Stuff like this sickens me..

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/01/26/drawings.arrests.ap/index.html?section=cnn_topstories

Okay. A 9 and 10 year old boy were arrested. Arrested. on FELONY charges of "written threats."
For drawing violent stick figure drawings.

I am so SICK of seeing articles where someone does this, or has a "list," and is arrested. To me, this is such a fucking travesty of our "law" system, especially the "innocent until proven guilty" part.

Why does this bother me so much?

Because I used to do it. I had lists. I drew pictures. I was teased mercilessly in grade school for being weird, but mostly for being overweight. I already had a traumatic childhood from burying my only siblings; I had enough troubles trying to -not- be overweight because my defense mechanism was to eat my grief away. Having to endure public school and the torture that other kids heap on each other didn't help.

Yeah, I know -- everyone's school life sucked, everyone got teased, etc. Wah wah wah. Okay, I'll grant you that, even though mine was enough to make me suicidal.

Here's why it bothers me. Not a single one of these articles I've ever seen has said anything concerning whether or not the person/people in the drawing or list were GIVEN the item, or SAW the item.

How can it be a THREAT if the person it's about doesn't know?

I drew pictures of people that teased me dying in creative ways. It let me blow off steam. It gave me a little bit of power when I felt powerless to stop their behavior. I didn't show it to them, I didn't show it to the teachers, and I certainly didn't -actually- plot their deaths or actually succeed in hurting or killing anyone. I did it to vent. to let off steam. I also used to put pictures up on a steel-tipped dartboard and throw darts at them. Again, a way to handle anger without actually -hurting- anything.

It's sort of like playing violent video games. I like Grand Theft Auto just like so many other people do. I love Burnout 3. But I'm not going to go out and carjack someone and start running people over. Unlike Burnout 3, I'm not going to take my car to a crowded intersection and crash to make the most damage.

This will follow these kids; they're 9 and 10 years old and will have a felony record, for Chrissakes!
They didn't do anything to hurt anyone, they didn't actually attack the kid in their drawings.. they just -drew a picture-. Welcome to America, folks.. It's illegal to draw a picture of anyone without their permission anymore, and GOD forbid you ever write up a list of names.. even if it's just a list of names of people to call soliciting donations for charity, becauase it might be construed as a "hit list."

Innocent until proven guilty, my ass. They didn't DO anything. And a drawing or a list is not a "commitment" and shouldn't be used as proof of intent.

I shudder to think of what my life would be like if I had to live MY childhood today. Drawings, lists, black trenchcoats.. I wouldn't be getting out of prison yet, I'm sure.

How soon before we have handmaids to bear children for us?

NOT AGAIN.

Rachel called me at 8:45 or so. Things are fucked up again!
Closing was cancelled for Friday. Now it -might- be Monday.
I hate Chase Home Finance. The Title Company now hates them!
Chase called the title company yesterday screaming at them for a revised title because
Rachel's social security card showed up in the middle of this deal and everything had
to be changed from her maiden name to mine. Chase won't/can't release the closing
costs to the title company, and the title company has to have them 3 days prior to close
because they have to forward them to HUD for final approval. (overnight-out, overnight-back)

So right now, my Monday close is hinging upon me being able to make Chase understand this
tomorrow. I took off work today and it was pointless because nothing got done. Except I can't
do this stuff from work, because I don't really have access to a normal phone, and really can't
take the time to do it, even though I -have- been taking the time. (And it -does- affect my work.)
I'm stressed, I'm losing worktime..

Oh, and FedEx Ground is holding a package of mine ransom since I work days and can't be home to personally sign for it when the Delivery Driver deigns to grace my home with his presence. Despite phone calls to deliver after 5:30, I have to wait 1-2 business days for someone to set up an appt. for me to pick up my package at an undisclosed location. Maybe Dick Cheney has it.

That's what I get for winning an ebay auction with a minimal description, poorly written shipping policy, and apparently dealing with someone who speaks little english. When I bid on a $3.00 item that ways 11 pounds, I do NOT expect to pay $20+ in shipping. And for my $20+ in shipping, I should NOT have to get fucked by FedEx this way. Not to mention, if, in your auction you -DEMAND- to be paid within 24 hours, why, when I email you to ask if it's been shipped out you tell me "You paid Friday. I'm OFF Saturday and Sunday, and Monday is a Holiday. It'll be shipped out Tues. -0R- Wed." Ummm... Excuse me? YOU DEMAND MONEY in 24 HOURS?? Then I DEMAND SHIPPING in 24 Hours!!

I shouldn't say this, and I shouldn't even joke about it, and I WOULD NEVER DO IT, but.. sometimes I think about borrowing one of dad's guns..
Thank god I'm smarter than that. But still.. *sigh*