With the start of the trial to determine the mental state of convicted murderer Shane Hawkins, who has already been found guilty of brutally stabbing 17-year-old Jason Grau to death while he slept before dumping his body along the Chippewa River, I find myself upset with our justice system. As far as I'm concerned, someone who confesses to murder should be dealt with in the same manner as any other cold-blooded killer. It shouldn't matter what that person's mental state was at the time of the incident. There are thousands of people out there who are mentally ill and you don't see all of them using it as an excuse to go out and murder innocent people.
As one woman testified on Monday, mental state should not excuse Shane from what he did to Jason. This particular individual stated that she also suffers from mental defects, yet she insisted that Hawkins be punished to the full extent of the law. I couldn't agree more. Anyone who commits that kind of senseless act obviously isn't right in the head to begin with, regardless of their past mental issues. Whether or not a murderer knew what he or she was doing was wrong at the time the offense should be a moot point. Someone is dead; ergo, someone should be punished.
Basically, what the jury is deciding in this particular case is if Hawkins should be sent to prison or a mental institution. Already having been found guilty of murder, I don't think mental defect should entitle criminals any sort of leniency in terms of punishment. While I am aware that there is a statute of limitations associated with determining a killer's competence to stand trial, a jury has already ruled that Hawkins was capable to do so. In fact, he took the stand Monday. But what really upsets me is the fact that the judge allowed Hawkins to ramble on during his testimony about things that seemed more ludicrous than a child's nightmares about monsters in the closet.
Thanks to live streaming, I was able to listen to some of Hawkins' testimony, but it got so bizarre, I felt as though I were listening to a sci-fi book on tape. For nearly an hour, he went on about time travel, committing murder on other planets and gods telling him to kill people. At one point, he even stated that he was the first baby born in heaven 1,200 eternities ago. After listening to that, it's safe to say that he is, in fact, a delusional sort … but, I don't think that's ever been the question. Hawkins said he is fully aware that he killed the teenager and apologized to Grau before stabbing him in the neck. So, in essence, he knows that he was in the wrong.
However, what I don't quite comprehend is why our court system allowed Hawkins to go on and on like this, essentially wasting taxpayer dollars to prove what most people already figured out when details of the murder first emerged … the man is certifiably insane. I can only imagine what kinds of things are going through the minds of the victim's family as they are listening to all of this. Regardless of what the jury decides, I think Hawkins should spend the rest of his life behind bars. He robbed a young man of his life and took a son, grandson and brother from his family. And, in all honesty, I don't think any amount of time in a mental institution will be able to rehabilitate this lost soul.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Coincidence Or Bad Omen?
Lately, there have been a great deal of odd mass animal deaths around the world, which has led to much speculation about the cause and whether or not it could be somehow associated to the 2012 phenomenon. Scientists have linked a number of the mass bird deaths to the unusually cold weather and/or upper level hail. And that makes sense. But, what has shocked me is that it's not just fish and birds that are dying off mysteriously.
Over the weekend, 200 cows in Wisconsin were found dead in a field. Though this particular event could have been linked to a virus, it's a little disturbing that all of these mass deaths are happening so close together and in a variety of different species. I mean, there have been reports of crabs, blackbirds, buffalo, seals, penguins, bats and all different kinds of fish found dead in masses all over the world. Granted, it could be a mere coincidence, I have found it greatly unsettling to just accept that.
While I'm not big on conspiracy theories and have not bought into the fact that Dec. 21, 2012, will mark the end of the world, I've found it difficult to simply believe that these mass death trends are "natural" and "normal." And that's when I started thinking back to the episode of "Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura" where the former governor of Minnesota went on a mission to learn more about the 2012 fiasco. Evidently, he found people who were building underground condos in order to survive the apocalypse. Not only that, but he discovered a so-called government bomb shelter that was being built so that prominent government officials would survive as well.
While I admit to rolling my eyes at some of the crazy things depicted in that particular episode, the fact that this is all happening now makes me wonder if the government has more involvement in the 2012 conspiracy theory than what they're leading the public to believe. That being said, it wouldn't surprise me if extra attention is being paid to these animal deaths in order to instill fear in the population.
There is also reason to chalk the hype up to media coverage, as well. As scientists have speculated, this kind of thing happens all the time, but rarely garners this much attention. In all actuality, those who believe that the world will come to an end next year are likely the ones who are provoking all of the hype surrounding this so-called "Aflockalypse."
As such, I am still greatly resistant to jumping on the "End of the World" bandwagon. If it happens, so be it. And if these mass animal deaths are a sign of a forthcoming doomsday, there's really not a whole lot we can do to stop it. But, I will definitely be making plans for New Year's Eve 2012. However, if the Bears make it to and win the Super Bowl, that right there would be a sure sign that the apocalypse is near.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
Over the weekend, 200 cows in Wisconsin were found dead in a field. Though this particular event could have been linked to a virus, it's a little disturbing that all of these mass deaths are happening so close together and in a variety of different species. I mean, there have been reports of crabs, blackbirds, buffalo, seals, penguins, bats and all different kinds of fish found dead in masses all over the world. Granted, it could be a mere coincidence, I have found it greatly unsettling to just accept that.
