $2000. The judges dismisses the more serious crime of attempted suicide, which could have landed you in the nut house for an unspecified period (i.e. until you were no longer suicidal).

You thank the judge for her/his wisdom, pay your $2000 fine and take your broken nose, broken wrist and broken ribs and exit the court room as quickly as possible.

This is what happened to Manning. Now, the Manning 6, and all the rest of the sheep will have to wait and see if he is treated unfairly and given 130 years in prison, or if he is treat fairly and only given a life sentence.