Letters to the Editors

Judicial system too often shows gender bias

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 29, 2000

I agree with the conclusion in Mary Jo Melone's April 23 column 1 degree of separation from justice that the verdict for Valessa Robinson was inadequate. Melone also questioned but did not answer the reason for the substantially lower degree of guilt for Valessa Robinson compared to the two males involved in the murder. Valessa's jail time will be much less than the 25 years and death penalty given to the two males.

The reason for this discrepancy and the answer to the question raised by Melone is that there is a bias in our judicial system in favor of women and against men. In the subjective determination of criminal charges, women tend to be tried under lesser degrees of crime, convicted of lesser degrees and given lighter sentences than men. This occurs because of the bias in our society to assume that women are intrinsically good and men are not. Society likes to think of the "fair sex" as incapable of committing gruesome crimes, and when a woman is involved in one, she must have been under the influence of a man, as though she couldn't help herself.

When a man kills his wife in a jealous rage, you can bet he will get a serious sentence. But when a woman kills her husband, usually the sentence is considerably less or none at all because of "abuse" or because she has children who need her. The fact that a man is a father doesn't count, but that a woman is a mother is a big plus for her.

Jurors, both men and women, are especially influenced by this societal bias. It is difficult for a jury or a judge to sentence a sweet, young-looking girl dressed in her Sunday-school best to life in prison when she reminds them of their sister, daughter or dear old mom. It didn't help the men in this case.

Women have equal rights with men and deserve a level field of opportunity with men. Women do not deserve special treatment by our courts because of their gender.
-- Franklin Collins, Palm Harbor

They had problems with Harry Potter?

I just finished reading the second Harry Potter book, part of a series by J.K. Rowling. Concurrently, I read the daily reports on the Valessa Robinson case.

In the Harry Potter book, the 16-year-old "bad guy" tries to subvert, dominate and then kill the good guy (Potter). He fails and is detroyed himself by the very evil he unleashed on an innocent victim.

In the Valessa Robinson case, the 15-year-old "bad guy" defies, plots against and then brutally kills the good guy (her own mother). She shifts the blame to someone else and hopes that people will excuse her on the basis of her chosen drug habit.

The Harry Potter books were banned in several schools despite their message that "it is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." The Valessa Robinson case ended with a murderer receiving a mere third-degree murder conviction. And the lesson here, children, is. . .?
-- Erika L. Chambers, St. Petersburg

Valessa and Bernice Bowen

I believe that the Valessa Robinson's jury has made a mockery of our entire judicial system and is sending a very disturbing message out to all young Americans. Valessa committed an adult crime and deserves adult punishment.

Just think! For merely withholding information, Bernice Bowen got a harsher sentence than Valessa likely will get. Where is the justice?
-- Nancy Pence, Tampa

What about the good children?

Will you please explain to me why a girl, Valessa Robinson, is given so much space in your newspaper? This was a girl on drugs who was involved in the killing of her Christian mother.

Are you aware that there are thousands of young people who are law-abiding, hard-working and intelligent? Interview kids who don't take drugs, who are contributing good to our society and who live morally pure lives.

I guess that's not news, right?
-- Addie Anderson, Clearwater

Column overkill

Re: Testimony and tears leave only a riddle, by Mary Jo Melone, April 20.

I would not want Mary Jo Melone to speak for me. She presumes too much. She writes: "From a kid's point of view, even thinking about killing your mother -- and try naming a kid who hasn't thought about it -- is like contemplating killing God."

I, for one, never thought about killing my mother, and I doubt that all daughters and sons have had that thought. Of course your mother is your closest relative, both physically and emotionally (at least at birth); we tend to have conflicts and disagreements with those closest to us. But Melone took it one step too far, in my opinion. Did she do it to get someone like me to write a letter?

Perhaps I was just very lucky to have the kind of mother and parents that I had. Fortunately, I don't remember or believe there was a dark side to my mother/daughter relationship that Melone suggests.
-- Nancy Anne McDonald, St. Petersburg

Incongruity in court cases

Re: Justices overturn murder verdicts and Judge sentences burglar to 165 years in prison, April 21.

James Randall's first-degree murder conviction and death sentence are overturned by the state Supreme Court because his choking behavior during sex does not necessarily lead to death, even though it happened twice. On the same day, Harold Hempstead is sentenced to 165 years in prison for burglary, with the judge telling him what a despicable human being he is and he does "not deserve to ever again walk around as a free man."

