I was 24, a Navy Diver and I bought my first Corvette. A guy driving a Mustang wanted to race with me, he cut me off twice, got in-front of me and slammed on his brakes and took-off. I was pissed-off and put the pedal to the metal. He stopped at a red light, but rather than pulling up beside him, I got out of the car, opened his door and punched him in the head.
1. Was he wrong for harassing me, cutting me off, slamming on the brakes almost causing a collision? I think so.
2. Did he get what he deserved? I think so.
3. Did I have a right to be ticked-off? I think so.
4. Could I have been charged with assault? Yes.
In thinking about it, I was lucky. Should I have pulled a shotgun and blown him away because some arse made me angry? No.
Anyway you look at it, we have no reason to use deadly force on another unless we believe that we are in immediate danger and the use of such force is the last solution, in defense.
Regardless of your opinions on piracy, terrorism, or whaling, civilized people don't try to kill another solely because they're ticked-off and harassed. The jails are full of people who have acted in this manner.
As I've said, I'm happy to wait for the investigation, but in this isolated incident, if it's held that the whaling Captain intentionally rammed the smaller vessel, he should be drawn and quartered.
The SS Skipper should be punished similarly, should the evidence support a conviction; without question.