John Derbyshire is feeling ill from contemplating John Gotti’s funeral: These tributes from neighbors and reporters turn my stomach, though. They are so keen to tell us about Gotti’s personal qualities: his courage, his loyalty, the warmth of his family life. I don’t doubt that it’s all true. So what? Human beings are social creatures, and our virtues are only praiseworthy when they are socially positive…. I am certainly willing to believe that John Gotti was fearless, loyal, a devoted husband and father. There is no doubt, though, that from the point of view of free citizens in a free … Continue reading The Sickening Glorification of Criminals