I had the privilege of being with a friend who had to visit
court this week. I know that the circumstances under which this happened didn’t
have to happen; yet stuff in life happens. I know that our justice system isn’t
perfect and at times caters to those who have an education and means. Yet, I
was impressed with how the State helped this individual who didn’t have any
resources. This person was appointed his or her own lawyer who did an excellent
job representing my friend and helping him or her do the right thing.
I know that often Justice is considered blind and that the
scales that determine what consequences happen to someone seem totally unfair.
I know that as a teen growing up in the 60’s I can’t remember ever getting in
trouble for playing hide and go seek, cops and robbers or Indians and Cowboys.
Yet, today I would get screamed at for using the incorrect terms to describe
different ethnic groups. I wouldn’t want my grandson or granddaughter to be
suspended from first grade for drawing any type of weapon and then showing it
to someone. Yet, this happens everyday in today’s world because of the ongoing
violence that happens in the home, at school, at church and in public places.
I know that understanding respect is a huge part of growing
up as a youth to an adult. It was sad seeing too many individuals who came into
court dressed as if they hadn’t changed their clothes in the last week, clearly
weren’t concerned about how they looked and their choice of attire seemed to be
more for hanging out then being in the presence of a judge who represented the
State. I was truly impressed with my friend and their family who came dressed
as if they were going to a wedding.
I know that the reality is that few understand the classical
notion that there is always some type of consequence for making bad choices in
life that end up causing pain and suffering to an individual and ultimately to
a family, a neighborhood, a city or even a nation. I know that the tragedies
that have taken center stage in the media for the last year or two have been
truly saddening. Fortunately my friend’s action doesn’t fit these types of
breaking the law but in today’s setting what we say does take center stage and
we can end up being judged for our speech whether our actions live out our
jesting.
I know that few cherish waiting hours for being able to sit
in a courtroom and listen to a judge cite various statues from a state legal
document. My prayer was that my friend would learn a valuable lesson in life
that verbal actions do matter and that once you allow racism to take center
stage everyone is hurt and that the consequences for saying something that
seemed harmless could land you in jail or a detention center.
While we were waiting for what seemed an eternity I was
surprised to see a continual flow of families that were celebrating with one
another as they welcomed a new member to their families. It was exciting to see
a multi-racial party being thrown in the midst of those being tried for serious
offences. This brought back incredible memories for my Anne and me. I could
remember almost 25 years ago when we did the same thing. We had the privilege
to adopt two kids. I know that looking back it seems like a haze but the
reality it was one of the most important choices and actions in my life. As I
gazed at these excited moms and dads with both little babies, toddlers and
youth I knew that they were making a step that would impact them and these kids
for a lifetime.
I can remember being able to get a picture of our judge who
actually signed our documents that entitled our new family to become the larger
Bennett clan. I was an emotional basket case in court because I knew that the consequences
of my friend’s actions could see his family hurt from his poor choice of words
in a verbal harangue with someone they didn’t like. Yet, the day ended on a
high note as I saw the court as being an institution that helped right the
wrong in today’s society.
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