MENS REA

[Neville Briggs]

MENS REA.

There's a shark that's killed a man,
Hunt it down and kill the shark.
We must stop this loss of lives,
Hunt it down, and kill the shark.

There's a man that's killed a woman,
Hunt him down but let him live.
We must punish cruel crime,
Hunt him down but let him live;
He may not have really meant it.

[Maureen K Clifford]

That's the copper coming out in you Neville I suspect and I agree with you - it's a ridiculous situation on all counts. Sharks kill to eat as a rule of thumb - and if we are brave enough to go into their killing field then we do so being aware of the risks. Humans however kill for so many nefarious reasons, most of which have nothing at all to do with living and surviving.

[Cropduster]

There is no evidence to support the myth that sharks develop a 'taste for human blood' once they have attacked a human, making them more likely to seek out and attack humans than other sharks. If we are going to hunt and kill one shark we believe is responsible for an attack on a human, then it should follow that we hunt and kill all sharks of that species, for they are no less likely (however unlikely that may be) to attack a human.

The thought of a human being attacked by a large fish in its natural environment is one which evokes powerful emotions, and the loss of life is very sad indeed. But as you suggest in your poem, little can be served by hunting and killing a fish for acting as nature intended in its own environment, when we are compelled to be far more compassionate and understanding of a human being who kills for more sinister reasons.

[Neville Briggs]

G'day Maureen, Allan.

The American journalist James Bowman has coined the phrase "media madness". If only there were more like him, but I suppose we can work out why there isn't.

[Vic Jefferies]

Absolutely Neville. A good poem but I think you should explain the title.
I cannot see the point in killing the shark apart from it makes a news story and perhaps satisfies some people's sense of revenge.
In relation to media madness I think it advisable to never, ever, ever forget the media is wholly and solely about making money and everything else comes a distant second. The media and I include the public broadcaster the ABC, is about profits, in the ABC's case it is increased salaries, power, position and future career prospects.
Truth, public interest, principles and honesty all run a very long way behind profits.
Used car salesmen, undertakers and real estate salesmen rank far higher in my estimation than media reporters or media representatives.

[Neville Briggs]

Thanks Vic.
The title, mens rea, is a Latin phrase that means " the guilty mind " . In our system of criminal courts the prosecution is required to prove mens rea or the intent of the accused to commit a criminal act as charged. That's why the charge of manslaughter was brought in, the defence will deny the intention to kill, so the prosecution only needs to establish the intent to harm.

Obviously sharks have no criminal intent at all.

Don't ring your solicitor yet folks, if you get nabbed for driving through a red light or speeding, the prosecution does not have to prove intent. These naughty things are called offences of strict liability, which means the prosecution only has to prove that you did it.
And if the boys in blue say you did, THEN YOU DID IT.

[thestoryteller]

Definitely more sharks on land these days Nev.


Merv