While I'm not big on conspiracy theories and have not bought into the fact that Dec. 21, 2012, will mark the end of the world, I've found it difficult to simply believe that these mass death trends are "natural" and "normal." And that's when I started thinking back to the episode of "Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura" where the former governor of Minnesota went on a mission to learn more about the 2012 fiasco. Evidently, he found people who were building underground condos in order to survive the apocalypse. Not only that, but he discovered a so-called government bomb shelter that was being built so that prominent government officials would survive as well.
While I admit to rolling my eyes at some of the crazy things depicted in that particular episode, the fact that this is all happening now makes me wonder if the government has more involvement in the 2012 conspiracy theory than what they're leading the public to believe. That being said, it wouldn't surprise me if extra attention is being paid to these animal deaths in order to instill fear in the population.
There is also reason to chalk the hype up to media coverage, as well. As scientists have speculated, this kind of thing happens all the time, but rarely garners this much attention. In all actuality, those who believe that the world will come to an end next year are likely the ones who are provoking all of the hype surrounding this so-called "Aflockalypse."
As such, I am still greatly resistant to jumping on the "End of the World" bandwagon. If it happens, so be it. And if these mass animal deaths are a sign of a forthcoming doomsday, there's really not a whole lot we can do to stop it. But, I will definitely be making plans for New Year's Eve 2012. However, if the Bears make it to and win the Super Bowl, that right there would be a sure sign that the apocalypse is near.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Constituent-Politician Relationships Forever Changed
When politicians run for office, win elections and start working to make change or progress in this great nation, one would assume that, like celebrities, they become more of a public figure. Perhaps, that is why presidents and governors don't stray too far from security while making appearances and holding speaking engagements. However, with the way politics has evolved, members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are beginning to attract more attention as well. And I'm not just talking about "Sarah Palin's Alaska" here. Deemed the representatives for the people in the United States Congress, these politicians are, in a sense, the only real direct link citizens have to the White House. As such, they are put under a great deal of scrutiny by their constituents.
Saturday's shooting in Arizona, while tragic, has proved just how necessary it is that all politicians at the national level should have security with them at all times, especially when making public appearances. And this measure should be taken, not only for the representatives, but for all the supporters and innocent bystanders at these events. Granted, by doing so, a lot of changes would have to be made, the most obvious being public meet-and-greets, like Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' "Congress on Your Corner" function, it may be the only way to ensure safety.
There's no doubt in my mind that, because of this incident, there will be a greater need for security at all political events, which can be both good and bad, depending on your viewpoint. My guess is that only a certain number of individuals will be able to meet with their Congressman or Congresswoman during public forums. In addition, those who attend such events will, more than likely, be subjected to security similar to that in airports – metal detectors, pat-downs and the like. However, seeing as how going to these events is not as imperative as airway transportation, I think that, if new security measures are implemented, the relationship between politicians and their constituents will change forever. It would, most definitely, take away from the one-on-one interaction citizens have had with their representatives. It would also, likely, mean people would be deterred from attending these events, in essence, lessening public involvement in government, which, as an American citizen, saddens me.
To think one bad apple will be responsible for ruining the political experience for so many others makes me cringe. As one individual commented during a breaking news broadcast Saturday, "there are a lot of nuts out there … And it's real easy for them to get their hands on guns capable of killing many people."
So sad, yet so true.
Side note: While I was greatly disheartened to learn about the shooting in Arizona, I was even more concerned that an event like this would shut down the law-making body of this country for at least a week. How do we know that's not what this assailant wanted? And, if so, we shouldn't let him win.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
Saturday's shooting in Arizona, while tragic, has proved just how necessary it is that all politicians at the national level should have security with them at all times, especially when making public appearances. And this measure should be taken, not only for the representatives, but for all the supporters and innocent bystanders at these events. Granted, by doing so, a lot of changes would have to be made, the most obvious being public meet-and-greets, like Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' "Congress on Your Corner" function, it may be the only way to ensure safety.
There's no doubt in my mind that, because of this incident, there will be a greater need for security at all political events, which can be both good and bad, depending on your viewpoint. My guess is that only a certain number of individuals will be able to meet with their Congressman or Congresswoman during public forums. In addition, those who attend such events will, more than likely, be subjected to security similar to that in airports – metal detectors, pat-downs and the like. However, seeing as how going to these events is not as imperative as airway transportation, I think that, if new security measures are implemented, the relationship between politicians and their constituents will change forever. It would, most definitely, take away from the one-on-one interaction citizens have had with their representatives. It would also, likely, mean people would be deterred from attending these events, in essence, lessening public involvement in government, which, as an American citizen, saddens me.
