So while Miami is comically traffic logged, on account of Art Basel, there have been a couple of huge stories out of NYC. Public reaction to both, at least in the minority, leaves me wondering about the world we're creating for my grandsons and, hopefully, future grandchildren. Things have really gone sideways.
The first tale is about a trial that just ended, involving a LI retired Marine named Daniel Penny. Last year, Daniel was on a subway train headed to school, and a maniac entered his car, terrifying everyone, shouting that someone was going to die that day and he didn't care about going back to prison. The maniac had been arrested 42 times before, but in bizarro world NYC was still a free man -- he had a ton of drugs inside his sickle cell and schizophrenic body. Most of the fellow passengers on the car were terrified.
Penny sprang into action, hero-like, and tackled the menace. He held him, along with some help from others, afraid the nutcase was going to reach into his pants pocket for a knife or gun. The train stopped at the next station, and it took New York's Finest about 20 minutes to arrive -- Penny wasn't going to risk letting the creep go. Finally, the cops got there, and took Penny in for questioning.
Since the cops are often Mafia -like, no one told him the menace had died -- they questioned Penny without tipping him off that maybe he ought to keep quiet without a lawyer. Penny told the truth -- he was afraid for everyone in the car and himself -- he certainly didn't mean to hurt the guy. Well, the nut indeed died -- maybe from Penny's chokehold, or maybe from the drugs, or maybe from his bad sickle cell symptoms.
Next thing, Penny got charged! And his trial took place over the last month, until finally manslaughter was dropped with the jury hung. Monday, the jury acquitted Penny of the remaining negligent homicide charges. Riots were expected -- luckily none have sprung up. The creep's father and uncle, little involved in his pathetic life, have now sprung to the forefront, of course with Al Sharpton, decrying the racialist nature of NY's justice system, and many are saying it's best if Penny moved away.
Wow. I guess I'm just too old and practical, but for me, a person who jumps into action, at his own peril, to protect others, is a hero -- not a criminal. Again -- the minority are calling him a subway slaughterer, but still...
The other story is about the United Health CEO who was gunned down during the annual meeting in NYC. They caught HIS killer yesterday -- rich kid with 2 degrees from U Penn -- angry with nature of health insurance coverage.
The scary part to me is the number of people lauding the maniac rich kid as a hero! Few people like health insurers, but to laud a cold blooded murder?
Apparently they even had a killer look alike contest in Central Park -- the winner got $50. I have little doubt many of these idiots are the same ones who support Hamas, and support defunding the police.
I appreciate black humor as much as anyone, but the CEO was by all accounts a nice guy with a separated wife and 2 kids -- and was apparently known for at least some attempts to change the "Denial culture" of United Health.
But to laud him as a hero?
I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Ted Bundy got love letters in prison, and the loser Cruz, who shot up the school in Parkland, apparently always has a full prison account due to the money people send him.
Wifey read me an article last night claiming that the US is now the most divided nation -- we overtook the UK. I get the division -- but have we lost the ability to agree on what is truly acceptable (not threatening train passengers and not being gunned down for leading an unpopular company) and what is not (menacing subway passengers and killing a CEO in cold blood)?
I guess not. Rough times ahead, unfortunately...
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