Josef Furman, 87 years old, and Jura Skomatchuk, 85, will be counting on their years to help them out, I am sure. They are currently facing charges that they served as Nazi guards during the Second World War, and concealed this fact when they applied for Canadian residency in the 1950's. If the charges are proven, the two will be stripped of their citizenship and face deportation.
Obviously, the case must be conducted with all due care, and the guilt be determined beyond the shadow of a doubt. If the guilty verdict is reached, however, action should follow with lightning speed. The age of the various people murdered in the Warsaw ghetto uprising was never considered. The age of those judged too young or too old to produce sufficient arbeit at the various camps was never considered. They were simply ordered into the lines to be marched off to their immediate death. The age of these two should mean nothing either. They should simply be loaded into the hold of the very next cargo ship leaving Canadian shores and dumped on the docks of Warnemunde.
On a like theme, yesterday I was listening to a story told by a friend of mine who works in a large department store. She was telling me about someone else who was relying on a personal characteristic to elicit a response of pity, and a lessening of otherwise harsh legal consequences. The main character of her story rode a motorized scooter, as though infirm. Perhaps she genuinely was unable to walk, but being in the scooter had not impaired her ability to steal. When she was confronted upon leaving the store, a bag positioned in front of her on the scooter was found to be loaded with stolen merchandise. She had been touring the store, making careful selection of the items she intended to purloin. The law should land every bit as heavily on this miscreant as it should on the two in the story above. Age and infirmity should be no excuse for those who have broken the laws of decency and morality.
Obviously, the case must be conducted with all due care, and the guilt be determined beyond the shadow of a doubt. If the guilty verdict is reached, however, action should follow with lightning speed. The age of the various people murdered in the Warsaw ghetto uprising was never considered. The age of those judged too young or too old to produce sufficient arbeit at the various camps was never considered. They were simply ordered into the lines to be marched off to their immediate death. The age of these two should mean nothing either. They should simply be loaded into the hold of the very next cargo ship leaving Canadian shores and dumped on the docks of Warnemunde.
On a like theme, yesterday I was listening to a story told by a friend of mine who works in a large department store. She was telling me about someone else who was relying on a personal characteristic to elicit a response of pity, and a lessening of otherwise harsh legal consequences. The main character of her story rode a motorized scooter, as though infirm. Perhaps she genuinely was unable to walk, but being in the scooter had not impaired her ability to steal. When she was confronted upon leaving the store, a bag positioned in front of her on the scooter was found to be loaded with stolen merchandise. She had been touring the store, making careful selection of the items she intended to purloin. The law should land every bit as heavily on this miscreant as it should on the two in the story above. Age and infirmity should be no excuse for those who have broken the laws of decency and morality.
2 Comments:
On Josef Furman and Jura Skomatchuk -- I can't believe that they're still finding these people lurking in the woodwork. It's amazing how the law is quick and efficient in finding those who come to Canada to find a haven from atrocities they've left behind, yet seems incapable of finding criminals in our midst.
On the drive-by shoplifter ... I remember a story from Toronto, where a hidden camera watched a homeless person begging quite effectively on the street. At the end of the begging shift, the person threw away a coat they were given into the garbage, and took the money, hopped into a van and drove away. People like that steal more than just merchandise or money -- they steal trust and compassion; the time should be harsher.
It amazes me that they are still finding people like Jose Furman.
The drive-by-shoplifter reminded me of a story of a man who use to live in my town. He walked the streets and begged for money and food. Everyone in the area knew of him and most had helped him at one time or another by giving money or food or whatever. Anyway, he was murdered, still unsolved, by being thrown off a bridge. Well as the investigation went on, they found out that the man was a had well over a million dollars in the bank!! Makes you wonder!!
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