Recently I saw a teenage boy standing on the corner of the Smokey Point intersection, holding up a bright neon poster that proclaimed he had shoplifted at the adjacent Safeway store, and that he was sorry for what he did. I explained to my teenage daughter, and subsequently confirmed later, what I suspected this situation to be. Holding up this sign was the punishment agreed upon by the parent and store management. I could not have agreed more. While this must have been deeply humiliating to the young man, it allows ownership for the wrong he committed, shows parental concern and responsibility, and effective creativity by all involved. It seems an appropriate way to teach a lesson, and in so doing, reduce or eliminate the chance of such behavior from repeating. I congratulate all those involved, including the young person who made a bad decision, then fixed what he broke.
My son just returned from a poor village in Peru, completing a two-year commitment with the Peace Corps. He shared a similar story of crime and punishment. A villager was caught stealing a cow. Involving police from long distances away is not feasible. The local magistrate ordered this man to walk four miles each day, for a week, to the nearest “highway,” and stand naked with a sign that asked for his forgiveness for stealing. My son said this was effective, that it does not inflict further suffering on a poor family, and crime is all but nonexistent.
I would welcome an extension of this use of punishment in our society. I wish it was extended especially to those who breach our trust, and in particular elected officials. A better alternative, or in addition to the time they may serve at the comfortable country clubs that are supposed to be prisons.
Rob Dietz
Arlington
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