Justice or compassion

I recently saw a commentary on TV about an African American who had been on death row for thirty years in Alabama for a crime he did not commit. Another person recently confessed to the crime and he was released. The case had been poorly handled to begin with. The man had received poor legal counsel, African Americans were eliminated from jury selection, no witnesses, no murder weapon and only circumstantial evidence. A rush to judgment that would send a man to his death. This is just one of many cases where death row convictions have been found to be inaccurate.

 

Once the man was released from prison he was found to have stage four lung cancer and died shortly thereafter. When he was released the state gave him a $20 gift card and sent him on his way. While he was entitled to some compensation for being falsely incarcerated for almost his whole life the state said that since nothing was done illegally and since he had previous knowledge that a crime that he didn't bring forward he wasn't going to receive anything.

 

The state prosecutor was asked if he felt that was fair and if he, like many others, had any compassion for the man and what he had been through. The prosecutor said that he was not in. The compassion business and he was just following the law. A mistake was made thirty years ago, the state corrected it, and they were done. They had followed the law at the first trial and they were continuing to follow the law (the ones that fit them). Right or wrong has nothing to do with it. Justice is what they provide and he received delayed justice when he was released. 

 

Our justice system has become a farce for both justice and compassion. The laws are used to "punish" rather that "protect" the citizens. Ask any black person what the results of challenging a police command, even if being calm and non combative. Many people are incarcerated under mandatory sentence laws which do not take into account reasonable sense or compassion for the circumstances. Get killed for having a gun, rather well or fake, even in the same place where  white citizens can brazenly display guns and rifles in public. Criminals are released without even having a trial due to the plea bargaining by attorneys and judges.

 

I would hope that our legal system would be run to provide justice in a reasonable, even  handed, and compassionate manner. Serious crimes should have serious penalties but we should make sure as best we can that we get it right. Justice and compassion do not have to be mutually exclusive. We have more laws than any other country in the world, and by far more people incarcerated.  

The Haves and The Have Nots

There is a new television show on called the "Haves and The Have Nots". It is about two different families. One rich,white and in power, and the other a black family with the matriarch being their maid. The black family comes from a lower class neighborhood,and she has a daughter who has been in trouble and is desirous of the good life. By being an escort she makes her way into the lives of the Haves,and extorts her way to wealth for a while. Of course there are other character and there is way more to the story,but what strikes me the most is that our country and society is actually set up like this. 

America was established with a system whereby there were three classes. The rich, the middle class, and the poor. The poor didn't include slaves,which were considered property, and not even people. There have always been Haves and Have Nots in America. It is funny to me that some politicians argue that providing services for the poor,by having the rich pay more, is some form of socialism. We will never have a society in America where everyone receives equal treatment and wealth is shared, because  that simply is not America or Capitalism.

All the wars that have been fought in this country, particularly the Civil War, were about maintaining the level of the rich. While slavery was an issue at the time, the idea of succession from the union and the effects it would have on commerce and trade were far more important, and actually resulted in the war. Since the states had the power to make their own laws slavery could have continued. But what would have happened to the workforce in the north or the industrial revolution, had this occurred? If history is honestly reviewed, not by the tainted way that it is presented in our schools textbooks, this would be obvious. But that is our dirty little secret and it plays better say Lincoln went to war to free the slaves.

Look at today's economy and our democracy and anyone can see that the country is more divided along these economical lines that be race. Race is an issue for blacks because they started below the Have Nots, and through the civil rights movement have been able to more "up" to the level of poor whites and even middle class. There are even those who are Haves. 

The key to America is that the founding fathers, who were Haves by the way, wrote the constitution and the bill of rights to say that "everyone" had the right, and could become a Have, here in this new country. Easily said and a great morale compass, but very hard to accomplish by many. Some say it is the individuals fault since the opportunity is there. But for many Have Nots the opportunity is not there, or has always been the case, the Haves will do anything in there power to prevent it and maintain their level of supremacy.

The One and Only

Over  this past year I unfortunately have been to three funerals. Two have been for white friends that I have worked with, and one black friend that I also worked with. All of the individuals have been in my age group and a few years younger than me. I think all of them passed before their time and with illnesses that came about suddenly. Two where from forms of cancer, and one from a massive heart attack.

All were what I consider to be good people. Open minded and had high character. I don't believe I every heard anyone say anything bad about them, and they seemed to have been like by all. I saw no racism or bigotry, and all we involved in their church. The funerals were well attended and many people paid their respects at the visitation.

The one thing that continues to stick with me is that even in 2015, my wife and I were the only African American people at the white funerals. Even in this day and age is it possible for individuals to have so little contact with people of color that such a disparity exists? As I worked my way up the corporate leader, it was not unusual to be the "only" minority at a meeting, conference, or on the job. As time went by more and more diversity occurred. But I was shocked back into reality at the funerals to the fact that we are still divided.

