Kevin Cullen’s heartfelt column about Aaron Swartz (“On humanity, a big failure,” Metro, Jan. 15) raises what for me are key moral issues in regulating contemporary society: What are the human obligations of powerful institutions? Has the law-enforcement branch of our government forsaken understanding and help for blaming and punishment? What values guide prosecutors who treat banks with solicitude despite monstrous records of harming families and society while seeking to destroy the life of a brilliant and vulnerable idealist who has hurt — whom? MIT?
Dr. Eli H. Newberger
Comments
Very well said. Indeed, it is astounding to see how many individuals got away with robbing many of their homes, their savings, or other, and to witness this excessive prosecutorial reaction. I would love to hear from the prosecutors and find out how they justify this.