SANDY SPRINGS: Punish painters of hate graffiti

I guess someone thought he or she was being clever. We never found out which gutless person did it.

Then and now I have heard that some think it is the work of kids "who don't know any better." Beg pardon?

Pardon my language but how in hell does any kid old enough to get hold of a can of spray paint and brains enough to put out offensive graffiti without getting caught not "know any better"?

Did they intend to paint "For a good time, call Trixie" but instead drew the symbol of one of the most vile chapters in the history of mankind?

Although they might not understand the full sweep of what their actions mean, they can hardly expect to skate on the clueless defense.

Sandy Springs is where people move to get their kids into good public schools, or be close to good private schools.

I don't think any of those places have neglected to teach kids the events in Germany that led to World War II.

I can't recall a time growing up when I ever saw a swastika and thought it was a really cool little design.

By the age of 10, I sure knew what would happen to me if I spray-painted "Susie loves Bobby" on a street sign much less the universal symbol for the evil that human beings can do to one another.

How can kids in this city possibly not know better — not only about the Nazi party but also about vandalizing property?

I guess it's easier to say they didn't know any better because the alternative is that we're not doing a very good job of raising our kids.

Maybe a village can raise a child but that doesn't mean Mom and Dad don't have to lay a solid foundation first. Didn't know any better? Please.

I know people who believe John F. Kennedy is on life-support in a secret European clinic — and they wouldn't swallow the "didn't know better" defense.

Here's what I think: I think whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing. I think they knew what that symbol means, that what they were doing was wrong and that it would provoke a strong reaction.

I don't want to tell anyone else how to raise their kids, so the next best thing we can do is make sure that those who don't "know any better" get an object lesson in dealing with consequences — another bit of information that helps one navigate through life's choppy waters.

So, should these ignorant little rascals be caught and convicted, I'd suggest they and their parents be ordered to travel to Washington and spend the day at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

When they get home, they would go door-to-door in the neighborhood they vandalized and apologize to the homeowners.

And any cost incurred in repairing their handiwork would be paid by the family.

They say that failure is a great teacher, but socking someone in the wallet usually gets their attention pretty well, too.

Junior may not know better about vandalism but will quickly learn Mom and Dad don't like shelling out for Junior's misdeeds.

We can't eradicate vandalism but maybe we can price it out of the market.

Jim Osterman has lived in Sandy Springs since 1962.