Injustice

Apropos this Nick Hogan thing (Old Holborn, with or without the "L", Velvet Glove, et al), seems to me that the judiciary have got their panties in a bunch.

See http://velvetgloveironfist.blogspot.com/2010/03/number-crunching.html for more, but the Courts took into consideration a few factors other than the actual offence. They seemed not to be able to nail the perp under the normal statutes, so fiddled a few others in there too.

In history, there was another case like this. It was a long, long time ago, in a far-off land, but we have brought their judicial system, crap that it is/was, with us down the ages.

Anyway, what happened was that the anti-smoking police caught a naughty smoker. They brought him forth to the judiciary.

The judiciary asked "what charge do you bring against this naughty smoker"?"

"Err, not sure." replied the anti-smoking police. "But he's been a very naughty boy, so we brought him to you to send him down."

"Piss off." said the judge, "Deal with him yourself."

But the anti-smoking police didn't have the balls. "We caught him smoking." they cried in unison.

"Were you smoking?" asked the judge.

"Yep." said the naughty smoker.

"Really?" asked the judge, giving the naughty smoker the opportunity of getting off the hook.

"Yep." said the naughty smoker.

"Sure?" asked the judge again, now exasperated, for he really didn't think that this smoking was a terribly bad thing.

"Yep. Sure did. And I don't see owt wrong with it, either." replied the naughty smoker.

"No, nor do I, really." replied the judge. "Send him down the magistrates."

And so it went on. And eventually, the naughty smoker was banged up.

Anyone see what I did there?

Substitute the following in a story from the East, 2000-odd years ago:

• anti-smoking police: the self-righteous Jewish Elders and Chief Priests
• judge: Pontius Pilate
• the naughty smoker: Jesus Christ

The whole story can be found at Matthew 27, just after the bit where Judas hangs himself.

Fascinating parallel. Plus ca change, as the clown would say.