The Criminal Coddling Chronicles (continued)
Thanks (ummm...I think) to loyal reader Reginleif who sent me this link today to a Boston Globe story about a group of Back Bay residents working together to put an end to the vandalism plaguing their neighborhood.
But, of course, seeing as this is the criminal-coddling capital of the country, we have to put up with all sorts of idiots, like this surviving brain donor, chiming in on the subject.
And, the people who see graffiti as the criminal act of vandalism that it is are all just racist, neolithic, knuckle-draggers, I suppose.
Yeah, and you know what? Killing 1,000 terrorists in the mountains of Afghanistan with a couple Daisycutters wouldn't end the threat of terrorism, but it would sure make for one helluva weekend.
As for these "urban artists", well, a couple rounds of rock salt out the business end of a Mossberg wouldn't hurt.
Punishing people who break the law and willfully, and with malice, damage other people's property? Oh, the horror! What kind of society have we become? Have we no compassion for these "young people"?
And now, for the obligatory money quote, brought to you today by the makers of Rust-Oleum Painters Touch, available in over 40 of today's hottest colors. BE FOREWARNED - this might just be the dumbest sentence ever put forth by human tongue.
(pauses to pick jaw up from floor)
And, I suppose if these same folks don't want their homes broken into and robbed, a "good thing to do" would be to leave their cash, jewelry, and other valuables on the front steps, in convenient carrying bags.
Likewise, if they don't want their car windows smashed and their stereos stolen, they should park their cars at night with the windows rolled down or the doors unlocked.
I realize we're only in the last couple weeks of August now, but I'm tempted to award Mr. Neelon here "Dumbass of the Year" honors for 2006 (emphasis on "tempted", I know better).
The group calls itself the Graffiti NABBers, short for Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay, and their goal is to ensure a stiff penalty for Beck and send a message to others who spray graffiti that the crime will be taken seriously, said Kathleen Alexander, one of NABBers cochairwomen.
But, of course, seeing as this is the criminal-coddling capital of the country, we have to put up with all sorts of idiots, like this surviving brain donor, chiming in on the subject.
But to people who think of graffiti as urban art, that approach is heavy-handed.
And, the people who see graffiti as the criminal act of vandalism that it is are all just racist, neolithic, knuckle-draggers, I suppose.
Caleb Neelon, a Cambridge artist who was curator of a graffiti exhibit at the New Art Center in Newton in March, said that jailing taggers would not stop others from spraying graffiti.
Yeah, and you know what? Killing 1,000 terrorists in the mountains of Afghanistan with a couple Daisycutters wouldn't end the threat of terrorism, but it would sure make for one helluva weekend.
As for these "urban artists", well, a couple rounds of rock salt out the business end of a Mossberg wouldn't hurt.
"To send a task force like that against a young person in that position is a bit Draconian," said Neelon, 30, who has been spraying graffiti since he was 14.
Punishing people who break the law and willfully, and with malice, damage other people's property? Oh, the horror! What kind of society have we become? Have we no compassion for these "young people"?
And now, for the obligatory money quote, brought to you today by the makers of Rust-Oleum Painters Touch, available in over 40 of today's hottest colors. BE FOREWARNED - this might just be the dumbest sentence ever put forth by human tongue.
"If they don't want graffiti in that neighborhood, a good thing to do would be to clean it."
(pauses to pick jaw up from floor)
And, I suppose if these same folks don't want their homes broken into and robbed, a "good thing to do" would be to leave their cash, jewelry, and other valuables on the front steps, in convenient carrying bags.
Likewise, if they don't want their car windows smashed and their stereos stolen, they should park their cars at night with the windows rolled down or the doors unlocked.
I realize we're only in the last couple weeks of August now, but I'm tempted to award Mr. Neelon here "Dumbass of the Year" honors for 2006 (emphasis on "tempted", I know better).
