Do good deeds make you eligible for a “Get Out of Jail Free Card”? (Monopoly Game Pun)
Recently during an Easter program rapper TI spoke very compassionately at the New Birth Baptist Church, ATL; where the focus was on AIDS and its effects on the black community. In October 2007 TI was arrested on gun related charges and is currently on house arrest, but because of his recent display of a converted soul or mindset should TI or others that have tried to change their own lives and help others equally so, be given a little leniency when it comes to the previous crimes that they have committed? Although I don’t mean a literal “Get Out of Jail Free Card”, but figuratively where these people with prior criminal offenses are given lesser terms if they truly have converted and are attempting to change and help the lives of others. One of the most notable cases where this is a hard case to weigh, is in the life of Stanley “Tookie” Williams, co-founder of the Crips gang, who was executed in December 2005 for murders committed during his gang associations. Conversely in 2001 however, Williams received a Noble Peace Prize nomination for his efforts in attempting to stop gang violence. With several failed appeals Williams’ legal team, among many other supporters, attempted to reduce his sentence to life in prison, but to no avail. So in cases like Williams do these types of reformed criminals’ good deeds out way the bad or as the old saying goes “Once a crook, always a Crook”; where a past of violence and crimes darken a person’s present and future ambitions?
Recently during an Easter program rapper TI spoke very compassionately at the New Birth Baptist Church, ATL; where the focus was on AIDS and its effects on the black community. In October 2007 TI was arrested on gun related charges and is currently on house arrest, but because of his recent display of a converted soul or mindset should TI or others that have tried to change their own lives and help others equally so, be given a little leniency when it comes to the previous crimes that they have committed? Although I don’t mean a literal “Get Out of Jail Free Card”, but figuratively where these people with prior criminal offenses are given lesser terms if they truly have converted and are attempting to change and help the lives of others. One of the most notable cases where this is a hard case to weigh, is in the life of Stanley “Tookie” Williams, co-founder of the Crips gang, who was executed in December 2005 for murders committed during his gang associations. Conversely in 2001 however, Williams received a Noble Peace Prize nomination for his efforts in attempting to stop gang violence. With several failed appeals Williams’ legal team, among many other supporters, attempted to reduce his sentence to life in prison, but to no avail. So in cases like Williams do these types of reformed criminals’ good deeds out way the bad or as the old saying goes “Once a crook, always a Crook”; where a past of violence and crimes darken a person’s present and future ambitions?
0 comments:
Post a Comment