When a man believes he has been wronged, or has been accused of wrongdoing, often he will claim to seek justice. What he is actually seeking is either vengeance or mercy. I have seen and can usually recognize acts of vengeance and mercy. I believe that both have their place and purpose. I'm not at all sure that I've ever seen anything that could rightly be called justice.
If a man is robbed, and the thief is caught and imprisoned, has the victim received justice? Is he restored? Perhaps, if he was robbed of items that may be recovered, they may be returned to him, but he will surely have to invest his time and effort, for which there will be no recompense. What if he is robbed of money that can't be recovered, or what if he is beaten in the course of the robbery? And what of the thief? Will he be rehabilitated? Will the nature and duration of his punishment be commensurate with the crime he committed?
This is one small example of how we miss the mark when aiming for justice. Somehow, what we end up with is vengeance, mercy, or something much, much worse - further injustice.
For anyone who thinks 'it happened 30 years ago, there's no point in sending that old man to prison', consider this; what do you suppose that 'old man' has been doing for the last 30 years?
I've seen all kinds of articles lately about how the catholic church is revamping their policies with regard to how they deal with cases involving priests who abuse children. I don't understand how this is even a matter that has to be discussed, or why they think they have to have a 'policy'.
How is it that men guilty of such atrocities are still protected by one of the most powerful organizations in the world? Parents, where is your outrage? How can you hear of these cases day after day and not think 'what if that were my child?'
If we stand collectively by as these children are robbed of their innocence and their ability to trust, we are all guilty of fostering a society of depravity. Our children's future is shaped by what we do, and fail to do, today.
I, for one, feel some good old-fashioned vengeance is in order. If you insist on tempering it with a little mercy, very well. Don't kill the perpetrators. Just castrate them, lock them away for life and give them work to do to earn their keep. Preferably very, very hard, dirty, unpleasant work. It's not justice, but it's as close as we've got.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The Economy (Fear) Business Is Booming!
News Flash! The US economy is in the toilet! If you don't believe me, just ask the mainstream media. They'll be more than happy to tell you.....repeatedly.....and give you numerous examples of just how terrible it is and how afraid you should be.
Well, here's a little idea I came up with to help calm those media induced fears: STOP LISTENING TO THE MEDIA! Phew! I, for one, feel better already! Now, if you'll allow me, I'd like to tell you a little about my life and experiences, and also some additional helpful hints, just in case you have trouble (and you will) avoiding that mean ol' media monster.
In 1987, I was a divorced high-school dropout with a two-year-old and an infant. I worked in a factory for minimum wage ($3.35 an hour). I was fortunate enough to have my mother living with me to care for the children while I worked, but she had no income. In 1989, I graduated from a two-year college and got an entry-level job at an insurance company making less than $10,000.00 a year. I never saved a dime, but my family was provided for and I was never on welfare. Over the years, my income level increased, but while I was raising my children I never made more than $20,000.00 a year.
Helpful Hint #1 – If you were making more than $40,000.00 a year when the economy tanked, and you “lost everything”, you're probably an idiot. Please don't let society dictate to you what the necessities of life are. Paying cash, saving for major purchases, and avoiding unnecessary debt were smart choices before credit cards were invented, and they're still smart choices.
I recently met a woman who didn't have a job. I know, I know, there are millions who don't have jobs. What surprised me about this particular woman, though, is that I told her of a place where I knew she could get a job, and she told me in no uncertain terms that that type of work was beneath her skill level! I was literally shocked speechless. I've had all kinds of jobs in my working life, from cleaning woman to secretary to short-order cook and back to secretary, and never once have I found a job that was 'beneath my skill level'.
Helpful Hint #2 – Whoever it was that told you you were 'above' doing certain kinds of work to get your living was a big fat liar. If you depended on your job to meet your responsibilities and support your lifestyle, and that job no longer exists, you must necessarily reexamine your lifestyle and find a source of income. Still find the idea of a menial job distasteful? Perhaps standing in line at the food bank is more to your liking? If you're the entrepreneurial type, maybe you could start a business with a few of the other fifteen million who are currently out of work.
The labels 'poor' and 'rich' have been around for a long time. 'Middle-class', not quite as long. To the best of my understanding, the only purpose these labels serve is to allow the rich to distinguish themselves from the rest of us. Sadly, material wealth seems to command respect in certain circles, regardless of how it was acquired. From time to time, the definitions of the labels change, but the changes are slow and subtle. Most of us would agree that the basic definition of 'rich' is having more than enough in the way of material possessions, and that 'poor' means not having enough. So are we to infer that 'middle-class' means having just exactly enough? And who gets to decide what 'enough' is?
Helpful Hint #3 - Seeing as how the economy gods have apparently decided to hit the socio-economic reset button, I think now would be the perfect time for all of us to stop looking at our labels and decide as individuals what we need, what we want, and what we're willing to do to achieve those things.
Well, here's a little idea I came up with to help calm those media induced fears: STOP LISTENING TO THE MEDIA! Phew! I, for one, feel better already! Now, if you'll allow me, I'd like to tell you a little about my life and experiences, and also some additional helpful hints, just in case you have trouble (and you will) avoiding that mean ol' media monster.
In 1987, I was a divorced high-school dropout with a two-year-old and an infant. I worked in a factory for minimum wage ($3.35 an hour). I was fortunate enough to have my mother living with me to care for the children while I worked, but she had no income. In 1989, I graduated from a two-year college and got an entry-level job at an insurance company making less than $10,000.00 a year. I never saved a dime, but my family was provided for and I was never on welfare. Over the years, my income level increased, but while I was raising my children I never made more than $20,000.00 a year.
Helpful Hint #1 – If you were making more than $40,000.00 a year when the economy tanked, and you “lost everything”, you're probably an idiot. Please don't let society dictate to you what the necessities of life are. Paying cash, saving for major purchases, and avoiding unnecessary debt were smart choices before credit cards were invented, and they're still smart choices.
I recently met a woman who didn't have a job. I know, I know, there are millions who don't have jobs. What surprised me about this particular woman, though, is that I told her of a place where I knew she could get a job, and she told me in no uncertain terms that that type of work was beneath her skill level! I was literally shocked speechless. I've had all kinds of jobs in my working life, from cleaning woman to secretary to short-order cook and back to secretary, and never once have I found a job that was 'beneath my skill level'.
Helpful Hint #2 – Whoever it was that told you you were 'above' doing certain kinds of work to get your living was a big fat liar. If you depended on your job to meet your responsibilities and support your lifestyle, and that job no longer exists, you must necessarily reexamine your lifestyle and find a source of income. Still find the idea of a menial job distasteful? Perhaps standing in line at the food bank is more to your liking? If you're the entrepreneurial type, maybe you could start a business with a few of the other fifteen million who are currently out of work.
The labels 'poor' and 'rich' have been around for a long time. 'Middle-class', not quite as long. To the best of my understanding, the only purpose these labels serve is to allow the rich to distinguish themselves from the rest of us. Sadly, material wealth seems to command respect in certain circles, regardless of how it was acquired. From time to time, the definitions of the labels change, but the changes are slow and subtle. Most of us would agree that the basic definition of 'rich' is having more than enough in the way of material possessions, and that 'poor' means not having enough. So are we to infer that 'middle-class' means having just exactly enough? And who gets to decide what 'enough' is?
Helpful Hint #3 - Seeing as how the economy gods have apparently decided to hit the socio-economic reset button, I think now would be the perfect time for all of us to stop looking at our labels and decide as individuals what we need, what we want, and what we're willing to do to achieve those things.
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