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Originally Posted by sfga6970  Betty, I guess that I don't have a softer, compassionate side and I think that the sentence is appropriate. Would you want a judge to take a convicted felon, slap him on the wrist and say, "go on home now and don't do that again"? With this sentence he is cleaning up the graves of the real heroes and it will make him think twice about doing this again. |
Oh no, SFGA, I think you misunderstood me. I don't think this man is worth the stuff which the boots trod through in jungles, in deserts, on sandy shores, on islands, on continents, and other places worn by the men who are buried in those sacred graves. To me, the man is being given an honor and a redemption he does not deserve. Preparing and preserving the final resting place of a fallen soldier is way too good for this poser. It also gives this man who has shown and acted out his fantasy-like BIRG the opportunity to touch the tangible memory and incorporate into himself pieces of memory that are sacred and not rightfully his.
The softer, compassionate side of me would have thrown him in prison for an extended period of time, fined him greatly, made him compensate each couple he had "married" or person "baptized" or "memorialized" acting as a "Marine Corps Chaplain", and downgraded his military discharge for the real Army time he had served to Dishonorable.
He should have gotten BRIG time for his BIRG - not placed him in so close contact with the sacredness of the sacrifices made on his behalf as a reward. To clean a headstone is an honor not a punishment - that was all I was trying to say. Maybe years down the road, volunteering to do such service after an appropriate jail time to make personal reparations would be appropriate on a personal basis - but not by court order at this time. It is not an honor to the fallen to sentence someone to do what others do out of respect and love and to honor those resting at that place.