On the flip side, at the funeral of my African American friend there were several white mourners present. Is that because we are forced to reach out more to the majority and therefore have more contacts with them than they have with us? I guess until the minority becomes the majority these things will exist. We have school integration, fair housing laws, and sports to try and bring us together early on, but do those ties last throughout time? I think not. What will your funeral look like?

Quiet or Peace

There are  a lot of things on my mind today, I guess because there are a lot of issues to think about. Everyday I read or see another example of police misconduct or abuse. The case of Sandra Bland is now in the news, after dying in police custody, after a routine traffic stop escalated with the police. I recently saw a man who apparently had a stroke behind the wheel of his car, and was tased and then shot in the face with mace, for not responding to the officers commands.  Are the police so afraid or power crazed that these things will just continue to occur unchecked?

I have heard the slogan "black lives matter" many times. But all lives matter. And how is it that we can be so verbal about these type of incidents and the rate of murder between African Americans also grows exponentially. How can we not look at stopping those crimes as well as what the police do. Can we possibly believe that you should get a pass because of your race or your upbringing?

In America you may have the 1% versus the 99%. But you also have groups of people in every race that face the same dilemmas. There are those that are thriving. They are the people with the good jobs and are well of financially. They have "made it" in our society and can afford to do what they want basically when and where the want too. There are those that are striving. These are the people that get up everyday and go to work to try to get ahead. They go to school and try to better themselves so that someday they can or their children can thrive. Then there are the strugglers. I think this is the biggest group in America today. These people work but just can't seem to get ahead. They pay their bills but they have very little left over and many need a little assistance, whether it be from the government or someone else.Then there are the poor or the thugs. They have either given up or decided that working isn't worth it. They will steal and have little regard for the other groups. You can be poor without being a thug but you suffer considerably on a daily basis, in a society that values wealth, possessions, and education in that order.

There are many people out there trying to make change. When I see some of the groups in the media I have to wonder are we missing the boat. There are elders, who have been raised during the civil rights era still asking for change. Is it those people, both black and white, where the racism  resides? Is this the group where the economic woes are causing the problem? How do you get to those parents who are raising the generation that is now lost, including there own? Will there be a generation that will come that can break the cycle?

I heard someone say that today things were pretty quiet. There were no killing, no protests, no natural catastrophes. But just because things are quiet does not mean that there is peace.The world is a violent place, and many say the end is coming, maybe sooner that we think. It is only a matter of time before the next theater shooting, the next case of police brutality, the next time some disrespects our President, or someone is deprived of life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness. We need to strive for peace in the Middle East, as well as all over the globe, including the USA.

Who's really at the end of the line

Sometimes I just think about how blessed I am and all the people of our great country. I look around and see a home, a car, food, water, resources, and all the things that come with living in America. Even those who have very little have some much more that millions who live on this earth. The complaints and things which stress us out, make me sad when I look at the news ( on a TV by the way) or read a newspaper (not censored), or just look around.

I. remember a saying from my youth that went something like " I was sad I had no shoes until I meet a man who had no feet" or something of this nature. It seems that there is always someone who has it worst than you and that you could help. Even those in our impoverished inner cities or rural mountains, still have a life that many around the world would take over their own.

I see the victims of the earthquake in Tibet and I cannot imagine living in the conditions that now exist. I look at the middle east where bombings and war has left areas, which were once homes, businesses and historical buildings, in rumbles. People with nothing searching for an existence where no support exist, no water, no shelter, no electricity, and probably no hope. In Iraq people are forced into a life of suffering just because they are on the wrong side of religion or ideology. In Ukraine, due to the war the people there have been forced to camps with little or nothing to sustain them and the threat of death all around.

So I am blessed that I am not trying to reach another country on an overcrowded boat, with everything I own in a bag, only to be placed in a camp with limited resources, but "alive". The poorest friend I know is better off than any of these people. Hopefully every day for the remainder of my time on this earth I will appreciate all the blessings God has bestowed upon me. I know for sure, no matter how difficult things are, that I am never going to be at the end of the line. 

To Play or Not To Play

We recently had a key player on our college basketball program suspended from the team. He was out for unknown reasons for one game, which we lost, and came back the next game and helped us win. Now he has been dismissed from the team altogether.

The original info was that he had sent a threatening text message to a female that he was in an off and on relationship with. Around Valentines Day the young lady has waited for him till 3:00 in the morning and he hadn't shown. She then trashed his apartment which I assume resulted in the threatening text message. She took the message to campus security and filed a complaint indicated that she didn't want any action taken, but for someone to talk to him about his behavior.???

