Yes, Thomas, she did know what she was doing, and was capable of planning it all. Certainly she is not insane. However, I do think she is mentally ill and DELUSIONAL, so that she could rationalize away her behavior very easily. The difference between this situation and the examples you give is that having sex with a young boy is not hurtful in the same way that blowing away everyone at a McDonald's would be.
I do draw some line between violent and nonviolent behavior, acknowledging that nonviolent behavior can be very hurtful to feelings and lives. What I meant specifically, though, in regard to your first sentence, is that women all over the world abort their babies, go off and have affairs and neglect their families, or prioritize their children so low on their list of important things in their lives that the children are undeniably very damaged. And yet women do not go to prison for these sorts of things.
I guess I must have come across as defending Mary, and in my heart I wasn't. I think her behavior was deplorable, in the same way a man's behavior would be in impregnating a very young girl. I just don't believe prison is the right way to incarcerate her. |
