The Injustice System

Today's Topic: Canada's Judicial System

Part 11 d) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms indicates that every Canadian citizen "has the right upon arrest or detention to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law in a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal" I get that. And this week's sitdown is not an argument to discuss our fundamental rights and freedoms as Canadians. Since we are entitled to such a thing, it becomes a democratic system; a country built on the idea of equality and fairness for every walk of life, no matter colour, creed or religious belief. I also get that. However, in a cold blooded murder, it's the possibility that a maximum sentence could be a 25 year imprisonment and in some circumstances, WITH, the possibility of parole. This is what I don't get.

I believe in justice and rightfully so, taking media studies in school along with law and the media classes really opened my eyes to this so called justice system we live under. I've always found it interesting to watch as lawyers do their fancy footwork in severe cases and murder trials, when the accused really have their back up against the wall and really have no other option but to throw on the zebra coloured jumpsuits. So they do their best to plead their case "Your Honour my client has been declared clinically insane," "Your Honour, this man comes from a broken home and broken life and his crime was not his fault because of his mental capacity" "Your Honour, this crime was in self defense," and the list goes on and on. Plead guilty and you can lessen the sentence, admit you made a mistake and better yourself in the process. Now I can't speak from experience or from the side of a "born-again-inmate" but something is clearly wrong with this justice system when the death penalty is not the ONE AND ONLY option if you are proven guilty of taking someones last breath of air, in a court of law by an independent and impartial tribunal. This system really gets under my skin. Remember the days when people were hung from the highest tower in the centre of the town? When the barbaric humans would have a public stoning to the death? When the death penalty WAS still instituted across the globe? Even lethal injection?

Not to be stereotypical, but it seems to me that this is the current day scenario for the bloodiest crimes and horrifying acts: "25 years in prison with the possibility of parole in lets saaaaayyyyy 15 years. Until then, we will use the taxpayers dollars to put you up in a facility where you can slum it with the other inmates, and correct yourself through the ways of the Lord, or heck even get a certified education or degree, on the house. We will provide the books and the meals, just as long as you try to make up for what you did. Just don't screw this up." I want to say that I'm over exaggerating. I want to say that some part of that scenario is a far fetched crazy and clearly ridiculous situation. I want to say that, but I can't.

We are taught from a very early age the dangers of doing bad things. Don't touch guns, don't pick up knives and don't run with scissors cover the essentials. It's ingrained in us to not have a killer instinct, to not have the desire to take another person's life. The thing that I find injustice about our justice system is this. Put yourself in a situation where god forbid, someone you love with all your heart is murdered and the killer is never brought to trial for what he or she did, the evidence is inconclusive or whatever the case may be. Fast forward a year later, and let's say you're 25. You have found the killer. You have a gun to the temple of the person you know killed your loved one. You pull the trigger and you find your own justice. Coming before the court, you get slapped with a maximum sentence and the ability for parole in 15 years. So you've decided, well might as well educate myself while I'm in here. You get your degree, FREE OF CHARGE, and re-enter society 15 years later at the age of 40, educated, relieved and ready to start the next 40 years of your life. So many people struggle day to day with their finances, how am I going to pay for school, how am I going to educate myself, how am I going to make it and be a provider one day for myself and maybe a family? But wait, you're telling me that if I have beef with someone, I could just kill them, and not have to constantly struggle with University or College finances, the eternal struggle that people face everyday just to "make it", and the appealing possibility that I might even get parole if I prove that I have "changed" while getting justice and a peace of mind for doing the "right thing?"  Give yourself those two options and honestly answer this: which one would you choose? Going into jail knowing that you could get out or struggle from the start only to maybe find your true happiness? Please, don't get me wrong here, this is not an advertisement for a murder campaign, to me that is not the answer. But just think about it, put yourself in that worst case scenario and really think about "what is my option at this point?"

For now, the Canadian justice system is seriously flawed in my opinion, even in the most petty of crimes. I get a speeding ticket where I am clearly guilty, but I might not have to pay the fine? The so called "SET" fine? Where does the line of justice begin and the line of injustice end? Where do we go with our mistakes and what do we learn from them? If you are a creature of habit, you just do what feels natural anyway, unless you put yourself in a dark and destitute place of immoral wrong doings to which you get some sort of sick thrill from it all. Then, does being bad become good? What if you were like the TV character Dexter and took your hate out on all the villains of society that are never brought to justice...is what he does by murdering these "low life's" of society constitute as justice? 

