The Great Escape

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What is it that makes us nearly root for people to break out of jail?

Why is the daring escape of the two men from the New York prison near the Canada border so glamorous?

It's the Shawshank Redemption factor, isn't it?

But the two guys who broke out of the prison are really dangerous men.

One of the guys shot and killed a police officer. The other was a career criminal who tortured, killed and then cut up his boss.

Horrendous.

Yet the newspapers and the rest of the media are all over the story. Some of the anchors have reported the escape as if it were a Hollywood script.

I'm thinking that some people are truly hoping that they get away with it.

You know...sticking it to the man, sort of deal.

But make no bones about it...it's a dangerous situation.

About a half dozen years ago a man was on the run here in New York State. Bucky Phillips was a man who ended up shooting and killing a New York State Trooper. Right up until the time that he did that there were people openly rooting for Bucky to get away. A couple of the restaurants in the area put Bucky sandwiches on the menu.

Weird dynamic.

Escape from Alcatraz and Shawshank are on the list of great movies.

Oceans 11 and those types of grand larceny films are also very popular.

Hell...we have been tempted, through the years to find characters like Tony Soprano, Walter White and Dexter as heroes...

...and they were all horrific fictional killers and criminals.

Following the escape here in New York State (a long ways away, thankfully) it was stated that the two men were in someone's backyard in civilian clothes.

They are running free with no intention of getting caught.

They will kill anyone who gets in their way.

And yet there are people dissecting how they made the great escape and some people have gone far enough to praise their efforts.

But it just isn't a movie...it's a tragedy.

And yet...

...there's a tickle there.

We are fascinated with it.

We almost think that their being able to pull it off makes them somehow cool.

We have always been fascinated with criminals who are legendary at committing crimes.

Billy the Kid.

Jessie James.

Tony Soprano.

Hopefully these men will be captured quickly.

Before they kill again.

They aren't cute or brilliant.

They're killers.

And if you're really rooting for them...

...God help you!

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