Chapter 30: The Just and the Un-Just...Is there Justice?

In my heart, I am really sad. My brother called me to tell me that his former roomate had been sentenced to 2 years in prison for having sex with a minor. He had been facing 10 years and would have to be registered to be a sex offender. In a plea deal, he decided to take the two years so that he would not have to live with the stigma of being a sex offender. Truthfully, I think the thing that really makes me sad is that I know him and the fact that the same thing could've happened to my brother, me, or anyone for that matter. He is a really good guy who got caught in a really bad situation--a college student even, who thought he was dating a girl who was the same age as he when in fact, the girl was much younger than she said. What is sad is that I think she was white or of another race. I was soo hurt.

I am not saying that he is perfect or anything, but I don't agree with the whole idea of the young lady not being accused or questioned. It is true that young people look much older. A good example is me. I am 26 and I am told that I look 16. It is not that I look young, it is partly because children and teenagers look so much older now. I think it is that many young people want so badly to be grown so soon. This whole situation reminded me of something from the older days of the south when black men were accused speaking or waving or sometimes even raping white women. This didn't have to happen! I feel so strongly about it not only because it is unjust, but because he and my brother were roomates, they could've been together that day and my brother could very well be in the same situation. I am sad and outraged! I almost want to cry. This is an example of modern-day slavery.

America is interesting for the fact that there are laws to protect people, but then there are laws that in some ways, endanger others. We live in a country that puts people like Martha Stewart in prision because of stock market fraud, or tax evasion and then you have people like those in my community who rob banks out of desparity, or sell drugs in order to put food on the table who go to prison for years and years while you have those who commit crimes daily who sit on public boards and offices and never see jail. I just don't understand. I understand that there are laws in place to protect children, but in theory and in truth, the same people that many of these laws are meant to persecute don't ever see the system because many children who are really battered or really abused don't tell what happens and these same people go free daily. People who steal and embezzle money from companies or colleges that support so many people often go without being caught for years even. It really makes me sad to think about the reality of it all or even to be called a sex offender and to go to prison with that stigma. It is said that inmates don't treat you well when it is known that you have done something to a child. After reading the Jernarlo Lowe story, he mentioned that he wasn't mistreated as bad because the people there knew that he stood up against the very law that placed him there---a law similar to our friend. I believe part of that, but is makes me nervous because I'm sure that there are many things that go on in prison that many people cannot and will not speak about after leaving because it is too painful or embarrassing.

The justice system is very interesting. I will say, however this whole situation and other things that I have seen on my winter break have made me evaluate my freedom and to think about the things that are really important and precious to me. If I do nothing else in the new year, I will appreciate my freedom more, I understand that anything can happen to anyone at anytime for any reason. Simple things like sleeping in my own bed alone in my room, eating alone, bathing alone, driving, getting an education, working, or even dressing myself alone are all blessings and priviledges that we don't ever think about. I will also think about cherishing things a little more. God doesn't have to give me anything, in fact if he wanted to take something away from me at any time, he would. I need to cherish all that I do have. The phrase is "life like you were dying." Morrie, from the book "Tuesdays with Morrie" says that once you learn how to die, you will learn how to live," meaning if you realize that you really are going to die one day instead of pretending that that day will never come, you will cherish the days that you do have on earth a little more. I will understand that I am blessed...better than blessed. It will truly take all day to say thank you for everything. While I am very sad about this, I am thankful that he didn't get the maximum time and I am glad that he took a stand to say that I am not a sex offender and I refuse to be labled as such. The young lady who did this to him will not be let off the hook in theory in reference to the spirtual sense of things--you do reap what you sew. Our friend will be a stronger person after this and I pray that all of this will work out for his good. God I thank you. It rains on the just and the unjust and the Bible says, and right now I believe that it is raining on our friend. Contrary to what we think, however in order to grow we all need some rain. I believe it is when we dance in the rain that God brings out the sunshine.