Am I missing something or are we turning into a society that condemns crimes against property more than crimes against people? Maybe these are two isolated cases, but is the incongruity of these two judicial rulings a reflection of the declining credibility of our legal system?
-- Rick Wilk, Oldsmar

More helicopter precautions needed

I am certainly concerned about the recent crash of Bayflight's medical trauma helicopter and have some thoughts about this. Several years ago, while working as a nurse at Bayfront Medical Center, I was taken on a tour of the flight deck and chopper by a pilot friend. As a former aircraft commander and flight instructor in tactical airlift (Vietnam), I was surprised to learn that the medical helicopter had only one pilot, one set of flight controls and was restricted to visual flight rules, with no navigational ability for flying in inclement weather.

A co-pilot is required on all commercial airlines, all military passenger aircraft-including all helicopters; co-pilots are an extra pair of eyes for scanning the terrain, for other aircraft, towers, etc. as well as a back-up in case the first pilot has any difficulties. (My friend had a fatal heart attack shortly after this guided tour; he was at home.)

Furthermore, every professional flight, no matter how urgent or routine, needs a preflight review of the planned route, including all towers (which are clearly marked on aviation maps) so that these hazards can be avoided.

Was a preflight briefing done? Was a flight plan filed with the local Flight Service Station? The Federal Aviation Administration should require all medical helicopters to have dual flight controls, two pilots, filed flight plans for all trips and adequate instrumentation for marginal visibility. A co-pilot could file the flight plan in-flight, if necessary.

Since almost all trauma helicopters contract with non-profit hospitals and cost is a major concern, subsidies should be provided by federal and local governments for these extra costs. We have the money for military transports, why not civilian trauma choppers? Flight safety should always be the highest concern. Even the best pilots are not perfect and a backup co-pilot should be required by the FAA.
-- James Willingham, R.N., St. Petersburg

Coin confusion is silly

Re: Beneath the Golden Dollar's shine confusion lurks, Business Times, April 24.

Oh please! Let's get real about this monetary issue. Since when does the U.S. Mint pass out coins made of gold at one dollar apiece?

And besides, we should always remember this golden rule, which says: "When it sounds too good to good to be true, it really is too good to be true."
-- JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater

Lawmaking is an unsavory sight

Re: Bill foists tab for pesticides on the public,
-- April 20.
"The amendment, slipped into a bill... "
"Minton said he didn't write the amendment... "
"Top lobbyists... denied involvement."
"... lobbyist Butch Calhoun acknowledged that the amendment "may have' come from him."
Can issues for which no one is responsible be put to a vote? What a Legislature!
W.J. Lineberger, Pinellas Park

When fools rule

When we elect fools to run our state we must expect foolish legislation. In regard to Howard Troxler's April 24 offering Our new university system, my motto has always been, "If it's not broke, don't try to fix it."
-- Harold Teague, Madeira Beach

A disservice to Christians

Re: Judas may deserve redemption, scholars argue, April 22.

You have done it again and on the day before Easter, the most important day in Christianity. When there is so much good that could be said about Christianity, you ran an article on your front page claiming to be a report of some so-called Bible scholars concerning Judas.

Why didn't you add to your article comments from the majority of Bible scholars who accept that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16), regardless of when it was written. Jesus said, "One of you shall betray me" (Matthew 26:16). Not all Jews betrayed Jesus, no more than all Germans were responsible for the atrocities of Hitler.

Why don't you give us Christians a break?
-- Jack Pennington, St. Petersburg

The joy of the jacaranda

Thank you, Mary Jo Melone, for your column on the jacaranda tree, A lavender reminder of Florida's fading past (April 18). Thanks to you I now know that jacarandas are unique to our area. I thought they were thrilling people everywhere at this time of year. It is my favorite tree, its blooms my favorite color. The sight of a jacaranda in bloom has made my heart sing since childhood.

Apparently, this is genetic. This month, my 9-year-old daughter took serious note of the jacarandas. She would count their ethereal heads from the interstate. As we drove through our city, she would comment on the most blooms, the tallest, the most interesting trunk, and she exclaimed with delight over the "sea of lavender" that engulfed our corner where two jacarandas touch to form an arbor. Take heart, Ms. Melone, the adoration of the jacaranda lives!
-- Laurie Jennings, St. Petersburg

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