Robert Downey Jr.: Justice Served
Well I can’t tell you how much safer I feel now that Robert Downey Jr. is off the streets. I only hope all those who constantly criticize our legal system will take heart in this shining example of the effectiveness and solidity of American jurisprudence. I say a belated bravo to all whose taxpayer funded hard work went into finally bringing the star of “Chaplin” to justice. Where are the critics of our system now? Where are all those who seem to take such relish in castigating our legal system as a cesspool of triviality and inefficiency? I’ll tell you where. Probably cowering. Cowering in the shadow cast by this latest stunning display of justice
"...bravo to all whose taxpayer funded hard work went into
finally bringing the star of "Chaplin" to justice."American style. I for one feel immense pride knowing I live in a country where even one of the stars of the Sally Field/ Whoopi Goldberg comedy “Soapdish” is not exempt from obeying the laws of the land. I feel proud, safe and secure knowing that the coke snorting Mr. Downey is taking up jail space that might have been wasted on some killer/child molester or rapist.
The only question I have is what took so long? Why had the star of “Two Guys and A Girl” been allowed to conduct his reign of terror for so long? Why had this fiend who gave such terrific performances in such films as “Less Than Zero” and “True Believer” been walking the streets at all? Why hadn’t Molly Ringwald’s co-star in “The Pick-Up Artist” been forced to meet his fate sooner? I pay my taxes and I deserve to know that I can walk my neighborhood streets without feeling threatened by the star of “Air America” and “Restoration”. Why had this Academy Award
"...my neighborhood... had been gripped with Son of Sam-like paranoia since the start of Downey's crime wave." nominated artist who had given so many solid performances in such a wide variety of films been granted free reign to indulge his maniacal impulses? That collective sigh of relief you hear was from my neighborhood, which had been gripped with Son of Sam-like paranoia since the start of Downey’s crime wave. But thanks to the concerted effort of the law enforcement community and the judiciary it looks like the man who appeared in Robert Altman’s “Short Cuts” will no longer be able to threaten anyone for a very long while.
I must express some disappointment however with the relative leniency of the sentence. Three years seems far too light a sentence for one guilty of the heinous crimes that Mr. Downey has committed. After all Robert Chambers got 5 years and all he did was kill somebody. Now there are some who say “What is the big deal?”… “Downey wasn’t hurting anyone but himself”…… “Drug users are not criminals they are sick…They need support and treatment not incarceration!”… …. But can we as a free people truly allow feelings like compassion to leak into the administration of social policy? Can any society truly survive which allows people with substance abuse problems access to caring treatment? I say that humanity, understanding, and simple human decency have no place in the American justice system. After all where will it end? Once
"Can any society truly survive which allows people with substance abuse problems access to caring treatment?" you head down that slippery slope there’s no telling where it will lead.
Promoting caring and compassion only leads to more caring and compassion and when we as a society begin to promote love and acceptance what then? Well Mr. Downey you have met your match in our legal system, a system which deserves our cheers for recognizing its true responsibilities as the gate keeper of our civic safety. Sleep well America the young actor who played the tabloid journalist in Oliver Stone’s “Natural Born Killers” is finally behind bars.
Your comments always welcome!
