Fast Flight from Common Sense on Facebook

Yessir, Facebook is surely a study in contradictions and
extremes. One thread covers memorializing a departed gifted
friend, important issues of the day, as well as the usual minor
ordinary occurrence. Then there's the thread, 60,000 fans strong,
which is cheering on the 19 year old fugitive thief/burglar who
reportedly stole planes, boats, cars and $1,500.

The "Barefoot Bandit, Colton Harris-Moore, escaped from
a halfway house two years ago after a troubled childhood. His
mother has a different last name, hasn't had custody since
he was 17, hasn't seen him for two and a half years. She says
the charges against her son are "exaggerated".

But it's no exaggeration to say that there's something wrong
with a culture which can produce 60,000 "fans" of a disturbed
young thief who was eventually apprehended carrying a handgun.
A fund created for Harris-Moore has already received donations.

One of his victims said it best: "Just knowing he has a huge
network of supporters makes me really worry about the state
of this country." Indeed.

Hey, if anyone has a charitable itch they are yearning
to scratch, donating to needy children and animals would seem
a better way to spend money and supportive sentiments.

But that would involve genuine caring, not circus-like entertainments.