Comments on: The Parole Board has decided to release the two murderers of James Bulger.

The Parole Board has decided to release the two murderers of James Bulger.

twistedonion — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 06:35:32 -0800

The Parole Board has decided to release the two murderers of James Bulger. They have made their decision, lets respect it.

By: corpse

corpse — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 06:55:43 -0800

Why should we respect it if we disagree with it?

By: monkeyJuice

monkeyJuice — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 06:57:49 -0800

These two are going to have one hell of a time trying to hide from the public. Short of a face lift these two will be constantly looking over their shoulder for a long time

By: tiaka

tiaka — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 07:05:24 -0800

"I think it is a very sad day for British justice when two children can commit such a horrible crime and walk away." Hmm.. don't you think that they are children is a factor in all of this? I really don't think they grasped the entire implications of killing someone but understood some and were cruel intentionally and consciously as they lured the kid in. Yeah, the two will have a hell of a hard time getting through, I wonder if they have an education or such.

By: Grangousier

Grangousier — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 07:10:33 -0800

I still stand by what I said in the last Bulger thread, but have this odd sensation that I last had when the tabloids were up in arms about Diana and Dodi holidaying together, and what a scandal it was and I was thinking "whatever will happen next?" I think the world is about to get a little stranger than it was.

By: Mocata

Mocata — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 07:22:13 -0800

Why should we respect it if we disagree with it? On account of the rule of law.

By: mcsweetie

mcsweetie — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 07:49:49 -0800

Why should we respect it if we disagree with it? you don't have to agree with something to respect it. it's all a matter of maturity.

By: UncleFes

UncleFes — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 08:20:40 -0800

Why should we respect it if we disagree with it? We shouldn't. Respect cannot be given - it must be earned. You can respect those with ideas you don't agree with, because they may earn your respect through skillfull and reasoned debate. But to feel that respect must be handed out to anyone, regardless of what they say or do, simply because they are in power, or because you personally are a mature adult... well, whatever that is, it isn't respect.

By: emc

emc — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 08:23:22 -0800

This one's going to be a bubbling pot for a while to come, and opinions are likely to be heated. But if anyone, the Parole Board has the most measure of the case. We can only judge by the background, the vehement words of the protestors, and the media coverage. Hardly first-hand evidence on which to base a decision. I'm sure the Parole Board thought long and hard over this one.

By: sonofsamiam

sonofsamiam — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 08:27:24 -0800

Damn, I guess I should have killed those bullys when I was ten. It appears that there would have been no consequences.

By: UncleFes

UncleFes — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 08:28:33 -0800

I'm sure the Parole Board thought long and hard over this one. I'll concede that, although my thought is that Europeans tend to lean more toward mercy than justice. It's just awful all the way around. There is nothing good that can ever come of this... because I know what I would be doing right now if I was James Bulger's father. They're not happy, merciful thoughts. Not at all.

By: Doug

Doug — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 08:29:58 -0800

Yeah, losing what is considered by most the best years of you life is a walk in the park, huh, Sam?

By: sonofsamiam

sonofsamiam — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 08:36:47 -0800

Hell, I'd be out by now, with ~3/4 of my life ahead of me. Plenty of time to get laid and drunk. (And they weren't the best yrs. of my life, but you know...)

By: clavdivs

clavdivs — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 08:48:38 -0800

walk in the park, huh, Sam? ..." with my smokin .44"- Skip James

By: jennyb

jennyb — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 08:48:58 -0800

I actually do respect this decision, but that's because I agree with it. I hope somebody (many somebodies, actually) keeps a very close eye on these men so at the first sign of recidivism they are put back in jail, but since the baby they killed can't be brought back, I would hope some lives could be salvaged from all this. But if I didn't agree, why should I respect their decision? Because it's goverment? Because I'm supposed to? Because it's not nice to disagree with people in power? Bah. Or perhaps more appropriately, Baaaaa.

By: emc

emc — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 08:52:39 -0800

I'll concede that, although my thought is that Europeans tend to lean more toward mercy than justice. Hmm, kind of. And not really. I think it isn't so much being merciful as in wanting to try and rehabilitate offenders. I do agree, though, that I would have a totally different opinion of Robert Thompson and Jon Venables if I were the mother of James Bulger.

By: sonofsamiam

sonofsamiam — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 08:54:31 -0800

"walk in the park, huh, Sam?" In light of their crime, I'd say yes. However, that is just my opinion, and any further backend-forth won't change anybody's mind (not that it would matter if it did :) So, I respectfully step down :)

By: holgate

holgate — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 09:17:20 -0800

Like those released under the Northern Ireland peace process, the Home Secretary has the authority to lock them back up, should he or she consider them a threat to the public. That "licence" extends for the rest of their lives, under the permanent supervision of the Probation Service. James Bulger's mother wants similar protection from the authorities for her other children. I think that it's only fair and proper for them to receive it.

By: holgate

holgate — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 09:18:14 -0800

Ack. That should have been a link.

By: twistedonion

twistedonion — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 09:29:43 -0800

But if I didn't agree, why should I respect their decision? What I was trying to say was that the decision of the parole board should be respected in the sense that it is more than likely that the identity of these two will leak, and when it does the lynch mobs will be waiting. Justice has been served (the law thinks so anyway), so leave the culprits alone - I'm not saying we should wish them a healthy and happy life, but they should be allowed to prove that they are rehabilitated.

By: corpse

corpse — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 10:02:23 -0800

gotcha

By: UncleFes

UncleFes — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 10:05:42 -0800

but they should be allowed to prove that they are rehabilitated And what if they are not? Who's child gets to die horribly to prove that Thompson and Venables weren't quite as rehabilitated as the parole board believed? I don't think it's going to matter anyway. They will be found.

By: jcterminal

jcterminal — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 11:39:09 -0800

i've started a pool on when these little monsters will kill again. who's in?

By: will

will — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 11:53:18 -0800

They have made their decision, lets respect it. let's all be mindless automotons!

By: swerve

swerve — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 14:51:00 -0800

I'm just wondering how long they'll last out of prison before someone finds them and offs them.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Fri, 22 Jun 2001 17:05:13 -0800

For comparison, the two youths who dropped a little boy out of a Chicago housing project window has been answered differently for the two boys. One has gone free; the other, who committed further crimes in prison, remains incarcerated under adult law. There are no easy answers.