Crime Not Worthy of Time

Vain Jangling
Some crimes are okay. Victims need to forgive and forget.

There used to be a saying, “If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.”
However, the modern version seems to be, “No worry of time, do the crime.”

John Adams noted that, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” James Madison echoed that our Constitution requires “sufficient virtue among men for self-government” and that “nothing less than the chains of despotism can restrain them from destroying and devouring one another.” However, today, more and more of society seem to believe we can be immoral and irreligious without any negative consequences. At least until it happens to them or someone they care about. Then suddenly it matters.

Have we really degenerated so far from teaching our children the difference between right and wrong, to now allowing crimes in our society to go unpunished? Where is accountability? Is it now the responsibility of the victim (the moral, the religious person) to endure and pay for the sin of those who disregard God and neighbor? Where are our leaders who “are not a terror to good works, but to the evil?” “The minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” [Romans 13]

If we want America to be better, then Americans need to expect, educate, and encourage better from everyone. It is mere vain jangling to believe we can punish the victim and reward the criminal and remain a civilized society. That is pure nonsense and poor leadership, who should be the biggest defenders of good and punishers of evil. If laws are being used to unjustly hurt people or certain people groups, then work to stop the abuse and to remove those who do so from office. However, stop the vain jangling notion that somehow ignoring crime and punishment (and virtually the victims of such) is doing individuals or society as a whole any good.