Why do I feel sympathetic towards the Dzhokhar Tsarnaev?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think people have touched on two different points that are both true. One is that there are psychopaths in the world -- people who are "wired wrong" from birth, who actually are operating under a different set of rules and motivations from most other human beings because they have no empathy. Bundy is a clear example. Eric Harris is (probably) another. I find it entirely possible, based on the reports we have so far, that Tamerlan Tsarnaev may have been one of these. But maybe not. Which brings me to my second point. There are a lot of people who commit criminal acts who are not psychopaths. For these people, they started out normal and went down a wrong path, made bad decisions, some impulsively (the Jovan Belcher case comes to mind as an example of this). Or, they come to believe in an ideology so deeply that it causes them to lose empathy for the group that is the target of the ideology (many German citizens during the Holocaust participated in unspeakable crimes because the ideology they came to believe said that Jews were less than human and thus undeserving of empathy).

It is fine and normal to feel anger toward people who commit heinous acts that cost others their lives and limbs. But it behooves us as a society to move beyond pure rage and to seek understanding of why the non-psychopaths end up committing crimes -- not to grieve for them but to try to prevent future crimes. Understanding how ideology can undermine empathy -- and how to stop that from happening -- is particularly important.

That said, I do feel some sadness for this kid. I just can't imagine how on earth doing this could have been worth forfeiting his life. Did he really feel he had nothing to live for? It is just baffling. Unlike Adam Lanza, who clearly didn't have anything to live for (in anyone's eyes, including, apparently, his). And yet, despite the fact that Newtown shook me to the core and I cried buckets for those kids and still think about those parents every day, I feel strangely sad for Lanza too. What, if anything, could have been done to prevent his spiral into darkness?

I'm sorry some of you feel too angry to be able to entertain these questions. But I refuse to be told what a "normal" response is to a tragedy or be called names because I'm not itching to kill the killers.

***slow clap***

[Anonymous]

Sympathy? No. This young man is responsible for five deaths, including that of an 8-year-old child, a police officer, and Suspect #1. Older brother is now implicated in a triple murder in 2011. Not to mention around 180 injuries, some absolutely devastating. More bombings were planned. The entire city of Boston was shut down for an entire day. At age 19, one is considered an adult - this is not like stealing a candy bar. Hell yes, Tsarnaev needs to never see daylight again. I don't entertain the notion of a conspiracy, simply because everyone has a camera phone and there were many at the site of the bombing. Too much proof and too many witnesses.

Mixed feelings? Yes. Because of his age. My youngest son will be 19 this year. He has mental health issues and I cannot intervene because he is legally an adult. I don't think he would ever do something like this, but all the recent violence perpetrated by this age group seems to be accelerating and the horror of last week hit too close to home. Literally as well, as I live about 50 miles from Boston.

[Anonymous]

For those you misguided softies who are self-loathing enough to actually feel some modicum of "sympathy" for these creeps, how about this?? YOU, AS A TAXPAYER, HAVE BEEN PAYING THEM WELFARE BENEFITS FOR MANY YEARS. And I'd also love to know what government-backed student loans, etc. these "boys" had been taking advantage of, all the time while plotting to murder innocent Americans.

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2013/04/tamerlan_tsarnaev_got_mass_welfare_benefits

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

For those you misguided softies who are self-loathing enough to actually feel some modicum of "sympathy" for these creeps, how about this?? YOU, AS A TAXPAYER, HAVE BEEN PAYING THEM WELFARE BENEFITS FOR MANY YEARS. And I'd also love to know what government-backed student loans, etc. these "boys" had been taking advantage of, all the time while plotting to murder innocent Americans.

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2013/04/tamerlan_tsarnaev_got_mass_welfare_benefits

Um, this can not be true. White people do not receive welfare benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am NOT condoning Dzhokhar's actions but you do realize that George Washington would be considered a terrorist by the British. It is all a matter of perspective...

Well I guess the 13 colonies might have become Canada 2. Or extra additions like Florida would have been a Spanish speaking version of Quebec. The Revolutionary War was a war for Independence - geographic NOT core values. So PP's perpective is militant Islam has a right to wage war on the USA in the USA? There are people who came here for religious freedom [Protestants ] and our traditional beliefs don't include Islam applied to secular living etc.

In the USA Islam is a religion of choice not a form of government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:.... try to prevent future crimes. Understanding how ideology can undermine empathy -- and how to stop that from happening -- is particularly important.

That said, I do feel some sadness for this kid. ...
I'm sorry some of you feel too angry to be able to entertain these questions. But I refuse to be told what a "normal" response is to a tragedy or be called names because I'm not itching to kill the killers.

***slow clap***

I cut the irrelevant quoted sections. What do you people expect? Give people like these what they want? Land and a society/govt ruled by Islam? Use the military to rid Chechny etc of Christians and Russians? Give them Massachusetts and Connecticut? Get real.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if some of you expressing sympathy for DT also sympathize with teens in the 13-16 range who commit murder?

