Leslie Van Houten should be released on parole

[DVV]

Oh bollocks.

Our rules: You murder and mutilate someone, you go to prison.

Manson's rules: It's Tuesday, you die.


There's absolutely no comparison, and you know it.

You have a special gift for misunderstanding, at times.

Leslie stands up for parole. It's her right.

She's perfect.

More than perfect.

But she's denied parole.

Why ?

I know that you know: lobby, Manson, etc.

In the meantime, dozens of bastards are released. Unknown. Anonymous.

If that is fair, I was born in Paris.

[DVV]

In 1980, the parole board was already lacking arguments against Leslie.

Indeed, Prosecutor Stephen Kay could just say that she had "to wait until she was at least 40."

Quite a desperate argument, anyway I understand it : her life has not yet been destroyed enough. Just wait a bit. Ten years.

Problem is that 30 years later, she is still in jail...and still perfect.

On the one hand we ask people to show remorse and patience and understanding, and on the other, when they miraculously do so, we turn our faces away.

Amitiés,
David

[Magpie]

I
Just to make sure our rules are better than Manson's.

.

Oh bollocks.

Our rules: You murder and mutilate someone, you go to prison.

Manson's rules: It's Tuesday, you die.


There's absolutely no comparison, and you know it.

[Magpie]

And if that pencil thief used the pencil to fatally stab someone 42 times in the back, I'd agee.

[DVV]

You're right.

"Pencil thief denied parole".

Can't imagine such headline.

Amitiés,
David

[The Good Michael]

What we must do is set exact, unrelenting penalties for all crimes without hope of parole for anyone. For example, a pencil thief, 2nd offense 30 days in prison. There is no minimum security only general population who must fend for themselves regardless of crime. Next, we must never use the word 'rehabilitation' in conjunction with prison. We need only hope there is some change in a person that allows them to re-enter society after their incarceration, because there will be no efforts to assist such horrible human beings. Friggin' pencil thieves should hang, in my opinion.

Mike

[DVV]

To show you that I was not intending that comment that as any kind of slight against your fine character.

I know I'm smart and charming, but that's not what the thread is about.

The thread is about Leslie.

Who should be free.

Just to make sure our rules are better than Manson's.

He's a bogus Satan.

Leslie was once a bogus killer.

Now she's a wonderful human being, thanks to 40 years behind bars, and she proves that our system, though not perfect, is better than the late Family ethics.

Free Leslie.

Delenda Carthago.

[Magpie]

That was a very fine and sensible thought, Magpie.

Why is the smilies for ? It destroys all.

Amitiés,
David

To show you that I was not intending that comment that as any kind of slight against your fine character.

[DVV]

Nothing wrong with that--let her continue to be a better and stronger person than you'll ever be behind bars, where she belongs.

That was a very fine and sensible thought, Magpie.

Why is the smilies for ? It destroys all.

Amitiés,
David

[DVV]

Sorry Magpie,

I wouldn't follow you here.

All I can say is that I'm sincere, as is Leslie.

Truly her cause is a good one.

There are, of course, many more iniquities in the world. This I really well know. I understand that most people don't bother "stand up for her rights".

However, as a matter of fact, she did participate in a crime 40 years ago, as an acid-freak teenager, and is still in jail, although she has perfect prison records, suffers true remorse and takes full responsability, while all kinds of criminals are released daily.

It's simply unjust. If we were in the Middle Ages, I wouldn't care. She would have been executed.

Now she has to be treated according to the law and morals of her times.

But she's not. She's denied parole because of Charlie.

If she's not suitable for parole, who is ?

F**k Charlie, free Leslie.

Amitiés,
David

[Magpie]

We can't judge her as if we were God. We can merely judge her as fellow human beings.

Yep, and her fellow human beings judged her guilty and sentenced her to death, and when that was thwarted her fellow human beings sent her to prison, where an constant parade of fellow human beings have judged it right that she stay there. Score one for the human race!

Thank God, I'm humble enough to realize she's better and stronger than I'd ever be.

Nothing wrong with that--let her continue to be a better and stronger person than you'll ever be behind bars, where she belongs.

[Magpie]

You shouldn't say so, Magpie.

I'm clearly against Manson, hence my sympathy for Leslie.

The more I trust Leslie, the more I hate Manson. That's the way.

As for the lobbying, I've never seen John Waters attending a parole hearing.

Amitiés,
David

Now you're moving two sets of goalposts.

First by trying to carve Leslie out a special niche among The Family.

Secondly by limiting the definition of lobbying to those who specifically show up at the hearings. Let's see, publishing a book about how great Leslie is and how she doesn't deserve to be in prison and hitting the press-release and talk-show circuit to use his celebrity status to call for Leslie's release isn't lobbying?

So I guess Sarah Palin isn't really lobbying against healthcare reform because she hasn't given testimony to any of the relevant committees?

[DVV]

You what would be admirable? If Leslie Van Houten said "I did a terrible, unforgivable thing. I should have been executed 40 years ago and every day that I'm still alive is a undeserved gift that the Universe has bestowed on me. I do not deserve to be alive, let alone free, and therefore I respectfully decline my right to demand any further parole hearings."


That would be admirable.

You're almost right.

Almost.

That's why Leslie is even more admirable.

Good over evil. Life over shame.

We can't judge her as if we were God. We can merely judge her as fellow human beings.

Thank God, I'm humble enough to realize she's better and stronger than I'd ever be.

Amitiés,
David

[DVV]

That's right--so why is it okay for people like John Waters and the "Friends of Leslie" crowd to lobby for Leslie's release, but not for the extended circle of The Family's victims to lobby against it?

It's starting to look like your major complaint is that the anti-Manson lobbyists are more effective than the pro-Manson ones...

You shouldn't say so, Magpie.

I'm clearly against Manson, hence my sympathy for Leslie.

The more I trust Leslie, the more I hate Manson. That's the way.

As to lobbying, I've never seen John Waters attending a parole hearing.

Amitiés,
David

[Magpie]

And Leslie an admirable human being.

Amitiés,
David

You what would be admirable? If Leslie Van Houten said "I did a terrible, unforgivable thing. I should have been executed 40 years ago and every day that I'm still alive is a undeserved gift that the Universe has bestowed on me. I do not deserve to be alive, let alone free, and therefore I respectfully decline my right to demand any further parole hearings."


That would be admirable.