"Three Bodies Lyin' There"

Apparently the Klansman was found guilty of manslaughter. What I find interesting, though, was the bit about how two of the people killed back in 1964 were white activists. I guess the Klansmen figured that associating with "men of color" sorta made you a race traitor or something.

One has to wonder what you do with an 80 year old man, though, especially since the crime happened so long ago. I mean, he's lived a complete life since then, and it's not like you can punish him by going back and taking away the last 40 years. Tossing the old bugger in jail won't do you much good, either, 'cause he'll most likely die well before his sentence is even close to being completed. Hell, as bad a shape as he's currently in, the guy would be lucky to live long enough to get to jail, let alone serve out his sentence (which could be up to 20 years for each death. He won't live another 60 years). So one has to wonder what they'll do with him.

He'll probably end up in some minimum security hospital or something, living out his few remaining days in a hospital bed with armed guards at the door (though I doubt he'd have any intention of escaping--I mean, he's essentially guaranteed that his last few years of life will be paid for by the state. Do you have any idea how convenient that is for someone with failing health?). Anything else would qualify as cruel and unusual.

~chuck

Song of the Moment: Bob Dylan, "Hurricane"