 The school says there is an ongoing investigation going on with player which could be the reason for the dismissal but they cannot comment. In the meantime the fact that the player does have some anger management problems have been identified in the past.

 My problem with this situation is two fold. First, the relationship with the young woman is a personal matter. Had the threat not been placed in text would it have been brought up. It appears that the young women was very upset and even admitted to messing up his apartment when he didn't come to meet her. People are now saying that he should have just let it go, but that is easier said than done, particularly when we are talking about personal relationships and young people. Who hasn't said harsh words during a stressful encounter. Nevertheless what does this have do with basketball? We're there team rules broken? Is there a morality cause for dealing with girlfriends or the opposite sex?

It appears that there is no privacy anymore. You can no longer have an argument with a female, whether in a relationship or not, which can not be construed as abusive or having the "potential" of being abusive. In this case my second point is this. If the dismissal was the result of this incident, shouldn't the college be concerned with "counseling" the player versus the ultimate "punishment" of removing him from the team, and sending him down a much darker path for the future. 

There may be more to the story that will come to light but it appears that there will be no winners based on the current situation.

Reading is Fundamental

During Black History Month the inevitable conclusion that education is the key to success in America is always a cornerstone of discussion. This fact has been known for generations. In fact African Americans as slaves were not allowed to learn how to read by penalty of death, and after slavery not given equal opportunity (if there is such a thing) to learn until the late 1960's.

The ability to read leads to power and always will . What does the power to vote mean if you cannot read the ballot. What kind of economic power can one have if they cannot read, write or add. Reading should be fun and fundamental. But our school system is failing this generation. As an African American baby boomer I was always pushed to read. I can vividly remember  having to go to the "Read Away Vacation Club" at the public library every summer during grade school. Books could be checked out and you received stars and rewards for reading so many books, and keeping track.

After WWII the black newspaper was where people went to find out information and what was going on in the black community. These were usually weekly papers and we looked forward to looking at them. These papers pushed the black agenda, but also showed the plight of the black community in terms of crime and punishment. I would read all the black magazines like Jet and Ebony. Today's  African American generation sees reading as a punishment instead of a privilege. We are no longer a race driven by the word as much as by electronic media.

We are bombarded with media such as television, radio and the most recently social media, such as Facebook, twitter, and Instagram. We get our news here which is skewed and in many cases incorrect. Many times I asked myself if social media is really learning, or just talking without purpose.

Every morning I still read the newspaper. Not digitally online, but the old fashion hard copy. I find it enjoyable, entertaining, and educational. One of my daughters boyfriend has taken up the banner of not having their baby immunized and home schooling him. He asked that the family understand his reasons, that immunization causes altruism and the school systems isn't teaching black history or proper fundamentals. He asked that we do our research before we went against him. I wanted to ask if he had done his research, for if he had, he would see there is much more information discrediting his reasons than not. However you, would have to take time to read to do this research. And while the public school system does not have a sterling record there are positives that can be found that cannot be replaced. Just because you are educated, doesn't make you a good teacher for your child. You have to be able to put in the work and the effort. The same goes for our teachers.

If we want our children to succeed they must learn and want to read. We have to read to them early on and make it enjoyable for them. We must be patient and help then and watch what they are doing in school. Once they fall behind or out of love with reading it is very hard to get back.

The Police

With all the events that have occurred in Ferguson Mo and New York City that deal with police using excessive force and the racism, I have been thinking a lot about this issue. More things come to mind than could ever be captured in this blog, but why not get some of them out.

I have come to the conclusion that for the most part if you deal with criminals and see the carnage that they bring on a day to day basis, you must either become conscience of what they can do to you, up to and including terminating your life, or you start to think that you have to demand respect and obedience from these people by whatever me,ans necessary. Yes there are good police, and bad police but I believe the majority of temp have become militarized in their thinking for policing the public. In other words you do exactly what I say, when I say it, or I will force you to respect my authority, regardless of the circumstances. The police have the upper hand on everyone. They can say that you resisted arrest (even if it is for no cause) or you were did not follow their instructions, making you disorderly.

In the 60's this was common place for African American men and that is why we always felt uncomfortable around the police. With the increase in crime and the fact that a large percentage of it is within the black community, this threat has escalated. While Michael Brown may have been a thug, it was not necessary for him to die at the hands of the police. The real reason he died was that he rejected the police authority to ask him to "get out of the street." Was this caused due to racism? Probably the aftermath had a lot to do with racism. But the main issue is that the police are scared, people of color are mad, and when those two come together the outcome is always bad.

