Free

Free

Debt paid to society

Free

Mama's home cooking

Free

Lovin' my woman

Free

Do something with my life

Free

Can't work here with a record

Free

No Grant for my education

Free

Home loan? you're kidding, right?

Free

Oh, God, I'm trying

Free

Homeless, not by choice

Free

Comments: 14

Sandy (Site Psychic™) Knauer Apr 29, 2006, 12:37pm EDT

Thank you, Donna!! This is such an important issue that doesn't get as much attention as I think it deserves. I know a wonderful 23 year old girl who can't get a decent job because she had a felony drug charge at 17 (didn't take her to court until after her 18th birthday and charged her as an adult). She did time, lives a good life, isn't even terribly bitter as you might expect, and always extends herself to anyone in need. And let's not forget they can't vote in many states either.

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Richard Frisbie Apr 29, 2006, 1:37pm EDT

A local purse-snacher told the policeman who caught him - I can't get a job because of my record, my mother threw me out of the house so I have nowhere to live. I took the money so I could eat. He'll go to prison (it was several incidents and he already had a felony record) and probably die young. Heck, he's only 20 now. It's a crying shame we have the system we do.

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donna f. Apr 29, 2006, 2:42pm EDT

Thank you all. I wrote this thinking about a young man who is a great mechanic, but can't find a decent job in his field because of his record, which is ancient history. Employers see the word "felony" and forget it.
Whatever happened to paying your debt and being done with it. This is only one of many reason we see so many repeat offenders, they have no place else to turn to survive.

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Bette H. Apr 30, 2006, 6:36am EDT

I know a young lady that had a felony record and when she applied for a job and was truthful they would not hire her so she lied, got a job and was doing very well. Someone was hating and called and told them she had a record and they fired her for lying on her application. I know another young lady that has a felony record (first offense drug charge), she is a single parent with two little girls. There is no help out here for her. They make it impossible for them to succeed and make a better life for themselves.

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donna f. Apr 30, 2006, 11:53am EDT

That is exactly my point, Bette. Thiscountries judicial system is based on the ideal of punishment fittling the crime, but so many of these persons keep paying for a lifetime. I am not talking about major offenses here, but the minor infractions that can ruin a life, such as drug offenses, youthful indiscretions, petty theft and other offenses that should be forgiven after their sentence is completed.

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donna f. May 1, 2006, 7:28am EDT

Unfortunately, you have a good point, Cathy.

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George Corneliussen May 1, 2006, 9:55am EDT

donna,
Our system does not like to let anyone off the hook once they are on it. Some might argue that we have a system of revenge, not justice.

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donna f. May 1, 2006, 10:02am EDT

Good point, George.

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Dawn M May 3, 2006, 10:48am EDT

Sounds like a person is never truly free or has their debt paid completely

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donna f. May 3, 2006, 2:55pm EDT

Therein lies the problem, Dawn.

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Christopher C. May 4, 2006, 12:06pm EDT

Donna., Good wordage. The price of Free is Not Free. George hints at the rawness of our culture, our compassion comes with a heavy handle on the Judge Factor. Dawn M., has a handle on pointing to the dilemma, our culture is based upon consumerism and duality, both factors nesting us comfortably into the illusion of Free. Freedom is the child at birth. From that minute on, we teach our children to be Un-Free. All cultures do it. The journey of life is to go back to Free. An illusion of the impossible. Woe be us.

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donna f. May 4, 2006, 2:22pm EDT

Thank you Christopher.

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Comments: 14

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