scolded

  I was reading about this new system called restorative justice. It's a crazy left wing philosophy about criminal behaviors and how to change that. Basically the plan is to sit down with the criminal and have a friendly discussion. You give that criminal the chance to say, I'm sorry, maybe pay some compensation or decide upon some other "restorative" action. You give the criminal every opportunity to make amends while not actually imposing punishment on them for wrongdoing. The basic premise of restorative justice being, they haven't broken the law, they just violated a person or a relationship. 

  I grew up in a time when "because I said so" was the law and "you knew better" was your conviction. The truth being, I had been told, warned about engaging in whatever activity that had gotten me into this mess, and I did know better. Thing was I had made a choice and I had to answer for the consequences of that choice. It was indeed, my bad. Whatever authority had current jurisdiction over me issued the punishment. It could range from corporeal punishment, a loss of freedom, a reporting to a higher authority or worse of all, telling my father! Just the threat of that was usually enough to make me reconsider my choices. The reason for that being not the risk of any physical harm, although that was a possibility, but the knowledge that there was no escaping the punishment. You were "going to get yours." No probation, no parole, no time off for good behavior. Sentence was imposed and that is what it was going to be. There was no arbitration involved in any of that process.

  Accountability was an action word! It wasn't just something you admitted to, or agreed to, it required action. The action was taken by a higher authority whether or not you accepted accountability! That was the "you know better" portion of the justice system. Questioning that was met with the other section, "because I said so" that's why. I was taught that you really can't "restore" anything or anyone once they have been violated. You can't take back the past. The best you can do is replace a material thing, pay for the damages. You can't restore that persons trust in humanity, their trust in you or their peace. You can't take any of that back. You not only damaged them, you damaged yourself. You are now a criminal. Yup, that's how that works.

  It's been a meme on Facebook for quite some time now and it is 100% accurate. It's clear that the "time out" generation isn't nearly as well behaved as the " I got my butt smacked generation." Attempting to reason with a five year old really doesn't work. Today we have parents insisting five year old children can determine their gender. What we have done is create an environment where there is little to no accountability for anything. We may call it progress but I don't see it that way at all. We have changed the meaning of the word "exceptional" from meaning holding oneself accountable to believing we are all "exceptions" to the rule. Where they are exceptions, there is no accountability. 

  The purpose of law is to provide a safe society. Laws are intended to delineate behaviors that are accepted and those that are not. A strict adherence to those laws is required. One can certainly work towards changing the law, that after all is the function of the legislative branch of our government, but the judicial branch must impose "justice" on those that offend. The judicial branch may exercise discretion, but they do not establish the law. The executive branch oversees the whole process. 

  Bottom line is simple enough. You break the law, you get held accountable for that choice. You do not get to negotiate that. You have the right to answer the charges against you, say your piece. That doesn't change the law. If it is determined that you indeed broke the law, punishment is awarded. That's the "because I said so" part of due process. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. That's the "you know better" part of that scenario. It's best to teach that to very young children first, all the rest they can learn in law school.    

                                                                                         

                                                      because I said so, that's why!