L&O SVU episode, 21yr-old was arrested for smothering his sister to death 10 yrs ago. No record of violence before or since then. I didn't think he should have been charged with homicide bc hard time should be for people who are dangerous. Thoughts?

---

I like the way you think, that's very rare. Everybody has vengeance and hatred in their hearts and seeks retribution. They think if a person does something 'bad' then they 'deserve' something bad to happen to them. But there's no philosophical justification for this, that vengence is just a vile emotion and a form of schadenfreude.

It takes a lot of growing up / self-refinement / self-restraint to accept that life isn't fair and let someone go scot-free who did something heinous. Everyone is innocent in God's eyes. The justice system should be about protection of the public *only* and maybe deterrence, not about retribution. And under that rubric somebody who just does something once and isn't likely to do it again shouldn't be imprisoned.

"Have you ever wondered how you might behave in someone else's shoes? If you have, you'll likely admit that this kind of thinking is usually critical of the person of the person you're thinking about. The truth is, you are the other person, and they are behaving exactly as you would if you were indeed in the exact same shoes--however inconsiderate, abusive, outrageous, or immoral their behavior is."

'True, you are probably more thoughtful, fearless, loving, and honest than those who disappoint you. But you are also at a different point in your journey, maybe "more advanced," or maybe just more at ease for having chosen a less "challenging" path. We're all of "one," exhibiting different colors of the same light, and rather than passing judgment, it's best to remember that each of us is just doing the best we can.'

-Mike Dooley, 'Choose Them Wisely: Thoughts Become Things!'

I wrote more surrounding this subject in the following places: https://kiwi.qa/inhahe/56336846170470568 , https://kiwi.qa/inhahe/56337608984344749 , https://myriachromat.wordpress.com/2017/02/05/is-hatred-ever-truly-justified/