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GRIFFIN DAILY NEWS MAGAZINE
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• Tes; in some eases. If you are a normal, aver
age citizen, and are called to serve on a jury,
you will find yourself in agreement with the judge
in more than two-thirds of ail criminal trials. When
you do disagree with the presiding judge, it is likely l
that you take a more lenient view of the offense;
but you may be tougher if you are repelled by the
behavior or character of the accused.
These are some of the observations in '"The Amer
ican Jury" (Little, Brown A Co.) by Harry Kalven
Jr. and Hans Zeisel, of the University of Chicago
Law School faculty. In a 10-year study, the authors
examined some 3,500 jury trials, covering all brack
miiß6ft -O f, v o ft! a mftH 0 '
• Do pet owners get sentimental ?
No, but most of them are so con
sidered by people who dislike pets.
Individuals who regard animals as
“just animals" find it hard to be
lieve that a man-dog relationship
can be one of affection and trust,
without a tinge of sloppy sentimen
tality.
Persons who are the most realistic
and intelligent in the care and treat
ment of pets are often the first to
be accused of sentimentality. The
sensible dog owner, for example,
provides living conditions best suited
to promote the health and welfare
of his particular breed of dog. Also
he knows that his dog has a person
ality that differs from others of its
species. When he understands his
dog as an individual, he can work
out an effective type of discipline
without suppressing the animal’s
natural needs.
Naturalists generally believe that
a person must love an animal before
he can understand it; only through
shared emotional experiences can
the owner and his pet communicate
2
eta of crime In each case, they asked the presiding
judge what he thought of the jury's decision. Judges
and juries were in agreement in 72% of the cases.
When disagreement appeared, the jury was usu
ally more lenient toward the accused than the judge
would have been. However, in only a few cases did
judges criticize a jury for an improper verdict;
often they were glad that juries had the legal right
to show mercy by interpreting "reasonable doubt"
in favor of the accused.
Most jurors take a dim view of police-traps and
high-handed practices. One case involved a sheriff
who watched an obvious drunk get into his car and
with each other. Even so, many per
sons repress their emotions toward
pets, out of fear of being ridiculed.
The feelings of a normal, uninhib
ited person for his pet are the same
in kind (but not in degree) as those
he has for his family.
People who are truly sentimental
about pets often have neurotic rea
sons for wanting them. A lonely
person who Is Inept in making
friends may substitute a pet as his
object of affection, and assign it
human values. Another may need
the love and obedience of a dog to
reinforce his ego. Some particular
people acquire the breed of cat or
dog that is currently in fashion.
Persons who exploit animals to
serve their own neurotic needs tend
to regard a pet as an extension of
their own personalities. Their feel
ings toward it are highly emotional
and sentimental. Although they may
be tortured with grief if the pet
dies or is killed, they soon go out
happily and buy a substitute for
their lost companion.
• »Y J O S E r H W HI T KEY
• Are childrett ashamed of alcoholic parents ?
Most children are ashamed of any
parental behavior that sets them
apart in the community. A parent’s
reputation for drunkenness is apt
to bring acute suffering to adoles
cents, who are more vulnerable in
this respect at this time than at any
other age.
The home life provided by alco
holic parents is almost always lack
ing in the normal satisfaction of
basic human needs, and in opportun
ities for healthy sharing of com
panionship and social activities. A
youngster who feels he must apol
ogize to his friends for the appear
ance or atmosphere of his home
tends to develop a pattern of infer
ior feelings and depression. Some of
the most serious personality prob
lems of adult life (prostitution, al
coholism, etc.) are believed to stem
from the loneliness and lack of so
cial interests of a deprived early
home life.
Many teenage children of alco
holic parents are learning to face
their problems through local chap
(C 1967, King Features Syndicate, IneJ
Sat. and Son., April 1-2,1967
drive off before arresting him. The jury acquitted
the driver.
Juries also tend to go easy on defendants who
have already suffered. In one case, a young man
accidentally killed a beloved uncle in a tavern brawl.
He was acquitted because the jurors felt his grief
over the event was sufficient punishment.
Juries are reluctant to enforce unpopular laws
related to liquor, gambling, hunting, etc. They dis
like punishing one offender for an act for which
hundreds of other people go free. Juries also tend to
be lenient toward swindlers whose victims were
"trying to get something for nothing."
ters of an organization called Ala
teen. These groups are usually spon
sored by Alcoholics Anonymous, or
Al-Anon; the organization for non
drinking spouses of alcoholics.
Alateen youngsters learn not to
criticize, but how to get along with
alcoholic parents; and how to cope
with their own love-hate feelings.
They also come to understand the
non-drinking parent who starts
many of the arguments, and may
be one source of the problem.
Dr. Ruth Fox, medical director
of the National Council on Alcohol
ism, said in a New York paper that
"Alateen is a big help because it
gives teenagers a better understand
ing of themselves and their con
fused home situations.” It also helps
them lose their shame, once they
learn that alcoholism is a disease.
Bringing their feelings of inade
quacy and hopelessness into the open
through group discussions, Dr. Fox
said, is helpful to young people in
avoiding later problems of major
proportions.