Something that looks like justice
Dharun Ravi is not a sacrificial lamb
Something that looks like justice
Some call vengeance evil. Others call it justice. I think it depends on whose eyes you are looking through, and whether they have shed a victim’s tears.
I was thinking of this as I listened to a New Jersey judge render sentence against Dharun Ravi, the young man convicted of invading the privacy of Tyler Clementi. Clementi threw himself off of the George Washington bridge when he realized that he’d been spied on having sex with another man, and that his Rutgers roommate was the architect of that cruel act.
Ravi was also convicted of witness tampering, hindering an investigation and other similar offenses. But Ravi was neither charged with, nor convicted of, killing Clementi.
And yet, the media and special interest groups hijacked the narrative and pounded out the message that Clementi killed himself because he was ashamed of being gay, and that Ravi was the catalyst to the act. It is almost as if they believed Ravi was standing behind Clementi on that bridge, and either whispered in his ear, or pushed him off.
There is no question that this case was the result of a perfect storm. First, you have the increasingly intrusive state of technology which eliminates any private corner in our lives. Then, you have the epidemic of suicide, particularly among young people. And finally, you have society’s increased focus on bullying, particularly when the victims are-or are perceived to be-sexual minorities.
Dharun Ravi had no chance of being treated as a normal defendant. He became the whipping boy for a lot of social causes. He was not a young man who made a forgivable mistake, as so many young defendants (many of whom come from the inner city and blame drugs and poverty for their crimes) have been labeled by progressives.
Had Ravi been sentenced to significant prison time, he would have faced certain deportation. Had he not been sentenced to some detention, he would have faced the anger of the advocates for those ‘social causes.’ And so the judge did what judges are supposed to do: he rendered a just decision.
Ravi will get 30 days detention, as part of a probationary sentence of three years. He will get community service. He will pay fines. But he will not be the sacrificial lamb to those ‘social causes’ which have motivated a despicable and dangerous slew of ‘hate crime’ laws.
This time around, vengeance was replaced by compassion. And it looked like justice.
While many were preparing to lynch George Zimmerman, ultra liberal Alan Dershowitz held out for true justice. It seems that the evidence will exonerate Zimmerman.
Judge Glenn Berman has administered true justice in the case of Dharun Ravi.
Perhaps there is such a thing as justice. If this continues I will need to revise my belief that our system has failed. In the meantime prepare for the 24/7 news cycle to inspire mayhem.— PlumberJoe
How does someone get off twisting this into blaming “progressives”? Holy cr ap! Sure, the media (the non-existent co-called liberal media, btw) certainly manipulated a narrative intended to pull in ratings and readership, but most progressive or liberal voices on this had more to do with outrage at Rutgers and Ravi for his lack of remorse, lying, obstruction, etc. Many cautioned holding this particular instance up as a gay related “hate crime”, especially during the cresting bully-awareness period. Most of the prominent commentary focused on Clementi’s motive to end his life rather than Ravi’s motives (which, in my opinion, court reports showed were ugly at best) Shall we go into any of the several pages of horrible and vile commentary from the right on this matter that anyone can find with a simple search? Personally, I feel that the judge has issued a just sentence. No one seriously attributed Clementi’s death directly to Ravi (it was a suicide), but maybe one positive outcome of this maybe that society now views cyber-invasion as a serious violation and is worthy of the criminal charges such activity can bring. That doesn’t have a political partisanship.— Google It- Google says, "How does someone get off twisting this into blaming 'progressives'?"
Where is the reference to progressives, other than in your imagination?
— PlumberJoe - "He was not a young man who made a forgivable mistake, as so many young defendants (many of whom come from the inner city and blame drugs and poverty for their crimes) have been labeled by progressives." Put the bottle down and maybe try reading first.— Google It
- Once again the author is incapable of stepping out of her boiling cauldron of anger and hostility about any and all things gay-related, to exude a drop of decency. The snide and immature use of quotes in reference to social causes (spotlight on crimes of bias, bullying, moral accountability and education on these matters) is the best that the Angel of those who cause Death & Destruction, can do? “Sacrificial lamb”? Hardly – more like an arrogant, disgusting, manipulative, conniving, spoiled, mean-spirited creep (based on reported court testimony), who lucked out by sadistically invading and bullying someone for social entertainment and degradation, in a state with no precedence for such newly developed level of criminal acts. The judge issued a legally appropriate sentence that will hopefully result in the opportunity for Ravi to turn his life around (an opportunity that would never happen to one of those “progressive-labeled” “inner-city” “defendants”. See how quotes are supposed to be used?) . Criminal “justice” may have been served; let’s see if moral “justice” is served – Ravi needs to start his sentence with humility and do what’s truly right: finally issue a deeply heart-felt and sincerely public apology to Clementi’s parents and family. They are the ones who’ve lost the most in all of this and deserve at least that much.— B Beal 19146
- Suicide is the coward's way out, with exceptions. There seems to be no reason for exception in this case.
Your hyperbole aside, who are you to deem what is right and wrong. Yours is but one opinion among millions. So keep the perspective.— PlumberJoe 
Comment removed.- That statement you reference is true. So what is your gripe other than you cannot handle the truth?
It still remains that justice has prevailed. Do you have a problem with that, too. Your little excursions to the sidelines cannot remove where the spotlight belongs.
JUSTICE HAS PREVAILED.— PlumberJoe - Now that the amateurs have had their say, let's have a real look at what happened.
Ravi invaded Clementi's privacy and mocked him severely.
Clementi could not handle it and went the suicide route.
That is a tragedy.
The press and many others took sides and fomented grief for everyone involved.
This is not the first time that current technology has been used to spy and humiliate people. although it is becoming increasingly prevalent and dangerous.
There was enormous public pressure, much of it from the "usual suspects" to throw the book at Ravi.
That did not happen. Judge Glenn Berman, with a cool head and a cool hand, administered a sentence to put the perspective of real justice onto this case.
And that is the message I saw in this Opinion Piece. And not the inane clamoring of Google and Beal.— PlumberJoe - Comment removed.
- and which paragraph in the above is in error????? — PlumberJoe
- Christine, you're right on about the sentence. My heart goes out to the Clementi family as the loss of a child no matter how is life-altering and heart-breaking. The Judge did not pander to anyone here and that is why we must support an independent Judiciary.— lport
- Good post, lport. And how are you going to handle it when the charges against Zimmerman are summarily dismissed when the trial opens (or before). Too bad he cannot get a pro bono from Dershowitz to help him avoid injustice.— PlumberJoe
- Iport, you took the words out of my mouth. When I heard earlier that Ravi might get 10 years or deportation, I was appalled. He did a stupid thing, yes, but he was not (and was not charged with) responsibility for the death of poor Clementi.
Christine hit every nail on the head here. The sentence was just because it was not an act of mindless vengeance but a sentence to fit the crime of invading privacy. It was not a verdict to fit a "hate crime".
And do we know exactly why Clementi committed suicide (like so many young people his age)? There could be multiple reasons for that act of desperation. Psychic pain is often ineffable.
Ravi received a just and well deserved sentence. He now has a criminal record that will follow him everywhere. And if he has a conscience, he should be feeling ashamed of his callous failure in judgment.— Magistra - Plumber, you keep bringing up the Martin/Zimmerman tragedy as if there is some relevance to this case. Nothing would have happened if Zimmerman had simply done what he was told and stayed in his vehicle. Martin did not take his own life. It was taken from him by Zimmerman.
He deserves a much different kind of justice than Ravi received.— Magistra
Email Christine M. at cflowers1961@yahoo.com Reach Christine M. at cflowers1961@yahoo.com.
