For the second year in a row, a man convicted of killing has been given an Ed Bloch Courage Award

[Stinky The Clown]

This time it is Dante' Stallworth of the Baltimore Ravens. This time the conviction was for DUI manslaughter.

http://www.pressboxonline.com/story.cfm?id=7151

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dont%C3%A9_Stallworth

[DefenseLawyer]

1. Jesus, this place is getting seriously fucked up.

It's the other side that is supposed to be gleefully flipping the switch on the chair and building prisons and throwing away the key.

[niyad]

2. pointing out that yet another damned felon football player is getting some kind of award is NOT

the same as demanding that these oh-so-wonderful human beings fry.

[aikoaiko]

7. And who said anything about the death penalty or life in prison?

Imaginary post?

:shrug:

[ZombieHorde]

9. I thought lawyers were educated about logical fallacies. nt

[blondeatlast]

29. ...

:spray:

[Stinky The Clown]

10. Great histrionics

First, let's start with your pro death penalty accusation. You are way off base and you insult me by saying it. You have NO FUCKING IDEA what my views are on that score. I am frequently excoriated with I post my anti death penalty views. I would accept your apology if you are will to admit you spoke inappropriately about it.

Stallworth paid his dues and did so honorably. His life after the incident has been exemplary. That said, there is no doubt that he got a very light sentence. And to be cited as "courageous" for coming out of jail and going into the coddled, bubble world of an NFL player is the height of stupidity. What courage, exactly, did he show?

You want courage? Watch that innocent man walk with dignity to the death chamber for a crime committed by someone else.

I'm serious about the apology, counselor.

[DefenseLawyer]

11. Spare me.

The ONLY purpose for yet another thread referencing Michael Vick this is to throw red meat to mob that has gathered here. Beyond that, you are simply adding to the prevalent sentiment here among these "liberals" that criminals all get off easy. Of course using an NFL player isn't exactly an example of the average ex-con, but it sure makes easier to jump on "fuck these criminals" bandwagon, and you've seen that here, as most of the other responses have come from that mob. This "award" is given by the players, they obviously have their own criteria for choosing it and beyond that it is utterly meaningless. It's a private award given by private citizens. Of course you don't really care, after all, you just wanted to stir the Michael Vick pot. Mission accomplished.

[Stinky The Clown]

12. I see you deftly spared me what you owe me.

Not suprised, just noted.

I also note that you're excellent at creating narratives about people that fit well your agenda.

Aren't you due in court or something?

All that and you *still* owe me that apology.

[DefenseLawyer]

15. If I had asserted that you personally supported the death penalty

I would apologize. Since I didn't, it makes apologizing for it a difficult task. I was speaking of the overall tone of "this place", which has become pretty vengeful and brutal, akin to those that cheer for death and prison. Your little nugget of non-information certainly added to that climate, and that was you intention in posting it, which you don't deny. I'm afraid in this instance the best I can give you is the classic non-apology apology, because I am truly sorry that you were offended by my comments. And I have nothing on the calendar til this afternoon, but thanks for asking.

[Stinky The Clown]

16. Nice sidestep . . . .

Very professional.

[Lasher]

19. A wasted opportunity to show some character.

Admitting to our mistakes is a sign of strength, not weakness.

[apocalypsehow]

23. Any reasonable observer can see you got the better of the debate - and that you have absolutely

nothing to apologize for. Well done. :thumbsup:

[hfojvt]

28. you spoke of the tone based on just the OP though

before the rest of DU responded, so it was the OP you thought represented something seriously wrong with this place before the rest of us had even voted it onto the greatest page.

[Fumesucker]

14. I have a close relative that did six years on the chain gang for drugs and burglary..

When he got out he had to start his own business because no one would hire him, thirty plus years later he's quite successful in a modest way.

I preface my comment with that to show that I'm not anti-con, but Vick got a deal that damn few ex-cons get, a contract worth tens of millions for playing a kid's game in front of adulating crowds and then get patted on the back and told what a great fellow he is by the President no less.

There are people who are punished far more severely for far less heinous crimes and are totally relegated to a lifetime of menial jobs at best, I know damn well that as a defense attorney you know this. That is what is upsetting many people here, the special deal that Vick got due to an ability to play some stupid fucking game better than most.

