Stark Naked In The Pillory (There ought to be a law about that!)

Member Name: Sexy Kay

Product:	There ought to be a law about that!
Date:	02/02/02 (527 review reads)
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I'm angry. No, I'm more than that. I'm livid, annoyed, disgusted, upset and much else besides. What has happened has temporarily altered my beliefs and the philosophies which I freely expound. To think I arrogantly thought I had some of the answers. For a long time I have believed in love, forgiveness, understanding and that there is good in everything and everyone. At this precise moment I'm not so sure. Because of what has happened I want to bring in a new law. This is it:

• Certain Crimes To Be Punishable By Time Spent In A Pillory.

I know that this sort of thing was abolished in 1837. And, alright, it may be taking a big step backwards in some peoples' eyes, but something has to be done. A pillory, I'm sure you know, is a wooden frame with holes for the head and hands where an offender is locked up and exposed to ridicule. Yes, right now, this is what I wish to see in public places. Preferably with a supply of rotten eggs and fruit nearby.

It's no good, my faith has been shaken. Just listen to this.

My Gran has a friend, I'll call her Betty. She is over 80 and about two or three years ago had a serious stroke. At least the doctors thought so at the time, but Betty is a tough old girl. She fought her way back to life, even though part of her body has been left with very poor mobility. Her face is slightly disfigured making speech difficult but she has persevered and can now hold a conversation. She jokes that she sounds a bit drunk.

Most importantly though she has been chuffed to bits because, with the aid of a walking frame, she has recently been able to struggle over to the shops opposite her flat by herself. Quite an achievement. Her confidence and attitude to life have therefore been on an upward spiral. She has even booked for the next Old Peoples' Holiday organised locally.

But then this happened.

Betty had been to the hairdresser b
y herself and was slowly shuffling back to her flat. She safely crossed the main road and was within a stone's throw of her home. A car pulled up at a junction nearby. She took no notice, it is after all a busy area traffic wise. A man got out of the car, ran towards Betty and knocked her over. He then grabbed her handbag which was hooked onto her walking frame. Before she fully comprehended what had happened he had driven off leaving her dazed and bewildered. All of her money, door keys and bits and pieces she kept in her bag were gone.

So you see, this is why I want to see the pillory back in action. It should be used on the dregs of low life who would do such a thing to an old, vulnerable lady. For once I'm not the least bit interested in hard luck stories or disadvantaged backgrounds. These sort of scum need to be humiliated.

I think I'd put them in the pillory stark naked to see how tough and big they really are. I'd also have a large notice nearby giving full details of their crime for all to see. Human rights? B*****ks! What about Betty's right to be able to return from the shops unharmed. Afterwards I'd make them wear fluorescent overalls with the words 'Beware Thug' on the back. If someone then 'accidently' knocks into them - tough!

Fortunately it turns out that Betty wasn't hurt too much physically. Just imagine, however, what this has done to her confidence. I wonder if she'll ever want to go out by herself again and how safe she now feels living on her own. No one, especially the old, should have to live in fear.

And while I'm so bitter and twisted, lets have another law:

• The Law of Legal Revenge.

A while back con merchants got into my Gran's home. They were supposedly from Social Services, had an Identity Card of sorts and a clip board. One spoke to Gran while the other disappeared into the bedrooms rummaging throug
h drawers and cupboards for anything valuable. Even after they had left Gran didn't realise there was anything wrong. They were so 'nice and helpful' she even told them to look in on another old lady whom she believed had a problem. From her they stole over £400.

Again I'm sure you can imagine how Gran felt once she realised what had actually happened and what she had done. She was so upset, calling herself a 'silly old fool'. I don't think she's really over it yet.

So Legal Revenge? Once the offenders are caught, that is if the police are interested in doing this, I would have a Legal Revenge Squad waiting. The heartless thugs serve their sentence, following the pillory treatment. At some time, after they have been set free, while they are out of their own homes, in will go the LRS. They will break in, empty out all of the drawers in the house, turn over furniture and generally trash the property. Do as you would be done by in other words! The revenge of the innocent. Lessons need to be taught.

UPDATE - Prior to posting the opinion.

I wrote the above a week back, shortly after Betty's incident. I'll leave it as it is, however, because that's how I felt at the time. I think I'd better nominate another law though:

• The Law Of It Being Unlawful To Make A Law If Emotionally Involved.

I've calmed down - done my yoga and meditation! I'm nearly ready to start spouting positivity, understanding and forgiveness again. Deep inside this is what I really believe.

Even so, surely 'we' must do something 'now' to make all sectors of the population feel safe when going about their normal, lawful lives. Mythological promises of more police at some time in the distant future isn't really acceptable.

One more law therefore:

• By Law Every Police Force Must Have 'X Number' Police Per 1000 Pop
ulation.

I'm not sure what the 'X' figure should be, but it must be considerably higher than whatever it is now. If we want to reduce crime, real crime that effects us all, there has to be more police. I know I sometimes over simplify things, but it's that obvious - isn't it?

I was reading that the primary objective of an efficient police force is the 'prevention' of crime. They can't possibly do this unless they increase their numbers, are highly visible and are in touch with the people they are, or should be, protecting.

At the present time I feel the police are letting us down. I'm not saying it is necessarily their fault, but the government has to supply them with adequate resources so there can be no more excuses. Crime must be dramatically reduced, especially on our streets, and not simply by juggling the figures.

It's what the likes of Betty and my Gran deserve.

Thinking about it further though I suppose what I'm really after is also equality for all. So please allow me to submit one more law before the Dooyoo Parliament:

• The Law Of True Equality For All

An example of what I mean by this. I'll initially stick with crime. I know it sounds improbable but suppose a couple of con merchants had made their way into the Queen Mother's apartment. Just think what a fuss there would be. The squads of police cars, the high ranking officers and the efforts made in getting the stolen goods returned. A bit different though if you are Kay's Gran! P.C. Plod rolls up the next day and that's about it.

I'm not picking on the Queen Mother in particular but if she sneezes there will be a doctor to hold her hanky within minutes. My Gran had a long awaited eye appointment at Hillingdon Hospital a while back. I went with her. We got there at about 1.30pm. and left at 5.30! There were insufficient chairs for everyone wa
iting. The doctor was abrupt and looked at Gran like she was an imbecile when she dared to say that she didn't fully understand what he had said. It's a different world. In fairness I have to say that the nurses were lovely. One in particular put her arm round Gran and was so caring, almost loving in her manner.

What I want to see is everyone treated the same. No favours, no priorities. In the case of medical care, I'd like to see an end of the private sector and people jumping the queue because they have more money than others. This is simply obscene. If anyone can afford to pay for extra health care then they can just as easily pay more tax to help everyone instead. The argument that Private helps ease the NHS is just a convenient smokescreen to hide the financial realities.

I've seen someone crying in terrible pain after waiting years for hip replacements. She was told, of course, that if only she could raise so many thousand ... Wrong, wrong, wrong! Queen or pauper should be treated equally with the same waiting time. A life isn't more important because someone has money in the bank or a title.

Education! I'd better not go on too long but there aren't many inner city kids at Eaton.

OK, that's really it now. All I ask for is equal opportunity for everyone and that favouritism - because of wealth, position or background - is waved goodbye. We should be aiming for and achieving high standard, first rate care for everyone.

I'll quickly add that I'm not some far left groupie! I believe in high rewards for the hard working, the talented, the entrepreneurs, the movers and shakers. If they want to make millions that's fine by me - I might well decide to make a few myself! If I do, however, I won't expect priority for health care, education or police protection for having done so. Luxury holidays, cars and houses will be welcome though!

- Kay

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