On the night of the Oscars, John Legend said the words that have people finally taking an interest in the fact that blacks are being judged and jailed more than whites who commit the same crimes.
So my question really becomes what is the true issue that is getting lost in all of the back and forth. Are we upset that people have committed crimes are being put in jail for it or are we upset that white people are not being jailed for the same crime? I see alot of discussion but the real point always seems to get lost in the conversation.
Criminals are still criminals whether they are black, white or other. If they have committed a crime they deserve the punishment that they get. Who are we to say that we know what goes into a decision on when someone is sent to jail and when someone is not. Are we in the minds of the judge, the jury, the prosecutor? Whose issue is it when the person gets a bad lawyer because they can't afford a good one, is it the circle of lawyers who won't give up their high rate to help those that need it or is the poor overworked court appointed lawyer who doesn't take his job seriously? We just assume that we know because it is easier for us to judge then to find out all of the information before we say anything. How many times have people of color been given a break to only go out and commit another crime? I do not see people discussing that.
They say that many people are jailed for victimless crimes such as marijuana possession but because of their color they are being persecuted more than whites. Is it again because people think of marijuana as a victimless crime or is it because people of color get different treatment than whites? Laws are created to protect us and if the law is unjust then it should be fought but until it is changed people should be arrested for it. People think that carrying a concealed weapon should not be against the law but tell that to the person who is shot because a person doesn't like their religion. The speed limit is a law but people always want to go faster than what it given, they don't seem to complain when the cops ignore them for doing this until of course people are killed because people drive like idiots. Again is it because people really think these laws are unjust or because it intereferes with their circle of comfort.
One of the things I find to be funny is when a sport or hollywood star are given a pass because of their celebrity, whether they are black or white, no one seems to care about them compared to the ordinary citizen. As long as they can still perform for us that is what we really want. Does anyone remember Kobe Bryant sexually assaulting someone? People bullied the victim, was this because they thought she was making up the story or was it because it was Kobe Bryant? Would they have done the same if it was not a celebrity?
In the end, we need to get to the point of what we are fighting, is it that we want more criminals out on the street or is it that we want a fair and color blind justice system to put more criminals in jail?
So my question really becomes what is the true issue that is getting lost in all of the back and forth. Are we upset that people have committed crimes are being put in jail for it or are we upset that white people are not being jailed for the same crime? I see alot of discussion but the real point always seems to get lost in the conversation.
Criminals are still criminals whether they are black, white or other. If they have committed a crime they deserve the punishment that they get. Who are we to say that we know what goes into a decision on when someone is sent to jail and when someone is not. Are we in the minds of the judge, the jury, the prosecutor? Whose issue is it when the person gets a bad lawyer because they can't afford a good one, is it the circle of lawyers who won't give up their high rate to help those that need it or is the poor overworked court appointed lawyer who doesn't take his job seriously? We just assume that we know because it is easier for us to judge then to find out all of the information before we say anything. How many times have people of color been given a break to only go out and commit another crime? I do not see people discussing that.
They say that many people are jailed for victimless crimes such as marijuana possession but because of their color they are being persecuted more than whites. Is it again because people think of marijuana as a victimless crime or is it because people of color get different treatment than whites? Laws are created to protect us and if the law is unjust then it should be fought but until it is changed people should be arrested for it. People think that carrying a concealed weapon should not be against the law but tell that to the person who is shot because a person doesn't like their religion. The speed limit is a law but people always want to go faster than what it given, they don't seem to complain when the cops ignore them for doing this until of course people are killed because people drive like idiots. Again is it because people really think these laws are unjust or because it intereferes with their circle of comfort.
One of the things I find to be funny is when a sport or hollywood star are given a pass because of their celebrity, whether they are black or white, no one seems to care about them compared to the ordinary citizen. As long as they can still perform for us that is what we really want. Does anyone remember Kobe Bryant sexually assaulting someone? People bullied the victim, was this because they thought she was making up the story or was it because it was Kobe Bryant? Would they have done the same if it was not a celebrity?
In the end, we need to get to the point of what we are fighting, is it that we want more criminals out on the street or is it that we want a fair and color blind justice system to put more criminals in jail?
Great article. People's opinion will be formed based on the environment and culture they grew up in. Teaching people to have an open mind and beyond the walls they know is another matter. Sadly ignorance and closed mindedness will dominate.
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