Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2001 23:18:34 -0700
From: apfanning@yahoo.com ("Alan Fanning")
Subject: [lpaz-repost] Fw: McGuckin: Crazy Woman or the Next American Heroine?
To: lpaz-repost@yahoogroups.com ("ALP Repost")
McGuckin: Crazy Woman or the Next American Heroine?
Commentary by J.J. Johnson 06.05.01
To a woman who was arrested on charges that can only be described as
'dubious', tens of thousands across the nation hoped, prayed, and even
sent in funds for JoAnn McGuckin to make the unreasonable bail of
$100,000. We were on the line when the ruling came for her to be
released on her own recognizance. We were all overjoyed.
When the word came: "She's not leaving the jail." My first thought
was, "Is she crazy??" Then I heard myself answer:
"Yeah - crazy like a fox."
In the novel "Cracking the Liberty Bell", a famous line was stated
more than once: "Sometimes you gotta be a little bit crazy to beat
crazy people. Sane people don't do the unexpected". This is exactly
what has happened in Sandpoint, Idaho on Monday.
JoAnn McGuckin has effectively taken a page from the Civil Rights
movement, and took a stand on principle. Some won't dare call her
anything but insane... but a woman still grieving over the loss of her
husband, and the possibly of her children being stolen from her, sends
words from jail in northern Idaho that speaks for millions Americans:
Joann McGuckin
The state needs to learn its place
"...The state needs to learn its place -- and that is not in family
business. I do not accept the charges to begin with. It will be up to
them to explain their behavior to everyone because it affects us all.
May the public demand some answers as well.
"May the family be protected forever and ever. May they (authorities)
be punished for their imposition, but may affairs of the heart be the
purview of love within the house and may they never be confused."
"The Constitution of the United States of America supports this
premise..."
Those will sound like insane words only to those who are already...
insane.
These were the words of a mother whose children were raised on such
principles as to openly defy what many people believe was a blatantly
unlawful assault on not just the McGuckins, but the American Family as
a whole. The McGuckin children did what most parents would expect
their children to do if trouble was outside - stay put until they
heard word from their mother.
It is something that has been lost upon local, state and federal
governments. This nation and its Constitution was built on principles
they dictate. There is a higher sovereignty than government itself.
That is the sovereignty of family.
An analysis of JoAnn McGuckin's refusal to sign documents out of
principle, leave jail a 'free woman', along with her public statement,
show another strategy beyond what anyone may have considered.
Most of the media pundits who failed to cover the real side of the
story did all they could to show that JoAnn is insane. By refusing to
sign the documents, she's demonstrated that she is aware of the
charges facing her - that she is not insane, and she is competent to
stand trial if necessary.
A jury trial over the charges on JoAnn would be all but pointless. It
would be all but impossible to pool a jury that would convict her.
It also deflects the accusation that she is unfit to be a mother as
the prosecution charges. By her refusing to leave free of cost, she is
proving that she cares for her family so much she would stay in jail
rather than being prohibited from being with them. As a contrast, the
actions of the children during the past 5 days shows she raised
them... to be just like her.
Rogue, so-called "watchdog organizations" will, of course, claim that
some will use this stand by JoAnn as a rallying cry. They will only do
so out of jealousy that they can't find any heroes on their side. They
can only wish their mothers would do the same for them.
Each day JoAnn sits in jail on principle will only increase the
outrage over the local government's actions....and maybe it should.
I am not a mother in Sandpoint, Idaho, but if I were, and knowing the
love of a mother for her children, I think that I would have to
consider marching to that jail, and demanding that I be incarcerated
with her... for her "crime" is certainly not worse than mine would be,
the "crime" of loving her children, of teaching her children to honor
the Constitution, of raising her children to be Americans... and to
expect no less from anyone elected or appointed to office! To require
her to accept an order to stay away from those well-loved,
well-taught, well-raised children in order to get out of jail now
would be an even greater hardship than the one she now endures.
JoAnn McGuckin has nothing to lose by staying in jail. Perhaps neither
do the rest of us.
And it's time for local governments across America to read the direct
words of JoAnn McGuckin - The state needs to learn its place -- and
that is not in family business.
--
Ray Keller
raykeller@theriver.com
http://personal.riverusers.com/~raykeller/
"You don't expect governments to obey the law because of some
higher moral development. You expect them to obey the law because
they know that if they don't, those who aren't shot will be hanged."
-Michael Shirley
Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every
other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birth-right of an
American ...the unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of
either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it
will ever remain, in the hands of the people.
-Tench Coxe, 20 Feb 1788
Gun Control: The theory that a woman found dead in an alley, raped and
strangled with her panty hose, is somehow morally superior to a
woman explaining to police how her attacker got that fatal bullet
wound
I would prefer to live in a free society than
a drug free society - even if the latter could
actually be achieved.
For among other evils which being unarmed brings you,
it causes you to be despised, and this is one of those
ignominies against which a prince ought to guard himself,
as is shown later on. Because there is nothing proportionate
between the armed and the unarmed; and it is not reasonable
that he who is armed should yield obedience willingly to him
who is unarmed, or that the unarmed man should be secure among
armed servants. Because, there being in the one disdain and in
the other suspicion, it is not possible for them to work well
together. -- Nicolo Machiavelli
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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