To think one bad apple will be responsible for ruining the political experience for so many others makes me cringe. As one individual commented during a breaking news broadcast Saturday, "there are a lot of nuts out there … And it's real easy for them to get their hands on guns capable of killing many people."
So sad, yet so true.
Side note: While I was greatly disheartened to learn about the shooting in Arizona, I was even more concerned that an event like this would shut down the law-making body of this country for at least a week. How do we know that's not what this assailant wanted? And, if so, we shouldn't let him win.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Social Networks Deteriorating Communication
For those of you who don't know me, I would love to reintroduce myself. However, it seems extremely conceited of me to blab on and on about myself. If you follow my columns regularly, you'll quickly learn who I am and what I stand for … let me just warn you, though, I'm a very opinionated, through and through Wisconsinite. Now, onto my topic - social networking and how it has, ironically, corrupted social interaction all over the world.
Do you remember when the only mail you received came via the United States Postal Service and, in order to find out what your friends were up to, you had to actually talk to them. Well, thanks to social networks, that's no longer the case. Though I will admit to having every sort of social networking account (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Foursquare, among others) known to man, I am hardly what could be deemed a huge fan of this new craze. Sure, it's fun to upload photos and send messages that arrive in fractions of seconds, as opposed to snail mail. But, as I have found, having a Facebook, MySpace or similar account has led to a breakdown of communication. Face-to-face conversations are becoming fewer and fewer, I, like many others, rarely talk on the phone with my close friends and I can honestly say I've been invited to a wedding via Facebook. Sure, I received a real invitation in the mail some time later, but a group invite served as the Save-The-Date for the event.
Another thing that frustrates me about this new trend is how some people go overboard, thinking that, since they can share information, they have the green light to tell their entire life stories in the form of status updates. Honestly, I don't care if someone is brushing their teeth before they change into their pajamas and curl up with their favorite book before bed. And I certainly don't need an hourly recap that contains every detail of what a person has done every single minute since their last update.
Blogging is another thing that has started to turn my stomach, especially since these so-called experts are blogging about anything and everything, virtually tarnishing the credibility of the journalism profession. Granted, these people are not professionals, they infuriate me because there are people out there who actually rely on blogs for news. Oddly enough, for the past three years, I have tried, semi-unsuccessfully, to maintain my own blog. I started it as I approached my college graduation, more so because I figured it would be an easy way to keep my friends in the loop during my two-year stint in Wyoming. Needless to say, I never anticipated Facebook to become the social network icon that it has.
But, to think that, when I was born, computers were ginormous machines used by large corporations to store data, it blows my mind at how they have basically become everyday necessities for people around the globe. I remember back in elementary school how massive the systems were and how things had to be saved on floppy disks. As I type this column on my laptop in the kitchen of my parent's house, I can't wait to see where technological advances will take us in 20 more years.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
Do you remember when the only mail you received came via the United States Postal Service and, in order to find out what your friends were up to, you had to actually talk to them. Well, thanks to social networks, that's no longer the case. Though I will admit to having every sort of social networking account (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Foursquare, among others) known to man, I am hardly what could be deemed a huge fan of this new craze. Sure, it's fun to upload photos and send messages that arrive in fractions of seconds, as opposed to snail mail. But, as I have found, having a Facebook, MySpace or similar account has led to a breakdown of communication. Face-to-face conversations are becoming fewer and fewer, I, like many others, rarely talk on the phone with my close friends and I can honestly say I've been invited to a wedding via Facebook. Sure, I received a real invitation in the mail some time later, but a group invite served as the Save-The-Date for the event.
Another thing that frustrates me about this new trend is how some people go overboard, thinking that, since they can share information, they have the green light to tell their entire life stories in the form of status updates. Honestly, I don't care if someone is brushing their teeth before they change into their pajamas and curl up with their favorite book before bed. And I certainly don't need an hourly recap that contains every detail of what a person has done every single minute since their last update.
Blogging is another thing that has started to turn my stomach, especially since these so-called experts are blogging about anything and everything, virtually tarnishing the credibility of the journalism profession. Granted, these people are not professionals, they infuriate me because there are people out there who actually rely on blogs for news. Oddly enough, for the past three years, I have tried, semi-unsuccessfully, to maintain my own blog. I started it as I approached my college graduation, more so because I figured it would be an easy way to keep my friends in the loop during my two-year stint in Wyoming. Needless to say, I never anticipated Facebook to become the social network icon that it has.
But, to think that, when I was born, computers were ginormous machines used by large corporations to store data, it blows my mind at how they have basically become everyday necessities for people around the globe. I remember back in elementary school how massive the systems were and how things had to be saved on floppy disks. As I type this column on my laptop in the kitchen of my parent's house, I can't wait to see where technological advances will take us in 20 more years.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
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