Jailed
Americans like to feel that we are more civilized and progressive than other cultures. We see this portrayed in the media with our news commentaries. We see this when our entertainers and elite give a speech of acceptance for an award or accolade that is nothing more than a rubber stamp endorsement. We see this see this in our masses as they protest blindly, marching for the cause of the moment, waiting for the next Facebook or Twitter update to go viral. Yes, Americans do pride themselves on being progressive as well a civilized. What happens though when this obsession leads to ruin? What happens when American society cuts off its nose to spite its face and then realizes they have cut their face as well? When an egotistical stubbornness to be the best, lays the groundwork and foundation to a collapse of said society?
This person is David. He is 54 years of age, he is a career criminal and has served over fifteen years in prison. This fifteen year does not include time served as a juvenile or for shorter incarcerations in a county facility. Factoring in these two variables, David has spent more than 75% of his life in lockup. I know these facts because I spoke to David shortly after he was taken into custody and secured in the back of a DPS cruiser. I introduced myself and let him know that I was a photojournalist. I then asked his permission to speak with him as well as take photographs, pointing out he had the right to refuse. He said he did not have a problem with this. For approximately 30 minutes, David and I had a very candid conversation about his life, past, present and future. Upon conclusion of this discussion, I thanked him for his time, thanked him for his honesty, for that was worth, and said my goodbyes. These are excerpts from our conversation, my personal feelings, and my conclusion.
David is the second oldest of five children. None of his siblings have ever had an encounter with the law or had involvement with the penal/corrections system in any fashion. I asked why that was, why did he choose to become a criminal? "I wasn't satisfied with being poor." "My family was always grateful for what little they had. I always wanted more.". I admit I was a bit angered by this answer. I asked why he didn't choose to apply himself in academics and pursue a good paying job. I was giving him the benefit of the doubt that he was at least of average intelligence. He said, “I felt I was too good for that too.” At this point it was difficult for me to control my anger and indignation for him but acting with contempt would not facilitate additional dialogue. He went on to say that he had no issues with taking from others if they had something that he wanted. He was bigger and stronger than they were and that made it easy. “I didn’t have to do shit, just take what I wanted.”
David did his fifteen years for two separate crimes. The first was armed robbery that earned him five years and his first ticket to prison. The second was an armed bank robbery, this earned him a decade and accounted for his last imprisonment. He had been out only for a few months before this latest offense which involved drugs with the intent to distribute. I asked him why he chose to deal drugs this time, "I have never had a drug charge, so I'm hoping the judge will give me probation." Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner, Johnny, tell the man what he has won… I informed him that wasn’t the way the system worked and he would be facing a lengthy prison term due to his prior arrests. A sobering thought must have crossed his mind because his demeanor changed and his attitude shifted. That moment was short lived though.
"What will you do upon your next release from prison, and you're in your 60's?" To me, this was the next logical question to ask. David’s response, though frightening, wasn’t surprising. "I guess I'll have to get a gun and do what I need to. A man has to survive.” “Then I’ll go back to prison I guess.” It’s unsettling to me that this is what we, as in society and the general population, can look forward to if he makes it that long. As we concluded our conversation, I asked about his kids. He looked at me as if I was a magician with mind reading abilities. I told him I wasn’t stupid and it would be foolish of me to assume that he didn’t have children. He has five spawn from four different women. Three of those children are already serving time with the other two well on their way. I asked if he cared or if it bothered him in the least, he had no response to this query. I ended our interview here, I had my fill, and for the sake of my professionalism, I said goodbye.
People, when are we going to wake up from our skewed sense or moralism and progressiveness to realize that individuals like this do not deserve to be sustained by society? They serve no other purpose than burdening the collective. By allowing this detritus to continue, we are foretelling our victimization. Are we that concerned with the rights, wants and needs of individuals that have shown nothing but a propensity and commitment to adverse and criminal behavior? In some cases, groups advocate for these people more strenuously than they would for the victims and I fail to see the logic in that. These criminals are not victims! They have no remorse, no regard for the devastation that they leave in their wake. They have no sense of compassion for lives that they destroy.
When the human body becomes infected with a disease, it fights to eradicate said infection. Eradication is done naturally or through medically assisted means. This cleansing is a form of self-preservation and is an inherent feature within all of us. From the standpoint of critical thought, it escapes me entirely as to why we do not view this epidemic in the same way. The embodiment of society gains nothing by allowing this plague to proliferate. This country does not experience enrichment in any form by idly standing by, watching this ilk, and its offspring, permeate through the sanctity of our lives. The time has come to say enough and to take a stronger stance, by administering a more swift and righteous form of law and punishment before it's too late before we wake one day and realize that this virus has become terminal.