2008/06/13 Dublin
Tough
Undesirable
The Herald Tribune opened with the important decision of the US Supreme Court:
“Foreign terrorism suspects held at the Guantánamo Bay naval base in Cuba have constitutional rights to challenge their detention there in United States courts, the Supreme Court ruled, 5 to 4.”
If you want to know something about a society go to its prisons, Dostoevsky remarked.
Unfortunately many societies still think that undesirable elements deserve to be tortured, raped, killed or just put away without due process.
And voters in democracies tend to love politicians who are tough on crime.
I guess they appreciate toughness or at least the illusion of toughness.
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17 comments 
The problem is that the whole system is based on revenge and getting even in stead of treating the prisoners so they would be able to function again in society.
Toughness as a watchguard for safety has a lot in common with bullying in order not to be bullied.
Bullying has quite a few supporters standing cheerful on the sideline, I'm afraid, often not even aware of the damage being done.
Bullying has quite a few supporters standing cheerful on the sideline, I'm afraid, often not even aware of the damage being done.
Prisoners mostly don't stay in prison for ever. If you treat people as animals they become and act like animals. If you treat people in a fair and proper way they learn from it and become better and milder persons. So society gets their benefits if it treats people well and humane.
People can change. I'm also not the same person as I was when I was 20 years old.
People can change. I'm also not the same person as I was when I was 20 years old.
The cell
Yes, but who are the undesirable elements? What is top priority?I remember many stories like that in the newspapers: “Two drunken bullies smashed faces of at least three men and harassed women during an evening raid – they were releases after one hour at the Police station (due to the lack of cells) and continued spreading havoc the hole night, injuring many other by passers. The two man still walk freely. NEXT TO: Grandma and granddad cultivated some marihuana plants in their backyard, they were immediately taken into custody (no more lack of cell? ) Serious inquiries in the neighborhood will follow.”
To Arnon Grunberg
Today's De Standaard reports on the perception of the Dutch in Belgium and vice versa.I paraphrase Bart Peeters' analysis of Dutch nationalism: 'it hasn't got anything to do with bigotry, and wouldn't it be fantastic if we Belgians could bring up a similar enthousiasm for our country?'
I strongly feel that your article from 'die Sonntagszeitung' would be a worthy contribution to the debate that De Standaard will be carrying out the following weeks.
Pjötr
Are you suggesting that I should contact De Standaard?To Arnon
I only wanted to express a - rather ephemere- thought on Peeters' statement.Straightforwarded suggestion remains the exception. That I leave to your extended family, and I believe we had an unspoken agreement on it that, that is a role I am not qualified for.
Pjötr
I appreciate sharing your thoughts on this topic with me.The one thing I like about us Belgians is that we are not very enthusiastic about our country. Bart Peeters is an idiot.
Bart Peeters: BWEURK! (sorry, but I feel better now)
I one of us feels he or she is faking something, look at him, and you are cured instantly.
I one of us feels he or she is faking something, look at him, and you are cured instantly.
Jan
sorry i don't understand your last sentence?Bart Peeters
I don't know which article it was in De Standaard, but there might be a misunderstanding: there is also a (radio)journalist called Bart Peeters.@Dries
I want to say: Bart Peeters (the singer, the Belgian Rock Beast) is the King of Fake.
I want to say: Bart Peeters (the singer, the Belgian Rock Beast) is the King of Fake.
Jan
yes, although there is a lòt of competition around :-(Where is the time that the flemish regarded the dutch as annoying and pompous windbags (being partially dutch myself I can say this) nowadays you hear more and more flemish say how we should be more like the dutch.
the real bart peeters
I'm sorry, Jan, I just remembered: the name of that journalist is Koen Wauters, not Bart Peeters. I was mistaking. Anyhow, i totally agree with you concerning 'the real' BP.@Pablo
I hope it was not Chris Van den Durpel…( Yes, yes you can laugh, shame on me.)
I hope it was not Chris Van den Durpel…( Yes, yes you can laugh, shame on me.)
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