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Essay on vigilante justice
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Vigilantes have been part of the world since semi-permanent societies were established. Although it is speculated that vigilantes were serving justice before the middle ages, the documented history goes back to the 7th century. Officially, vigilante justice began with the idea of frankpledges and knights, and continued from there. Vigilantes have also been part of American society since its founding. The founding citizens participated in vigilante acts, such as lynching tax collectors and the Boston Tea Party. Vigilantes are still common today, usually in bigger cities where justice fails more victims. Vigilantes are also present in fictional stories, such as the story of Batman from The Dark Knight movie series. The character of Batman is known for helping solve the problems of Gotham, occasionally with the help of the police. However, almost all of Batman’s actions would be considered vigilante actions, since he is serving justice using his own system of right and wrong. He also does not go through the appropriate legal pathways. Regardless of the presence vigilantes have in society, there are people who argue that they should be stopped at all costs. Most of the arguments center around the fact that they are criminals, abide by a skewed sense of morality, and that they cause more harm than good to society. Without vigilantes, however, victims of smaller crimes would likely have to live with the fact that the perpetrator never had to face justice. Vigilantes are needed because of the inefficiency of both the court system and the police department, and because of corruption in the police force and politics.
One reason that vigilantes are needed is because the court system is inherently inefficient. The courts are limited in th...
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...n Frank. On Human Hating: Towards a Pragmatism of Hate. Diss. Southern Illinois U, 2010. Ann Arbor: UMI, 2010. ProQuest. Web. 2 Apr. 2014.
Hagan, John and Bill McCarthy. "Danger and the Decision to Offend." Social Forces 83.3 (2005): 1065-1096. Academic Search Complete. Web. 4 Apr. 2014.
Krauze, Enrique. “Mexico’s Vigilantes on the March.” New York Times. New York Times, 3 Feb. 2014. Web. 4 Apr. 2014.
Matloff, Judith. "Crime Wave In South Africa Spurs Fierce Vigilante Justice." Christian Science Monitor 09 Aug. 1996: 6. Academic Search Complete. Web. 4 Apr. 2014.
The Dark Knight Rises. Dir. Christopher Nolan. Perf. Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Gary Oldman. Warner Bros. Pictures, 2012. DVD.
V for Vendetta. Screenplay by Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski. Dir. James McTeigue. Perf. Natalie Portman, Stephen Rea, and Hugo Weaving. Warner Bros. Pictures, 2006. Film.
Andrew Sullivan suggests the origins of hate to be evolutionary in his article, “What’s So Bad about Hate?” If hate really is “hard wired,” then that would mean all of the hubbub about obliterating hate is just about as useless as trying to obliterate opposable thumbs. Sullivan’s statement carries so much meaning because it illustrates such a nasty concept with an air of tolerance that is rarely ever considered. He proposes that instead of fighting hate, we accept hate for what it is: an integral part of the human experience. Instead of fighting, we should focus our energy on tolerating hate, and through toleration we can achieve much more than we ever did by trying to combat our very nature.
Jacobs, David, Jason T. Carmichael, and Stephanie Kent. 2005. “Vigilantism, Current Racial Threat and Death Sentences.” American Sociological Review 70: 656-677.
The Hunger Games. Dir. Gary Ross. Perf. Jennifer Lawrence. Lions Gate Home Entertainment, 2012. Film.
Vigilantism is the black eye on the history of the American frontier. During the 19th century due to a lack of trust, competence, or unreliable law enforcement, the settlers on the frontiers took it upon themselves to provide security and safety for their newly progressing cities. Life in the developing American west was difficult and created many problems for everyone involved. Texas’ history is riddled with skirmishes, wars, and feuds that called upon the local civilians to turn to vigilantism. So to, Arizona and New Mexico, while struggling to gain their statehood, saw instances of civilian uprisings to quell local violence. Of course, however, neither Texas nor the American Southwest saw the hotbed of violence and destruction that was seen in San Francisco following the introduction of the Gold Rush. The descriptions that were used to describe the excitement that the discovery of gold created could also be just as easily applied to the ways it affected the peoples mentality. “In 1848 and 1849 it was usually known as the ‘Gold Fever,’ the ‘California Fever,’ the ‘Yellow Fever,’ the ‘California Mania,’ and the ‘Gold Mania.” People from all over the globe were abandoning their responsibilities and duties for the chance of striking it rich and making a big splash. This dramatic influx of people, cultures, and beliefs into one location created the right mix of hope, frustration, anger, and pride that would lead to chaos and even though “San Francisco had the most efficient, most professional police department in the United States [during the 19th century]” it could not quell the need for vigilantes to rise up and provide order amongst lawlessness.
