• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Nun, 84, sentenced to 35 months for nuclear break-in

Top Cat

Top Cat

He's the most tip top
DP Veteran
Joined
Jul 4, 2011
Messages
32,978
Reaction score
14,619
Location
Near Seattle
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Liberal
An 84-year-old nun was sentenced to 35 months in prison Tuesday for breaking into a nuclear facility, her lawyer said.
In May, a federal jury in Knoxville, Tennessee, found Sister Megan Rice; Greg Boertje-Obed, 57; and Michael Walli, 63, guilty of destroying U.S. government property and causing more than $1,000 in damage to federal property.
It was not immediately clear what the sentences were for the two other peace activists.
The incident began before dawn on July 28, 2012, when the three cut through a chain-link fence surrounding the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
They then walked nearly a mile, cutting through three more fences and breaching what was supposed to be the most tightly secured uranium processing and storage facility in the country.
It was not until hours later that a guard finally confronted the activists who, by then, had hoisted banners, spray-painted messages and splattered human blood on a building that houses highly enriched uranium.

Nun, 84, sentenced to 35 months for nuclear break-in - CNN.com


Sounds like she did them a favor. Hard to imagine that 3 years in the click will "cure" her.

I have to wonder if any heads will roll over the lapse in security?
 
Top Cat said:
An 84-year-old nun was sentenced to 35 months in prison Tuesday for breaking into a nuclear facility, her lawyer said.
In May, a federal jury in Knoxville, Tennessee, found Sister Megan Rice; Greg Boertje-Obed, 57; and Michael Walli, 63, guilty of destroying U.S. government property and causing more than $1,000 in damage to federal property.
It was not immediately clear what the sentences were for the two other peace activists.
The incident began before dawn on July 28, 2012, when the three cut through a chain-link fence surrounding the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
They then walked nearly a mile, cutting through three more fences and breaching what was supposed to be the most tightly secured uranium processing and storage facility in the country.
It was not until hours later that a guard finally confronted the activists who, by then, had hoisted banners, spray-painted messages and splattered human blood on a building that houses highly enriched uranium.

Nun, 84, sentenced to 35 months for nuclear break-in - CNN.com


Sounds like she did them a favor. Hard to imagine that 3 years in the click will "cure" her.

I have to wonder if any heads will roll over the lapse in security?
Click to expand...
I never even heard of this case before you mentioned it.

So thanks.

Although I must admit that the thought of a bunch of old ladies cutting through a fence and breaking into a nuclear facility made me laugh.

That's book material.
 
Top Cat said:
An 84-year-old nun was sentenced to 35 months in prison Tuesday for breaking into a nuclear facility, her lawyer said.
In May, a federal jury in Knoxville, Tennessee, found Sister Megan Rice; Greg Boertje-Obed, 57; and Michael Walli, 63, guilty of destroying U.S. government property and causing more than $1,000 in damage to federal property.
It was not immediately clear what the sentences were for the two other peace activists.
The incident began before dawn on July 28, 2012, when the three cut through a chain-link fence surrounding the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
They then walked nearly a mile, cutting through three more fences and breaching what was supposed to be the most tightly secured uranium processing and storage facility in the country.
It was not until hours later that a guard finally confronted the activists who, by then, had hoisted banners, spray-painted messages and splattered human blood on a building that houses highly enriched uranium.

Nun, 84, sentenced to 35 months for nuclear break-in - CNN.com


Sounds like she did them a favor. Hard to imagine that 3 years in the click will "cure" her.

I have to wonder if any heads will roll over the lapse in security?
Click to expand...
I don't know what being an 84 year old nun has to do with it. They, including the others with her, did the crime. I also agree they did a favor in exposing the lax security. However that would've been the case had it been a gang of teenagers who wanted nothing more than to graffiti the place, ie had no activist agenda. I would imagine however that had it been a gang of teens and not an 84 year nun and a group of activists, even if the damage was exactly the same, the comments here would be very different. I'm on a kick lately of wanting to bring that up in these law and order conversations. Anyway, I think it's too much, but I'd think it was too much if an otherwise non-violent "gang" of teens did exactly the same thing just for ****s and giggles.
 
Muhammed said:
I never even heard of this case before you mentioned it.

So thanks.

