Dexter is back, and has me thinking…
Do you think you could realistically be a vigilante? Someone who could take the law into their own hands to dispense justice. Specifically, justice against somebody that you KNEW was slipping the clutches of law and order. Or is this just an appealing idea, based on a very popular television show on Showtime? Based on the Jeff Lindsay novel, Darkly Dreaming Dexter, prior to the series.
I have to admit, the appeal of Dexter for me was immediate. I first saw the series at the recommendation of my brother, who I actually worried could one day mimic the series, but against ex wives. The military life isn’t an easy one on relationships, evidently. I am a big fan of justice and have a normal to above average amount of anger and despise for people that hurt others. Murders, rapists, child molesters, double-parkers, telemarketers, they all trigger my dark passenger. And so many of them get away with their crimes against humanity. It’s unfair.
I don’t advocate murder. Especially against somebody calling me at 8:01am to ask if I would like to purchase an extended car warranty on my 2007 Dodge 1500 pickup truck. The one with dents and scrapes from numerous battles my wife has engaged with light poles and parking garages. However, the idea of exacting a little vigilante justice to said telemarketers with a paintball gun at 8:01am THEIR time, as they’re walking into the office, very appealing. Let the punishment fit the crime, right?
But could we really do it? It’s one thing to fantasize about inflicting bodily harm or death on another human being. Everyone has had an HR person chastise us a bit too loudly in the middle of the office for numerous sins that should be forgivable. But for whatever reason, they choose to paint us as the worst person in the history of the company, in front of the entire company. Does this mean we’d actually like to see them in the middle of a kill room, wrapped in plastic?
My guess is no. Most wouldn’t have the cajones to even slide the needle full of knockout juice to their carotid artery, as Dexter does to his victims. Most wouldn’t want to hear the screams, the pleading, the bargaining, the promises to change, any of it. And the majority CERTAINLY wouldn’t want to see the blood from the result of the final deed. As appealing as it might sound to bring those who escape justice brought to justice, I truly think almost anyone wouldn’t be able to do it. Or do a reasonable job hiding the crime scene or keeping it to themselves.
After all, it IS a crime scene. A crime to exact vigilante justice. And that’s a good thing. The law isn’t perfect. It doesn’t probably have a high enough accuracy percentage of the guilty paying for their crimes, or the innocent serving time for something they were wrongly convicted of. But all in all, I’d recommend that we allow the court of law to handle the heavy lifting versus taking the law into our own hands. Appealing as the latter might seem, to all of us Dexter fans.