Caning In Singapore -- Learning A Valuable Lesson

Why all the outrage over Michael Fay's caning? One should expect to be punished for the crimes one commits. This is a basic principle of civilized society. Don't deface or destroy other peoples' property and there will be no consequences to suffer.

This country spends millions of dollars every year to remove graffiti. Insurance companies pay millions to repair vandalism to property and cars, then pass the bill along to their insured. Why shouldn't Michael Fay pay a price for the damage he caused?

You say the punishment doesn't fit the crime? Would the proper punishment then be to spray-paint Michael, parade him around in this suit of graffiti, and then wash him off and say, "You're free to go. You've done your time." Perhaps if our country enforced harsher penalties for crimes it would be a greater deterrent. Murderers can walk free after a few years in prison while their victims don't walk at all anymore. Child molesters serve 13 months while the child victim serves a much longer sentence of therapy, counseling and emotional scars.

Maybe I'm being insensitive but I bet Michael learned a valuable lesson about the consequences of his actions. The next urge to pick up a can of spray paint will diminish when he remembers the punishment he endured. Then maybe he'll pick up a copy of "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" instead and re-learn these basic principles of society. Aimee L. Peltier

Everett