Although I must admit that the thought of a bunch of old ladies cutting through a fence and breaking into a nuclear facility made me laugh.
Click to expand...

That's book material.
Click to expand...




I'm not saying that they should get a medal, but as Top Cat said those people did everyone in the USA a favor by showing how lax security is at these nuclear installations.

If they could do this, some real terrorists could do the same thing.
 
shrubnose said:
I'm not saying that they should get a medal, but as Top Cat said those people did everyone in the USA a favor by showing how lax security is at these nuclear installations.

If they could do this, some real terrorists could do the same thing.
Click to expand...
Security is kind of an afterthought when things like this are happening to nuclear reactor heads in your own back yard.

Davis-BesseHole.png
 
Well damn they should tighten up security at this faucilitys... also... human blood? where in the world did they get a whole bunch of that? this is so strange...
 
Chocolate said:
Well damn they should tighten up security at this faucilitys... also... human blood? where in the world did they get a whole bunch of that? this is so strange...
Click to expand...
:doh

I just can't imagine where a human could find human blood. :lamo
 
Muhammed said:
:doh

I just can't imagine where a human could find human blood. :lamo
Click to expand...

I don't get it.... I'm sorry if I am unaware of the huge blood containers sold at the super market but really where did they get blood? is it there own? and stop being an ass :/
 
Summerwind said:
I don't know what being an 84 year old nun has to do with it. They, including the others with her, did the crime. I also agree they did a favor in exposing the lax security. However that would've been the case had it been a gang of teenagers who wanted nothing more than to graffiti the place, ie had no activist agenda. I would imagine however that had it been a gang of teens and not an 84 year nun and a group of activists, even if the damage was exactly the same, the comments here would be very different. I'm on a kick lately of wanting to bring that up in these law and order conversations. Anyway, I think it's too much, but I'd think it was too much if an otherwise non-violent "gang" of teens did exactly the same thing just for ****s and giggles.
Click to expand...

We're speculating here, but the major difference between a gang of teens tagging and these folks is that the teens aren't likely to do it again. This bunch is dedicated to their cause and most likely made it clear to authorities that they would be right back at it as soon as they are released.
 
clownboy said:
We're speculating here, but the major difference between a gang of teens tagging and these folks is that the teens aren't likely to do it again. This bunch is dedicated to their cause and most likely made it clear to authorities that they would be right back at it as soon as they are released.
Click to expand...

True, this group is more likely to reoffend. Thank you for noting that.
 
Summerwind said:
True, this group is more likely to reoffend. Thank you for noting that.
Click to expand...


At 84 she might not get another chance. However, if you read the article, she's committed to her cause. No pun intended.
 
Summerwind said:
I don't know what being an 84 year old nun has to do with it. They, including the others with her, did the crime. I also agree they did a favor in exposing the lax security. However that would've been the case had it been a gang of teenagers who wanted nothing more than to graffiti the place, ie had no activist agenda. I would imagine however that had it been a gang of teens and not an 84 year nun and a group of activists, even if the damage was exactly the same, the comments here would be very different. I'm on a kick lately of wanting to bring that up in these law and order conversations. Anyway, I think it's too much, but I'd think it was too much if an otherwise non-violent "gang" of teens did exactly the same thing just for ****s and giggles.
Click to expand...

Well, I suppose what it has to do with it is that it's so bizarre. :lol: I mean, if someone carjacked while wearing a live duck, it doesn't matter that they're wearing a live duck in terms of the crime, but it's weird enough to inspire comment simply in respect to human absurdity. As someone else mentioned, also probably a higher degree of commitment to repeating it, if permitted.
 
I wish I had the guts to do what she did. I hope the sentence gets reduced.
 
SmokeAndMirrors said:
Well, I suppose what it has to do with it is that it's so bizarre. :lol: I mean, if someone carjacked while wearing a live duck, it doesn't matter that they're wearing a live duck in terms of the crime, but it's weird enough to inspire comment simply in respect to human absurdity. As someone else mentioned, also probably a higher degree of commitment to repeating it, if permitted.
Click to expand...
Oh common on, don't be dense. You know as well as I that the 84 year old nun is being highlighted to elicit sympathy, not just to discuss something different.
 
Summerwind said:
Oh common on, don't be dense. You know as well as I that the 84 year old nun is being highlighted to elicit sympathy, not just to discuss something different.
Click to expand...