For once in your life, put yourself on the top bench, and you be the judge. Ask yourself, how would you fight injustice? Do you sit back and watch, or does resistance become your duty? Think about it...just this once, because...you never know.     

Incredible Ink

Today's Topic: Tattoos

You've seen them in public, those colourful pieces of artistic magic that tell a story. On a long bus ride to work in the summer, you might catch a glimpse of the girl in front of you, her tattoo on her back playing peak-a-boo and you can only see maybe 45% of it, the rest leaving it up to your imagination. Or you might have seen him: the classic tight fitted shirt revealing only 75% of his "sleeve." When a person sees a tattoo, in this day and age, they do one of two things. Turn away in disgust, wondering how anyone can do that to their body, or, wonder in their head, I wonder what the story is behind that. I do the latter because it truly is an incredible art form.  

I've always been a fan of ink and I think I find the whole tattoo concept fascinating for a few reasons. I think the main reason is the story telling aspect, and because I love to tell and share stories and write and blog about random ideas and passions that I have, tattoos encompass all of that. That little logo, that little symbol, or that massive design that crawls down a person's arm or back makes for very honest and sometimes deep conversation. The second reason is out of pure interest: We are given this pound of flesh to play with through our entire life. Some people tone it, others let it get fat, and of course staying on today's topic, some people decorate it. It really frustrates me when mothers or elders (not trying to stereotype) start a smear campaign against "those damn kids" with their tattoos. Look at it merely as body decorations, and when you die this corpse of yours is going to rot anyway...so what is the issue? I also love the people who use the "It's crazy" line. Oh really? So it's not crazy to plaster your lawn at Christmas time with hundreds of dollars worth of decorations? Or go over the top to impress the passer-by's because your decorations in your house look so "awesome"? Good one, hypocrites. It's human nature to want to seek attention, and to grab someones eye with an image. And if the only way you can express that is through interpretive body design...fill your boots!

I was at a party this weekend and was talking to a guy who was in the army. I'd met him once before, but never really got a chance to talk to him. I noticed he had several interesting and fairly random tattoos that never really fit into a theme, but some of which looked really awesome. So I just simply asked him "What's the story behind your tattoos?" He told me he gets them from every place he does a tour of duty in. So Kuwait, Afghanistan and so many other countries tell his story through his ink. Awesome! My best friend has a family crest tattoo so he doesn't forget where he comes from. He is also a boxer so he also has a scripture on his arm that translates to "A brave man may fall but cannot yield." Awesome! It got me thinking that tattoos can really be a source of inspiration. Other people I know put them on for love, for remembrance and one girl I know put one on where her IntraVenous went in because she defeated cancer. SO AWESOME! It got me realizing that people go through hell and back in their life, and to honour it, to remember it, to get them up in the morning, they share that piece of their life story with the colour wheel. Who was it that said tattoos are trashy? Only trashy people get them. They couldn't have been for real. People, THIS IS POWERFUL STUFF.  

Years ago, I think the whole tattoo genre got a bad name simply because teenagers were doing it out of rebellion. Disobeying your parents meant doing the complete opposite of what they told you to do. Nowadays, people like Kat Von D make it an art form. Television networks are doing shows on it. Rockstars and role models are getting inked to tell and remember their story. It's this whole entire massive culture phenomenon of brush strokes and laser pens. For a lot of people, ink on your body tells a story of your life. I remember watching an episode of LA Ink when the country sensation band Emerson Drive were on. In 2007, their hit song "Moments" was the number one most played country song in Canada, which is an enormity. To honour the success of the song, the band got a tattoo to always remember this huge success and this huge "Moment" in their lives, to have a song reach number one and to change lives. It's safe to say that even though they are country, that was a rock and roll move by them. Another story brought to you by the tattoo shop. A huge success in their life and they honoured it with permanent ink.
     
The question I ask you is this, what IS actually wrong with tattoos? Again, take it from a guy who isn't even privileged enough to say I have permanent ink on me. And if you want to be ignorant against people with tattoos, it's almost like wake up and welcome yourself to the planet. Human beings are alive with culture and we are alive with art. And if it's true what they say when they say "art is truth," and if tattoos are seen as an art form, do I really have to fill in the blanks on this one? In it's truest form, in it's most purest form, tattoos (or as I like to call it, decorative art) should not be frowned on and should not be told to cover up. Would you tell an artist who paints pictures to cover it up because you don't like the subject? Would you march up to someone and tell them their haircut looks ridiculous? So the next time you see a tattoo, even if it's a complete stranger, just ask them what their story is. And to be perfectly honest, it is a great conversation starter. You are instantly learning about someones life and the bigger part of them. You may be surprised or even enlightened by the story you get.       

Don't judge it. Don't hide it. Don't hate it.

Embrace it. 

A New Year and New Beginnings

Today's Topic: New Years Resolutions

I'm a firm believer that obstacles are placed in front of us so that we can overcome some of life's greatest challenges. I also believe that a person will only ever know their own limitations by challenging themselves and stepping outside of their comfort zone. And with a new year upon us, society tells us that it's time to start a new chapter. It's time for Chapter 2012.

I started to ponder the question: "Is it really possible to have a New Years resolution?" So let's take a look at that today. For some, resolutions come easy; people making bigger steps to take their life to the next level.  It all starts with an idea or a choice that we make. "I want to start eating better." "I want to be a better parent." "I want to try something new." "I want to lose weight." "I want to fall in love." I always felt Christmas and New Years went hand in hand. What you didn't get on the 25th, you can strive for it at the strike of midnight six days later. Or, what you did get on the 25th, makes you realize what you "need" to help you be better and to help you take a leap forward, moving in what you hope to be your right direction six days later. 

Keeping the resolution is the problem. In general, and I'm stereotyping here, but most people give up way too easy on their resolution. It always left me pondering why people do it. And then I realized that it's a lot easier to make an excuse than it is to make results. Money holds back resolutions, so does Time, so does Our Own Thought Process, so does Embarrassment, and the list goes on. I capitalize these words to make a statement: identify the barrier and what you call a problem or excuse. Make it the goal to fix it and make it the result.       

Now I know by this point if you're still reading, you're all probably just DYING to know what my resolution is (this is my attempt at humoring my reader). I really want to finish my book, finish the idea, finish the product and take my next leap forward. That is my goal I have set out, and my resolution if you will (although it may never get read because the Mayans tell us we are all going to die next December anyway...right?) I believe in the idea of a resolution. Some may even call it a REVolution. But, I also think that January 1st is this complete ridiculous fabrication of "starting over." That is b.s. I can start over anytime I want. How about June 28th? I can change who I am or who I want to be on August 9th. Sorry Dick Clark, but it doesn't take a ball dropping in Times Square for me to be happy and who I want to be in my life. Just pick a date. However, I do like the idea of a resolution because it makes you a better person for a lot of reasons. You are contributing to a bigger set of rules and a bigger picture that makes you walk out the door every morning.

I'm not an expert and I don't pretend to be one. If you know my writing, you know it's straight from the hip. So I'm going to give you the lowdown on the resolution: As I get older, I realize that I have an old soul. But I also realize that there really is no limit. There is no resolution too big, too small or not big enough. Like anything else, you take the first step. You create your own story to tell people that it all began on January 1st, it was my new years resolution. And for a lot of people, it's an ego booster. It feels good to have someone say good for you or I'm proud of you. But you have to own the resolution, and not let it own you. And by that I mean really push yourself. I watched Into The Wild recently, which reminded me of the brilliance that we have within ourselves and I was reminded that there is still hope for mankind. All we have to do is try. There are several quotes in the movie but one that pertains to this topic of a resolution really sticks with me. To paraphrase: It's important in life to not necessarily be strong, but to feel strong. To find yourself in the most ancient of human conditions with only your hands and your head.  And that to me is entirely what a resolution should be: common sense.

So yes, it is possible to have a resolution. You can always improve who you are, which improves who someone else is, which improves a group of people, and you know how the rest of this goes. In bare bones, there are two things certain in life. You live and you die. Make the resolution count. Let it stand for something, for who you want to be. 

I know I'm not going to change the world with a blog or a book, but I'm going to try.


Start tomorrow. Start today. Just Start your engine. Explore, seek, find and do not yield.