Lindh And Tyson
What do John Walker Lindh and Mike Tyson have in common? They're both victims, according to liberal orthodoxy. And if you thought such liberal orthodoxy was dispelled after 11 September, time to rethink.
John Walker Lindh, according to this recent op-ed in the LA Times is a "victim" of brainwashing. And shouldn't we show him some sympathy? After all, "there is no evidence that he attacked any American," according to the author, Paul Morantz, a lawyer who specializes in cult and brainwashing cases. And even so, in his altered state of mind, he might have just been protecting "his new Taliban 'family'."
Well, I'm convinced. No need to punish this guy for his traitorous behavior. Just give him some therapy and "rehabilitate" him. Because heaven forbid, he couldn't be responsible for his actions.
DeWayne Wickham's column on Mike Tyson is a variation of the theme. For those who are not familiar with Tyson, he has proven himself over a number of years to be a barbarous thug with incidents ranging from rape to ear biting to beatings. He's served time in prison, yet never shows any sign of having been "rehabilitated." Wickham argues that Tyson "belongs on a psychiatrist's couch, not inside a boxing ring." That's true enough. But Wickham goes further: "In the past, instead of getting him some badly needed help, the people who manage the fight game treated Tyson like a gladiator." See, Tyson's really a victim too, a victim of evil boxing promoters who simply used him to make money. The implication is that it's really not his fault that he's a barbarous thug, and that he can be rehabilitated, with his boxing license as the carrot.
Actually, that last is the problem. Liberals like Wickham and Morantz seems to disagree that any actions should have lasting consequences. Tyson bites off Holyfield's ear? Six months with a shrink will "rehabilitate" him. Lindh commits treason? He was "brainwashed" and needs therapy, not a treason trial. And so forth.
After 11 September, the whole notion of "root causes" of misbehavior seemed to fall into disrepute. But it was foolish to think that any major reconsideration had taken place. It was just impolitic at the time to speak of such things. But now that sort of talk is starting to resurface, as the two disparate examples from the sports world and even the war on terror itself show. 11 September really didn't change everything.
[Posted at 22:52 CST on 01/28/02] [Link]