Also, what are your thoughts on Letalvis D. Cobbins, one of the men convicted in the deaths of Channon Gail Christian and Hugh Christopher Newsom? All signs pointed to Letalvis being influenced by his older (and criminal) brother to commit the crime.

Do you feel similar sympathy for him and his lost promise?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if some of you expressing sympathy for DT also sympathize with teens in the 13-16 range who commit murder?

Also, what are your thoughts on Letalvis D. Cobbins, one of the men convicted in the deaths of Channon Gail Christian and Hugh Christopher Newsom? All signs pointed to Letalvis being influenced by his older (and criminal) brother to commit the crime.

Do you feel similar sympathy for him and his lost promise?

Your questions implies that the feeling is wrong or not allowable. Neither is correct.

Putting that aside, I usually do feel sadness when I seen instances of wasted youth (esp when the person seemed "normal" prior to the crime). This is so especially when that young person has been influenced by an adult. That does not excuse the behavior or mean that severe punishment is not warranted. The feelings are not mutually exclusive. You can desire one (punishment) and still have feelings of sadness or sympathy (as you continue to state it).

I don't see why some of you don't understand that. Or why you feel that that is a bad thing.

[Anonymous]

Additionally, the case you cite is bait which I simply am not going to take. The cases are simply not comparable on any level.

[Anonymous]

White privilige. Ain't it grand? Even Lefty liberals love a cute white kid. If his name had been Jamall Jackson and he had cornrows and he screwed up looking face you would be ready to hang

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if some of you expressing sympathy for DT also sympathize with teens in the 13-16 range who commit murder?

Also, what are your thoughts on Letalvis D. Cobbins, one of the men convicted in the deaths of Channon Gail Christian and Hugh Christopher Newsom? All signs pointed to Letalvis being influenced by his older (and criminal) brother to commit the crime.

Do you feel similar sympathy for him and his lost promise?

Your questions implies that the feeling is wrong or not allowable. Neither is correct.

Putting that aside, I usually do feel sadness when I seen instances of wasted youth (esp when the person seemed "normal" prior to the crime). This is so especially when that young person has been influenced by an adult. That does not excuse the behavior or mean that severe punishment is not warranted. The feelings are not mutually exclusive. You can desire one (punishment) and still have feelings of sadness or sympathy (as you continue to state it).

I don't see why some of you don't understand that. Or why you feel that that is a bad thing.

So you do feel sympathy for Letalvis?

[Anonymous]

I feel bad for Dzhokhar too. I live in Massachusetts and have been going through every emotion since the bombings. What happened was a cruel and senseless act that has permanently changed hundreds of lives. Maybe if I knew someone who was directly affected by the bombings I would feel differently towards Dzhokhar. When I see his picture, he looks like a little baby-faced kid. Hearing stories about him from friends and people that knew him, you would never think they were talking about the person responsible for the bomings. What he did was wrong and he should/will be punished for it, but knowing what his life will be like if he doesn't get the death penalty is sad. At 19, you aren't thinking clearly about your actions. We all do stupid things as teenagers and looking back wonder why we did it and wonder how we may still be alive. I'm not saying he didn't know what he was doing, but I don't think he really thought of what the consequences would be. I feel horrible for his family and friends. They lost two people they love, no matter if is a killer, they did not know that person. I just hope Dzhokhar receives a fair trial and he can somehow live with what he has done. I am only human, so it is natural to have caring emotions. I know I don't like to see people suffer, no matter what they have done. People should be punished for what they do but I don't agree with the 'eye for an eye' response.

[Anonymous]

11:37 That's a racist statement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've researched Dzhokhar's legal team. He could not ask for better defense representation than this group.

Honest question...what if they get him off on a technicality?

I think you've been watching too much TV...

That's not really an answer.

He's not getting off. They have video of him and his brother planting the bomb at the scene. They have motive (jihad). Means, motive, opportunity.

His best hope is a plea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for Dzhokhar too. I live in Massachusetts and have been going through every emotion since the bombings. What happened was a cruel and senseless act that has permanently changed hundreds of lives. Maybe if I knew someone who was directly affected by the bombings I would feel differently towards Dzhokhar. When I see his picture, he looks like a little baby-faced kid. Hearing stories about him from friends and people that knew him, you would never think they were talking about the person responsible for the bomings. What he did was wrong and he should/will be punished for it, but knowing what his life will be like if he doesn't get the death penalty is sad. At 19, you aren't thinking clearly about your actions. We all do stupid things as teenagers and looking back wonder why we did it and wonder how we may still be alive. I'm not saying he didn't know what he was doing, but I don't think he really thought of what the consequences would be. I feel horrible for his family and friends. They lost two people they love, no matter if is a killer, they did not know that person. I just hope Dzhokhar receives a fair trial and he can somehow live with what he has done. I am only human, so it is natural to have caring emotions. I know I don't like to see people suffer, no matter what they have done. People should be punished for what they do but I don't agree with the 'eye for an eye' response.

Extremely well said. Thank you for being a caring human being. I too feel sympathy for Dzhokhar. I think he will get a life sentence, rather than the death penalty, because he was coerced by his brother. I hope he finds peace in penance and enlightenment.