Motivation, Opinion and Realizations ...

Blogs are funny things. For some, it's a personal journey. Others it's a Marketing tool. And then there are those of us who are totally random and undisciplined (insert my name here) when it comes to Blogging. But after reading some of the opinions and issues on FaceBook (i.e. The Borg) I find that I have opinions and would enjoy discussion, except, in today's society, there really is no actual discussion (I find) but people spewing their own views on top of others. BUT, that said, I would like to voice my opinions without any mean spirited returns so this is gonna join my line up of what to Blog. I know, I am pretty happy with this thought. Not my own idea, but one I thought about after reading a friend's husband's Blog in which he says that it's his own personal space to speak in. I love that, personal space and getting to say my thoughts. The phrase 'safe space' is used a lot but finding that space space with the right people is difficult.

So, first up, Michael Vick, our legal system, and Christians (yes, I called you all out, I said Christians).

So, in America, if someone serves their time in jail for a crime, and then is released it is commonly said that they are changed and 'entitled' to rejoin society. Now, rejoin would be returning to their profession; being a member of society; being trusted and forgiven of their crime.

So, Michael Vick has, in fact, been found guilty of a terrible crime (no person or animal should be mistreated but that's an entire Blog subject of it's own).

Michael Vick has served his time in prison. Yep, not some country club resort or local jail but prison. I would suspect most of us have never been in a prison much less accused of such a crime as he, but all that said, he went to prison and served the time dictated by our legal system. So now he should be accepted as a reformed member of our society and he should be allowed to be trusted, forgiven and also allowed to earn his living in his chosen profession.

FIRST QUESTION: If we have a legal system in place that our society does not abide in or trust, then why do we not just kill the bad people now? Why allow them back into society where WE can now mistreat them to the point that they probably return to doing the horrible thing they were put in prison for? I ask you, what is the point?

I know the legal system as well as the prison/jail system are both business entities. But really, are we not an elevated society that can make hard decisions and have a system in place that works? Humanity before Business?

MORE QUESTIONS:

Do we actually believe people can change?

Can we ever forget what they have done?

I ask you all to consider these questions.

And now, hello to all you Christians who basically screamed on my FaceBook feeds to practically lynch Michael Vick.

Really? I say, really? Your entire religion is one about love and forgiveness and yet the anger and meanness that I felt from those posts and petitions just made me hold my breath. So much hatred. So much anger. I have to wonder if Christ would have reacted the same way; oh wait, I don't have to wonder because he wouldn't have.

As for religion in general. I, myself, had a hard time finding my place in religion and finally felt comfortable in Pagan circles. I have a strong imbedded sense of  'God' but not so much in the New Testament, thus I am not Christian. But I am fascinated by religion so you could say a good 5 years of college and various classes have been spent on various religions in search of the one that felt right to me.

Much like our legal and prison systems, religion is a business. So I think sometimes there is a sterilization of what is put out to the public in religion and thus followers may or may not embrace the teachings of forgiveness and kindness. Although, there is more than enough bloodshed in the name of religion to have a full Blog post on that.

So in closing, I feel our legal/punishment systems need to be radically updated and we need to be more realistic as a society. I feel people need to react with kindness first and then meanness as a last resort. And I feel that religions should take moments from their documents but weave the sermons around real life and emotions; bringing it into the current time so to say, so that people will relate to the teachings. And we, as a society, should have representatives who listen to us as a whole and not run the path of their own desires and wants.

ADDENDUM: So I always get a second opinion on anything I write (actually since I can remember) because I tend to be too blunt for most people. So I read this to The Hubbs who promptly said I needed to remove the part about killing people.

We are programmed that killing someone is wrong (regardless how many counter illustrations we have of this in society) and I appreciate his point but if we do not accept those convicted of a crime who have served their time back into society; and we cannot and do not want to pay for them indefinitely in prison/jail; then realistically what is the answer if not to remove them from the equation. I ask you; what is the answer?

Can we change as a society to actually forgive and forget?
Is there not some medical/chemical treatment that can change someone from their very dark nature?

Do we continue to unleash the anger and animal aggression that we all carry into the public behind the false persona of our social media sign ons with no repercussions for this behavior?

And why are we not seeking to fix the HUGE pot holes that exist in our laws and our behavior?