[Stinky The Clown]

18. Thank you. So many people fail to see this.

Someone very, very dear to me has two felony drug convictions for simple possession. A very gifted person who thought skin popping was a controllable recreational experience. A life of meniality - or work as a drug counselor, is all that can now be hoped for . . . . if that.

Vick and Stallworth get awards. Vick gets the president's admiration for "overcoming" or what the fuck ever.

Photo ops, sound bites, memorable quotes, and pandering to the knuckle walkers and mouth breathers.

[Lasher]

20. Get busted for a misdemeanor DUI and you'll have a hard time getting a decent job.

For the rest of your life. Unless you're Junior or Lord Vader. Then it's youthful indiscretion that doesn't count.

[Scurrilous]

21. ROFL

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6286775&mesg_id=6286885

[Stinky The Clown]

22. I see my fan club is active. Are you stalking me?

May I call you my fan? It would be nice to be able to point to you when I need to know I'm loved.

[blondeatlast]

30. Exactly. this issue isn't nearly as b/w as many on the seemingly "pro-Vick" side want to make it. nt

[Ignis]

33. +1. Thanks for that personal note.

The system is fucked, and if we can't change it at a national level, I'll continue to do my damnedest on a local level to help those who need it most.

But tears for multi-millionaire dog-mutilating Mr. Vick? Fuck that for a game of soldiers.

[some guy]

3. It doesn't bother me that he got this award.

:shrug:

He hit a person with his car; the person died. He pled guilty because he felt it was the morally correct thing to do. He was sentenced, served his time.

He didn't deliberately kill any beings. He didn't callously inflict pain on a living being.

edit to add: his post-collision actions seem to underscore that he understood the pain he caused the family; he didn't drag the case out and extend their pain.

He paid a financial settlement to them - obviously not as good as having the person back in their life, but he couldn't have accomplished that anyway, so money is all he could have given, and did so without adding to their suffering.

[theHandpuppet]

4. Sorry, but when you drive drunk

You have callously decided you don't give a rat's ass about other people's lives.

[some guy]

5. True.

And sometimes a person learns lessons vicariously, other times people have to learn lessons first-hand.

[theHandpuppet]

8. And I'll just bet...

...the family of Stallworth's victim are so glad he's learned a lesson now... maybe. :sarcasm: Maybe they can be present at the ceremony to hand him his big hero award.

[JuniperLea]

17. Some men learn by reading...

Some by observation, and some have to pee on the electric fence for themselves. There's no honor in such peeing.

[Liquorice]

6. He should be in prison for murder, IMO. nt

[onenote]

13. Should anyone who drives drunk be in prison for attempted murder?

[uncommon]

26. Yes.

[blondeatlast]

31. Since I don't think a charge for "attempted manslaughter" could exist*,

my inclination is yes.

*In the case of DUI, it might be time to create such a law.

[onenote]

32. The charge of attempted manslaughter does exist in quite a few states

A few examples:
Ohio: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/05/driver_that_struck_four_at_pol.html
Florida: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-10-14/news/fl-teen-charged-shooting-20101014_1_manslaughter-charge-ruger-pistol
California: http://www.sbsun.com/ci_3578327
Arizona: http://www.westvalleyview.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=18749
Wyoming: http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/articles/2010/12/14/news/thursday/news03.txt
Utah: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705315687/Woman-faces-2-counts-attempted-manslaughter.html
Colorado: http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20091029/NEWS/910289962

[mythology]

24. To be fair

when the guy who was hit ran across the middle of the road in relatively early morning hours, not in a cross walk, he also declared that he didn't care that much about his life.

Additionally the victim's family agreed to the limited time in prison, yes as part of a settlement, but no amount of time in jail was going to raise the deceased.

The police and prosecutor's office both lauded Stallworth's willingness to accept responsibility and lack of any previous record indicated that a decreased sentence was warranted.

[uncommon]

25. Agreed. That's murder imo, even if he felt bad about it afterwards.

[Hannah Bell]

27. how many awards have george bush, bill clinton & bush senior been given?

if your outrage is that killers are given awards, why not focus on those whose killing was deliberate & in the millions?