Should we punish criminals?

We all know someone who has broken the law and gotten away with it. If you’re like me, you’re probably running a mental list in your head right now and rationalizing that you speed but that’s OK because speeding doesn’t really hurt anyone. Yet, it’s illegal and most of us do it on occasion if not regularly. Speeding isn’t what’s on my mind today. I’m thinking about Michael O’Connor, the protagonist from The End of Marking Time. Speeding wouldn’t make the top 100 list of Michael’s transgressions.

Michael has been breaking the law since he was six years old. It was nothing serious at first, but he graduated to stealing cars then breaking into houses. He’s been a housebreaker for several years. He’s very good at it and he was never caught until he got really unlucky. The End of Marking Time gives Michael a chance to tell you his story and then asks you to decide whether he deserves another chance.

When I finished the book I thought I had a pretty good idea how people would react to Michael, but now I’m not so sure. I was watching the debate over the new Arizona law on illegal immigration. I don’t want to start an immigration debate here, but the whole thing strikes me as very odd. To me, the law is the law. It doesn’t matter if you’re Mexican, Asian, African, European, or from Jupiter. If you drive too fast; If you take something that is not yours; If you attack someone; If you enter a country without permission, you are breaking the law. It seems black and white to me and the idea that our whole country would look the other way while we know criminal activity is taking place just seems wrong.

When I see people standing up and getting angry about police enforcing the law I wonder why. I have never believed our laws were unfair. In America we live in the land of opportunity after all—that’s why people are sneaking over the border in the first place. If you snuck into another country say Iran, North Korea, or China, you could be shot! Think about this. If you snuck into another country, wouldn’t you expect to be thrown in jail or at the very least deported? I heard someone say recently that the immigration debate in America isn’t about justice, but social justice. That is, manipulating the way we enforce the law to fix problems that are created elsewhere in society. It seems our government has been leaning this way, especially in our cities and it feels to me like Americans have reached a boiling point. What do you think? Should all Americans be treated equally under the law? Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Two issues seem to underlie lots of contentious news items lately. The first goes back to the old story about the grasshopper and the ant. The ant works hard, builds himself a secure life and the grasshopper fritters away his time and then freezes to death in the cold. I see hardworking Americans getting frustrated with handouts be they on Wall Street or Main Street. Why should the ants be forced to bail out the grasshoppers? It doesn’t seem fair. Please don’t read this to mean that we shouldn’t take care of those who CANNOT help themselves. If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I’m a supporter of raises for those unable to work and nothing for those who are simply unwilling.

The second issue is the idea that everyone should be treated the same. I spoke with a police officer recently and he said one of the advantages to knowing the police was they won’t cite you for speeding. I’m not saying we should racially profile, exactly the opposite. I think everyone should be treated equally under the law. It shouldn’t matter that your brother-in-law is a cop when you get pulled over. If you’re doing 102 mph, you deserve a ticket. End of story. So why do we get so upset when the government finally decides to enforce the law? Do we really want anarchy? Or do we only want to apply the law to ants and not grasshoppers?

Instead of turning this into an immigration debate or a social justice debate, I’d like to hear what you think about Michael O’Connor. Is he a grasshopper? What should happen to him? Why? Clearly Michael has been breaking the law and you have the opportunity to decide how he will be punished. I’m not sure why I chose to make him Irish. I don’t have anything against Irish-Americans (I’m a small part Irish myself). Today I’m wondering what the reaction would be if I named him Miguel. Should it matter?

I’ve given you a place to voice your opinion about Michael’s punishment. Who knows, if enough of you want to give Michael another chance, maybe I’ll write a sequel. Right now, before you forget, go join the Facebook group called, I pressed the (RED) (GREEN) button. When you have finished reading the book, stop in and tell me what you think should happen to Michael. There is also information on an experiment you can try on your friends (it works much better on men for some reason) simply by handing them the book and watching where they place their fingers.

Enjoy The End of Marking Time and please join me for the virtual launch party on June 10th.

• TEOMT on Amazon
• Launch Party on June 10th
• Launch Party Event page
• Facebook Group – “I pressed the Red/Green button!”
• CJ West Official Web site