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I spend a tremendous amount of time putting my thoughts and feelings on paper, many of which are simply left to collect dust, not knowing where to search for publication, and sometimes simply taking advantage of the cathartic feeling that writing provides me. I have two and half years worth of higher education, obtained from Western Kentucky University, where I majored in psychology, but alas, no degree. I'm currently searching for a way to conitinue my education, with a goal of obtaining a doctorate, allowing me to conduct research in the field of behavorial sciences. I want very much to be a writer, but my head is filled with so many things of which to write about that getting started is difficult. But I dont plan to let that stop me.
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MY RESIDENCE INFO:
City: Louisville
State/Country: Ky
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BOOKS PUBLISHED:
As I climbed into my car, tossing the small grocery bag into the passenger seat, my eyes landed on the same man that I had seen inside. He looked at hte ground as he walked, his shoulders stooped. He had been at the customer service counter inside the store, apparently applying for a job. While I had only heard bits and pieces of the exchange, what I had heard left little doubt in my mind as to the outcome. The manager had netioned the "felony conviction", and seemed to be questionong him about the nature of his particular felony conviction. Then I heard the word "marijuana." The redness that crept up the back of the man's neck as he spoke words I was too far away to hear told me that he was trying to explain his actions. I turned then, leaving the store, ignoring the sound of my heart fracturing just a little. I knew that his chances of landing whatever position he was applying for were slim to none.
Peruse the want-ads sometime. Those of us that dont have felony convitions would hardly notice it, but you'd be amazed at how many positions require a 'clean' background. Nearly all of them; particularly those that are worthwhile and are in any way offering some promise of a future. Even manual labor positions that pay $7 and hour and require no experience what-so-ever would refuse a felon.
Dont get me wrong; rape, murder, attempt to, or commit some other heinous horror, and you deserve such a fate, at least until you've proven to society that you can be trusted to abide by thelaw and conduct yourself in a manner behitting humans. But lets discuss the other ones. The ones that arent killing people or deliberately getting nine-year-olds hooked on heroin. I refer to those that, for whatever reason, experience lapses in judgement due to a combination of desperation, frustration, and fear (which, lets be honest, makes up a great deal of our lawbreakers). A certain amount of punishment is warranted in these situations, absoluely; but to operate the system in a manner that robs them of thier earning potential is not only pointless and asinine, it's asking for it.
We all have the God-given right to (legally, of course) eek out some sort of existence that in somway resembles a lifestyle; it doesnt have to be a great one, but a lifestyle nonetheless. If we take away thier ability to be employed, we've taken from them the very foundation on whhich to build everything else; those things in life that are so significant to us all. Much of our self-seteem revolves around our accomplishes, our successes, and our belief in what we can achieve. Our world, obviously, would be a better place for everyone if we were all contributing in some productive way to society, and we should all have the ability to do just that; to make something of ourselves and build a future, a life that we can be proud of and can share with loved ones.
These "Criminals" dropped the ball whenthey turned away from the law, I'll give you that, and ,yes, there are ways to make them pay for thier crimes. But let me assure you, handing down a sentence that will force them into an existence that strongly resembles that of an indigent is in no way the answer.
Being able to care and provide for yourself is a primary factor in our society where, ostensibly, we are all given the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". For convicted felons, this becomes a monumental task, one that is compounded by the very emotional and cultural factors that primarily led to the offense in the first place. Some are lucky; they have family, friends, or others that care about thier well-being that they can turn to in times of need. Perhaps someone that can help them start their own business. Or someone that can support them while they obtain that college degree (which, of course, is still all but useless with that felony conviction on thier record). But let's discuss the others. Let's discuss those that dont have anyone to turn to. What about the goofball that in a moment not to be mistaken as one of his finest, decidees to grow a mountain of dope in his backyard? He's caught and convicted. He has family and friends, but no one that can do anything to prevent him from simply floundering while he searches in vain for a means of survival. Oddly enough, the justice system appears to be thinking that by taking away this guys ability to support and care for himself tha he woill miraculously grow and change as a person, and therefore learn form his mistakes. Thst by taking away his ability to earn a living, he will somehow learn some sort of lesson.
You've got to be kidding.
Right now, someone reading this is puffing up with whay I think can only be termed niave arrogance and thinking, "do the crime, pay the time." I can almost promise you, that same individual is someone that has consumed alcoholic beverages at least three times inhis or her life, which makes that person a felon, whether they've been caught or not. We also have those out there that are "convicted" of something that although it may be perfectly legal, is made into something illegal for the purposes of politics. We seem to believe that these
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