Be that as it may, hard not to admire the courage of her convictions (again, no pun intended) knowing that at her age she may well be spending the rest of her life in prison...

In and of itself, THAT is worth the read IMO.
 
Top Cat said:
Be that as it may, hard not to admire the courage of her convictions (again, no pun intended) knowing that at her age she may well be spending the rest of her life in prison...

In and of itself, THAT is worth the read IMO.
Click to expand...

Oh it's worth the read, don't get me wrong. And I appreciate her being part of showing up flaws in security. However her age in relation to being caught and convicted, or the fact that she's a nun, is only to garner sympathy that wouldn't likely be extended to teens with no agenda doing exactly the same thing.
 
Chocolate said:
also... human blood? where in the world did they get a whole bunch of that? this is so strange...
Click to expand...

The nun in question is from one of the ubber progressive catholic groups. These groups have been orgainizing "smear blood on the bomb" type protests since the 1980s (or even 1970s).

Though the symbol of "blood on the bomb" may seeem strange today, it was the rage amongst 1980s peace groups and the nun's group has never really never left the 1980s. If they had, I bet they could think of alot more effective symbolic protests than trespassing to smear blood on what ever.
 
Cryptic said:
The nun in question is from one of the ubber progressive catholic groups. These groups have been orgainizing "blood on the bomb" type protests since the 1980s (or even 1970s).

Though the symbol of "blood on the bomb" may seeem strange today, it was the rage amongst 1980s peace groups. The group the nun is a member of really never left the 1970s.
Click to expand...

Ah alright, I am not from the USA and i've never heard of this sort of thing :) thanks for the clarification
 
Summerwind said:
Oh common on, don't be dense. You know as well as I that the 84 year old nun is being highlighted to elicit sympathy, not just to discuss something different.
Click to expand...

Really I thought it was highlighted to elict comedy.... click baiting people see an 84 year old nun break into a highly secured nucular facility is kinda funny, and sparks curiousity imo :)
 
Summerwind said:
You're the one that keeps misreading my posts, not the other way around.
Click to expand...


As a general rule, when you suggest someone else is being dense, it's wise to check your spelling in the process. Shades of this guy...

original.jpg or this guy... morans.jpg
 
Last edited:
Chocolate said:
Really I thought it was highlighted to elict comedy.... click baiting people see an 84 year old nun break into a highly secured nucular facility is kinda funny, and sparks curiousity imo :)
Click to expand...
No, not for me, I don't find the breach funny, though I'm glad THEY did it. I meant it would elicit sympathy regarding her sentencing, not the actions that got her sentenced. As far as I'm concerned whether on purpose, as in her group's case, or accidentally, as might have been the case with a teen gang, the expose of that information makes one a hero. One that broke the law, but a hero nonetheless.
 
Chocolate said:
Ah alright, I am not from the USA and i've never heard of this sort of thing :) thanks for the clarification
Click to expand...
Dont worry, few in America know of the uhhmm..... "tradition".

Here is a source for enhancing your knowledge of 1980s leftist peace protestors in the USA.
The Unreported Resistance The nun's group is linked to these people, and is pretty much extinct except for a few eighty year old members doing eighties style "blood on stuff" protests.

"As these limits became clear in the Carter years, a small but determined movement against nuclear arms began to grow. The pioneers were a tiny group of Christian pacifists who had been active against the Vietnam war (among them were a former priest, Philip Berrigan, and his wife, Elizabeth McAlister, a former nun). Again and again, members of this group would be arrested for engaging in nonviolent acts of dramatic protest against nuclear war at the Pentagon and the White House—trespassing on forbidden areas, pouring their own blood on symbols of the war machine."
 
Last edited:
Summerwind said:
No, not for me, I don't find the breach funny, though I'm glad THEY did it. I meant it would elicit sympathy regarding her sentencing, not the actions that got her sentenced. As far as I'm concerned whether on purpose, as in her group's case, or accidentally, as might have been the case with a teen gang, the expose of that information makes one a hero. One that broke the law, but a hero nonetheless.
Click to expand...

why should anyone feel sympathy for a woman breaking the law in a dangerious security zone? it's not like they beat her or did anything but arrest her for her actions... it's good that she did them they NEED to tighten up security. But still I don't see the sympathy aspect, just comedy ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom