Dynamite to cause avalanches on the slopes

watching the science channel last night, I saw a bit about some folks who cause avalanches for a living. They find likely spots where the terrible snow flows may occur and blast them so that they will give way and clear the danger while no one is in harm's way. I've been watching the news and I feel like some folks are doing the culturally equivalent thing. But I'm not so sure that their intent is as benign. I'm watching the slippery slopes be made much safer to ski by people causing huge calamities that no one seems to notice.

The first one that caught my eye was in Canada. Here a man unsuccessfully tried to get the high court to hear and appeal for the murder of his wife. His appeal was for a lesser charge based on the fact that she had insulted his honor. They refused. Happy ending you may think. But there is a devil in the details. They refused because of the fact that the man had had an affair and that having an affair was the very insult he claimed has sent him into the honor fueled rage. However, I see a great big hanging snow sheet there that's been cleared. Now what happens when a fiery and righteous man comes along with the same claim. Will he receive the lesser sentence? By their logic, he should.

The next one is in the UK. The odious member of the BNP was cleared of charges of race hate. Good guys lose, right? Well, not to their minds. They are considering changing the laws. I'm sure that the last time I read up on rule of law it was the exception that should repeal parts of the existing rules - not create new ones. The broader the reach of these laws that are on their very face based in subjective judgement, the scarier the power of the state becomes. Law should be as cold as possible. The fire belongs in the hearts of the juror and the minds of the trial lawyers. The people should bring the views to the laws. The laws are not the views of the people.

All around people react to extremism with more extremism. Too bad the moon isn't ready for tenants yet.