The Felon
By Demond A. Jackson
“A young man of strong body, weakened by hunger, sat on the walker’s portion of the street stretching his hand toward all who passed. Begging and repeating the sad song of his defeat in life, while suffering from hunger and from humiliation. When night came, his lips and tongue were parched, while his hand was still as empty as his stomach. He gathered himself and went out from the city, where he sat under a tree and wept bitterly. then he lifted his puzzled eyes to heaven while hunger was eating his inside, and he said, “Oh Lord, I went to the rich man and asked for employment, but he turned away because of my shabbiness; I knocked at the school door, but was forbidden solace because I was empty-handed; I sought any occupation that would give me bread, but all to no avail. In desperation I asked alms, but Thy worshipers saw me and said,” “He is strong and lazy, and he should not beg.” “Oh Lord, it is Thy will that my mother gave birth unto me, and now the earth offers me back to You before the Ending.” His expression then changed. He arose and his eyes now glittered in determination. He fashioned a thick and heavy stick from a branch of the tree, and pointed it toward the city, shouting, ” I asked for bread with all the strength of my voice, and was refused. Now I shall obtain it by the strength of my muscle! I asked for bread in the name of mercy and love, but humanity did not heed. I shall take it now in the name of evil!”
The passing years rendered the youth a robber, killer and destroyer of souls; he crushed all who opposed him; he amassed fabulous wealth with which he won himself over to those in power. He was admired by colleagues, envied by other thieves, and feared by the multitudes. His riches and false position prevailed upon the Emir to appoint him deputy in that city–the sad process pursued by unwise governors. Theft were then legalized; oppression was supported by authority; crushing of the weak became commonplace; the throngs curried and praised. Thus does the first touch of humanity’s selfishness makes criminals of the humble, and makes killers of the sons of peace; thus does the early greed of humanity grow and strike back at humanity a thousandfold!”
Excerpt from- The Treasured writings of Kahlil Gibran
As I look around I can’t help but notice the multitude of strong young men/felon’s/criminals. Whom development is primarily based on their ‘hunger’; the way they look and the denial of solace by those who could lend them a hand. Currently the majority of those who have the right to vote ( be it conscious or unconscious), are supporting the authority of thieves, killers and oppressors. Individuals who refuse to passed justice reform, correct racial disparity and apply equal protection of the law to all who are citizens of this nation. The killing of the defenseless in this country in this day and age is comparable to “Medieval Times”. The Lesson bestowed upon me by way of Kahlil’s composition, exposes to me that man selfishness and refusal to learn from his or her mistakes is the foundation by which felon status is running rampant in America. Micah was an American soldier, someone who believed in the principle this country was founded upon, he was part of the governing system. Yet his humility and cries for change was ignored, causing him to turn from the Lord, pick a gun and become a “killer and destroyer of souls.” (May those officers who lost their lives in Dallas rest in peace.) Yet if those who, the voters have elected, placed in authority, genuinely and seriously care about not devaluing lost of those officers lives. They would stop fighting over who controls the house and the senate. And start passing bills that will correct the injustices that are so blatantly plaguing the system.
Establish a system of accountability for those who implement the laws as well as those who violate the laws, fix the wages in this country so its citizens children can stop begging and dealing with their hand remaining empty after they have sung the sad song of life defeat.
The riots we see in Milwaukee, the killings of police officers and the protesting are all cries… Cries which are being ignored every day, while our Congressman and Senator deem it time for a break. Yet they have done no work for how many years to correct the unconstitutional violation being subjugated on its citizens. Our youth cannot believe in the system because it is the system who has incarcerated their mothers and fathers for life for non-violent drug offenses, our youth cannot see themselves following the laws of the system when it is clear that the system doesn’t apply its laws to those they empower to enforce it, and therefore our youth turn to their city in anger shouting ” I asked for change with all the strength of my voice, and they refused. Now I shall obtain it by the strength of my muscles! I asked for justice in the name of mercy and love, but humanity did not heed. I shall take it now in the name of evil!” People if you continue to sit back and allow the authority of this country to ignore the cries of the people, you can best believe eventually death and destruction will sooner or later reach your door step. Collectively we can stop the violence and save innocent lives from the cycle of criminality that is plaguing our communities…or we will continue to see the humble man, become the felon.
I'm the son of an African American queen, born and raised in Los Angeles California, where I was groomed in its infectious gang culture. For the past decade and half, the federal Bureau of Prison has been a institution of self-education, self-evaluation and the reason I now possess knowledge of self. That being so, I now strive to expose the solution to the problems that our plaguing our communities, America's youth and this country as a whole. There's a saying: "There's nothing new up under the sun." Simply put, if there's one thing in this universe existence, that has seen all thing that mankind has done or not done, it is the sun. That means the moral dissension that taking place currently is nothing new. Historian have written about times where the moral fabric of a nation was so tattered where the only solution for change was war a destruction. This country was built and establish to be the nation it is today. By the disenfranchised, those who were being oppressed by the Queen and her fellow Aristocrats. Therefore if this country is to change once again for the better. It will begin and must begin with the actions and the voice of the disenfranchised i.e, America's minorities, poor and it's third class citizen the American Ex-felon. That being said I'm committed to "WRITING MY WRONGS..." and sewing seed of knowledge and truth that will blossom into peace, prosperity and positive change
Writing Contact:
DEMOND JACKSON #05934-088
FCI Victorville Medium II
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
PO BOX 3850
ADELANTO, CA 92301
Good write-up, Many times people, look at the result oppose to the cause, thus creating a platform of conviction over Prevention in the Eyes of the Law. Sad, but True story in this Country we live in.
This is a great website, People was talking about it on Facebook and Twitter.
It’s always a double standard when it comes to Felon’s. Real Talks, Respect, all the way from LA.