The United States has a racial problem. Always has, since the pilgrims came to America and unfortunately always will. The question is how to make the racial divide as small as possible. Not only does America have a racial problem it also has a gun and violence problem. This too is deeply engrained in our society. The  second amendment gave America the right to bear arms. This was initially for the militia to protect the country from foreign countries and also to allow them to fight to acquire more land. We have always had guns and as the country grew, hand guns versus rifles/muskets were developed. These were to shoot people, not for hunting. In the wild, wild west everyone had a gun to protect themselves and their property. That didn't work out very well in a country that was supposed to be run by "laws". But now the gun lobbyist would have us believe that we should go back to that. Well the criminals have them and they use them to break the laws, and the police have had to gear up to keep up. John Q public also thinks they need to be strapped.

Our justice system is in compete disarray and for the most part is broken. It is still the best in the world, but due to the way it is being implemented we have the highest incarceration rate in the civilized world. And those that are the most disadvantaged are the ones that bear the brunt of this. The people of color are at the low end of the economic scale and at the high end of the jail cells. The only way to turn that around is the continue to try and level the playing field. The system will let a convicted murderer out, or a known repeat felon to commit more crimes, while at the same time will spend time trying to convict an African American women who shot into her ceiling to scare off her abusive boyfriend.

As I watch things on social media it is clear that the police are mad too. I see police excessive force not only with African Americans but also with Hispanics, women, and even some poor whites. We see police who are afraid and shoot children. I've seen police actually beat a suspect in a wheelchair, who could not possibly pose any threat. Those that have some mental problems are treated with disdain and many times brutalized. Yes there are police that risk their lives to protect people, but at the same time they also support those who use excessive force, because they know their fears.

Our country is at war. A war between the haves and the have nots, the police against the criminal. And there are those who believe what Spike Lee said, "Do the right thing", versus trying to set criminal laws for everything that occurs in society.  America is trying to forget "In God We Trust"

Listening

Over the years I have tried to develop a very important skill.... the ability to listen. This is a skill that needs to be worked upon and does not just come naturally. Most people can "hear" very well but may not actually "listen" to things as they are being said. My wife, who I love dearly, is a prime example.

On many occasions I say things to my wife, which I believe may be of interest, or at least might provide some information.  What I have found is that in most cases my wife's mind is in a completely different place at the time and while it appears that she heard what I said, she wasn't really listening. She was either formulating a response in advance or she starts talking to me about something completely off the topic. Sometimes she will acknowledge haring what I said but later she will bring to my attention the same thing I had told her earlier.

Listening is great. It allows you to learn, get information, and then reflect upon what has been said. Because people tend to want to be right, they spend most of their time developing their thoughts to say what they want, or develop a rebuttal they don't receive the message that someone else is sending to them. I found in the business world this can be very detrimental. I once supervised a key account representative, whose major flaw was that he didn't listen to his customers. He was constantly interrupting them to state "his" position. He never listened close enough to find out what the real objections to his presentations were.

I think part of our national problem, particularly in government, is the inability to listen. Everyone is pushing their agenda or they are bent of opposing the opposition that actual listening cannot occur. I have learned that wisdom comes from knowing that you do not know everything, and that there is always someone that can do something better than you.

Retirement

After working 22 years with a major tobacco manufacturer and working my way up from sales rep to the first Area VP of Sales I was unceremoniously offered early retirement due to company downsizing. All good, I was in my forties and would start collecting my pension early at age fifty. I moved on and obtained employment as VP of Sales for the Kentucky Lottery Corporation. I worked there for almost twenty years, achieving records sales on a consistent bases. However, as the direction of the company began to change and what I felt was a lack of confidence by upper management I decided it was time for me to leave. I checked with my financial planner who said I had enough funding set aside to retire comfortably. So at 65 I find myself retired once again.

 

My wife is happy with this decision. She was not rehired by the school board after being assigned to an inner city school, which provided little opportunity for her to achieve success, due to lack of resources and commitment. She never got started and when she asked to be relieved they terminated her versus transferring her. Anyway, that is another story. We now spend time together working on home projects, visiting new restaurants, and attending to the day to day drama of our children and grand children.

 

People have asked me what am I doing or plan to do in retirement and I tell them that I don't have any plans. Right now I am enjoying not getting up every morning and driving to a place of work. I can leisurely get up, have my coffee and read the morning paper. I have been working on a bathroom remodeling project, which I'm sure would not have been possible if I were still working. My major task is to make my wife happy. We have been on two trips so far, one to  Florida and one to Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic. I can tell that my wife is anticipating many more trips in our future.

 

I guess the major problem for me is to make sure I can find productive things to do with my time. I don't play golf, so I guess walking and getting into a gym will be important moving forward, for my physical health. It has been 5 months since taking the plunge and so far I have been engaged and I am enjoying my retirement. Perhaps writing something in this blog regularly will become a part of my routine moving forward.