Carry On, Carry On...

 "...as if nothing really mattered."

Those of you who know the score understand the beginning of this song. "Mama, just killed a man..."

New York City sees plenty of this. King Crimson, not Queen, would remind you that it's "a dangerous place." People die there. A lot. Of course there are plenty of cities across this great land of ours in which people die a lot. But recent events have caused me to wonder if there isn't something even more dangerous about New York City for which any musical group could prepare us. 

Just a few days ago, Daniel Penny was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man who was "acting erratically." Apparently acting erratically enough that Mister Penny saw fit to put Mister Neely in a choke hold. For six minutes. Jordan Neely did not make it to the next subway stop. He was dead. A jury found Daniel Penny not guilty and dismissed a more serious charge of manslaughter. 

Daniel Perry killed a man. But it would seem that the death of a homeless street performer suffering from schizophrenia did not seem to tip the scales of justice in any particular fashion. 

How about the other end of the spectrum? Let's say the CEO of United Healthcare was gunned down in broad daylight on the streets of Manhattan. That would surely get some folks up in arms, wouldn't you think? Yes, but not necessarily in the way you might think. Even as the manhunt for the killer of Brian Thompson, public sentiment skewed in a rather unsettling manner. Like to the tune of "that guy deserved it." The life of a millionaire executive working for a healthcare firm was deemed an acceptable loss. "Send a message," was the suggestion that many people made. 

Mister Thompson's killer, sorry, alleged killer was apprehended at an Altoona McDonald's. Luigi Mangione has become something of a folk hero here in the land of the brave and the home of the free. The same country that loves its Ten Commandments also loves its "sic semper tyrannis." For my own part, I do recall recently suggesting that no one "deserves" to be killed. That, as I understand it, is not under our purvey. 

That is for the Lord to decide. 

Or a bunch of podcasters and keyboard trolls.