Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Commit the crime, do the time.



You've probably heard about the two American journalists, Laura Ling (sister of the uber-annoying Lisa) and Euna Lee who were arrested, tried and sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in North Korea for illegally crossing the border. If you haven't, you can read about it HERE.

Their husbands and many others have been speaking out against North Korea, demanding their release and complaining that the US government isn't doing enough.

Maybe I'm just heartless, but I don't think they should be released.

Because they broke the law.

Sure, twelve years of hard labor might be a little excessive for trespassing, but if that's the penalty, that's the penalty. Those two women knowingly and willfully broke another country's laws. That country has the right to punish them according to their own laws.

It reminds me of that bratty American teenager who was caned in Singapore because he vandalized cars and stole signs. There was a huge uproar over that. I for one would have paid to have had a turn smacking him with the cane.

If you choose to break the law, you choose to endure the consequences, whatever they may be.

We, as Americans, may not agree with other countries' laws. We may not like the punishments that come with breaking them. But we are still subject to those laws when we are in another country.

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