Sometimes the judicial system gives me hope.
An Italian court ruled that a man caught stealing some cheese and sausage – because he was hungry and penniless – did not commit a crime. This decision over-ruled a previous conviction for theft.
Included in the decision was this:
‘….the court’s judgment “reminds everyone that in a civilized country, not even the worst of men should starve”.
Amen.
My thanks to Quartz for this article and for making me feel better today. I caught the Offspring’s flu and I’m not a happy camper.
Meeks
Meeka's Mind 
May 5th, 2016 at 11:23 pm
Thanks for sharing that, AC. There was a story not long ago about a woman here in the US who stole food to feed her children. Instead of arresting her, the police pooled their funds and bought her mass amounts of groceries.
There is still good in the world.
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May 6th, 2016 at 4:59 pm
Wow….I won’t say that restores my faith in all of humanity but…it definitely helps. Thanks. 🙂
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May 5th, 2016 at 5:22 pm
Stealing a loaf if bread was enough to get you sent to Australia. And now, in Australia, in certain states, for certain people, it will get you gaoled.
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/law/mandatory-sentencing#axzz47lPGgaEA
SHAME.
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May 5th, 2016 at 10:23 pm
Ugh. That’s horrible but sadly not surprising. You’d think on Christmas day the poor kid would have been /given/ some biscuits and cordial. 😦
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May 5th, 2016 at 1:37 am
Meeka, when I first saw the headline yesterday that stealing food when you’re hungry isn’t a crime, I thought, “Why is this even a question?” I remembered reading about the French Revolution, and all the people in prison for stealing a loaf of bread to feed their families. What is wrong with us? Sigh. Well, here’s to another day that starts out smdh…
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May 5th, 2016 at 10:15 am
As an Australian, I’m proud of our convict heritage. If the myths are true, stealing bread was enough to get you transported. Sadly, these day, risking your life on a leaky boat is enough to get you /sent away/. 😦
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May 5th, 2016 at 1:12 am
Sorry you’re sick. Get better soon. 😦
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May 5th, 2016 at 10:15 am
Thank you. Letting my fingers do the talking as I’ve lost my voice!
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May 5th, 2016 at 12:55 am
Les Miserables… BUT not!
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May 5th, 2016 at 5:04 am
Yes, I was going to say… Jean Valjean was convicted for stealing bread when we has starving and penniless. Good to see we’ve made some progress since then!
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May 5th, 2016 at 10:32 am
It’s a beginning. 🙂
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May 5th, 2016 at 10:19 am
Yes. I wonder if the Italian respect for food had anything to do with it.
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May 4th, 2016 at 10:23 pm
Under the weather myself today, this post made me smile between coughs. Hope you feel better soon.
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May 5th, 2016 at 10:30 am
Hope you feel better soon too! -hugs-
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May 4th, 2016 at 9:17 pm
Hope you have a speedy recovery, Meeks. I currently have laryngitis, which hasn’t been much fun either.
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May 4th, 2016 at 10:18 pm
Ugh, you’re not wrong. I should be sending you chicken soup. Get well asap yourself. 🙂
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May 4th, 2016 at 10:19 pm
❤ Make it vegetarian chicken soup, can you Meeks?
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May 4th, 2016 at 10:22 pm
Vegetarian!?! Oh…-sigh-…I’ll see what I can do. 🙂 Goodnight from DownUnder
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May 4th, 2016 at 8:43 pm
My first question (after he’d eaten) would be to ask why he’s penniless. Most countries have a benefits system for the unemployed and surely most have some kind of public housing system to help the disenfranchised?
I’m glad for once the law proved not to be an ass but to have a caring side.
xxx Hugs. Sorry you’re not well. Is she still alive?? xxx
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May 4th, 2016 at 8:45 pm
The guy in question is from Ukraine. No idea how he got to Italy or what he’s doing there but I assume he doesn’t quality for government handouts.
Who? The Offspring? Yeah. After all, it was my fault; I should have just stopped breathing when she was around. 😦
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May 4th, 2016 at 9:11 pm
You’d be surprised how many loopholes there are to NOT give you money and at the same time not include you in the unemployed list…
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May 4th, 2016 at 10:20 pm
Hi George. 🙂 If he was counted as an ‘illegal immigrant’ then yeah. I don’t think I’d like to be poor in Europe just at the moment. Btw how’s things in Cyrpus? Have you been getting any refugees passing through?
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May 5th, 2016 at 10:38 pm
Not many. Cyprus is not a destination because people are trying to get to mainland europe, and you’ll need a boat to leave from here or a plane. There are some but i don’t think anyone knows what will happen to them.
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