Dir. Julie Taymor. Perf. Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange. Fox Searchlight Pictures, 1999.
The Hunger Games. Dir. Gary Ross. Perf. Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth. Lions Gate Home Entertainment, 2012. Film.
Well written procedures, rules, and regulation provide the cornerstone for effectively implementing policies within the criminal justice system. During the investigational process, evidence collected is subjected to policies such as Search and Seizure, yet, scrutinized by the Exclusionary Rule prior to the judicial proceeding. Concurrent with criminal justice theories, evidence collected must be constitutionally protected, obtained in a legal and authorized nature, and without violations of Due Process. Although crime and criminal activities occur, applicability of policies is to ensure accountability for deviant behaviors and to correct potentially escalation within social communities It is essential the government address such deviant behavior, however, equally important is the protection of the accused which also must become a priority when investigating criminal cases.
The terms "hero" and "villain" are as distinct as the terms "good" and "evil." They are mutually exclusive; the hero is courageous, popular, strong, morally, and willing to save the people at whatever cost, while the villain is despicable, hated, and heinous to his core. However, when we turn away from the archetypal world of comic books, this distinction is no longer as clear. When we look at real human beings we do not see a hero as a hero or a villain as a villain, but rather individuals composed of varying degrees of both extremes. No hero is perfect, and no villain is completely heinous. The most recent film adaptation of the DC Comic series Batman presents this truth of human nature. The Dark Knight Rises effectively communicates the
V for Vendetta is a rather graphic novel written by Alan Moore in the late 1980's. The novel takes place in an alternate-reality; one in which Britain is ruled by a fascist government rules over Britain, and the rest of the world is believed to be in ruins due to nuclear war. The main protagonist/villain, depending on your viewpoint, of the story is a man simply called "V", He is a mysterious man and a self-described anarchist who survived a government experiment of a compound called Batch 5. Although his face is never shown in the book, V still draws the reader’s attention by being such a dark presence.
The basis of criminal justice in the United States is one founded on both the rights of the individual and the democratic order of the people. Evinced through the myriad forms whereby liberty and equity marry into the mores of society to form the ethos of a people. However, these two systems of justice are rife with conflicts too. With the challenges of determining prevailing worth in public order and individual rights coming down to the best service of justice for society. Bearing a perpetual eye to their manifestations by the truth of how "the trade-off between freedom and security, so often proposed so seductively, very often leads to the loss of both" (Hitchens, 2003, para. 5).
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Dir. Michel Gondry. Perf. Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet. Focus Features, 2004. DVD.
Lieberman J, Arndt J, Personius J, Cook A. “Vicarious Annihilation: The Effect of Mortality Salience on Perceptions of Hate Crimes”. Law & Human Behavior (Springer Science & Business Media B.V.). December 2001;25(6):547. Available from: Business Source Alumni Edition, Ipswich, MA. Accessed April 1, 2014.
King, Ryan D., Steven. F Messner, Robert D. Baller. 2009. “Contemporary Hate Crimes, Law Enforcement and the Legacy of Racial Violence.” American Sociological Association. 74: 291-315.
Racker. (2013, january 18). The Dark Knight, Still the Best of the Trilogy and Here’s Why Read more at http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/racker/news/?a=72904#EfQbo0ZCalh 4UifS.99. Retrieved from ComicBookMovie: http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/racker/news/?a=72904
V for Vendetta. Dir. James McTeigue. Perf. Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving. Warner Brothers, 2005. DVD.