Draconian
A disabled Winnipeg boy named Brian McKay was recently attacked by several children aged 8 to 11. They shoved him into a shack, lit it on fire, and left him. He was saved and after a brief stay in the hospital due to smoke inhalation, released.
The question is: what to do with the perpetrators, who are currently untouchable by the Youth Criminal Justice Act?
My coworker suggests some time, unsupervised, in a burn ward. At the very least one would expect community service: a punishment that would do no emotional or psychological damage to the children. But no, any such measures would be ‘draconian’, says Liberal justice critic Sue Barnes.
I hate that word, as uttered. It’s modern usage represents the least subtle form of political rhetoric, which sadly is also one of the most common. The word itself is a reference to Draco, the first law scribe of Athens in the 7th century BCE. His prescribed punishments were indeed harsh, yet the people of Athens loved him so much they killed him. He walked into a packed auditorium one day, and they joyfully flung their coats and hats all over the stage. He was smothered and already dead by the time they dug him out.
‘Draconian’ is one of those adjectives which, when thrown about, tends to smother any real attempts at political conversation. For a complete list of similar conversation stoppers, just watch Thank You For Smoking. Or read your daily newspaper. They are usually representative of reaction, no thought, no imagination, plain and simple; though even these words can be used skillfully and appropriately on occasion.
In regard to the case at hand, ‘draconian’ would be throwing the perpetrators into the same shed and relighting the fire. I don’t think anyone’s suggesting that yet – not even those backwards-thinking Conservatives.
The main argument opposing state action on children under 12 is that modern psychology suggests that these children are unable to understand that their actions have consequences. Maybe, maybe not. Either way, children retain a basic sense of right and wrong. We all know this, because we were all children once. If you’ve forgotten, let Augustine jog your memory. The fact that they believe themselves capable of doing wrong without serious consequences only adds a reason to teach them otherwise. And we’re not talking about a ‘draconian’ death penalty or lifetime slavery; I suspect even Sue Barnes could come up with a suitable punishment for children under the age of 12 that would be beneficial to all, with a little imagination. Even a little thought would probably sufffice.