When I was 18, I joined the military. The first stop for an enlisted member is, of course, Boot Camp!! At boot camp, for the first time, I saw some impressive men and women who had a unique job of breaking down 100 18-30 year olds and building them into a unique group of young men and women. It is, of course, deeper than that. The drill instructors are there to teach many things, like how to survive, to move forward without stopping, and they pick lives up where mom and dad left off. They have a unique and rewarding job that takes long hours, intensive training, and unbelievable devotion.
There are so many things wrong with this article. At least in my view.
I will never be proud of what I did. I will never be proud to have a scarlet letter. I will never be proud to be part of the sex offender community.
I will however support any and all efforts that correct the injustices brought upon us by ignorant opportunity seeking politicians and their in humane laws.
I am not proud of my scarlet letter. It is a physical manifestation of my crime. It is a crime for which I have paid my debt and the scarlet letter is one among many laws preventing me from moving forward not just with my life, but as a human being.
I understand completely but we need to remember that we are all as different as the experiences we have had, including the circumstances of our crimes. The one common denominator for all of us is simply that we were found guilty of a sex crime and now find ourselves marked for endless punishment and marginalization yet, that may be the only thing we have in common. Some really did not cause harm but were, instead, harmed. Others caused a great deal of harm. And then there is the continuum which exists in between those two extremes in which we are neither all-black nor all-white but some shade of gray. In retrospect, we all get to decide what our own behavior was and our culpability for past actions, if any. Hopefully, that perception will comport with reality so that we can be rational actors and intellectually as well as emotionally honest people.
Interesting article and good responses. Regarding this scarlet letter…I have done my part for what I was accused and convicted. I faced up, took responsibility for my actions, served the penalty given and have lived an austere, yet successful life. Many are in this same boat, we have done our part, it is the ongoing penalties, fear mongering and additional laws that legislators and society have put upon us. I’ve done my part to make things “right” but the powers that be have not. It directly affects me, yet it is their problem, not mine.
I like the positive attitude of the article but I disagree with the gist of it. I do not think people who are listed on a Nanny Big Government (NBG) Registry should worry about dedicating themselves to “our communities”. I also think “need to give more to society than any others” is completely wrong. F communities and society. Most people in them are awful, undeserving humans.
I have been listed on an NBG Registry for over 20 years. It is unacceptable and people who support it, the Registry Terrorists, are my mortal enemies. My main goal regarding the Registries is to ensure, literally every single day, that I never do anything that could even conceivably aid any Registry Terrorist. Of course that prevents giving to charities or volunteering for anything.
But I agree that people who are listed should be much better humans than the Terrorists. That is trivial to do. But a listed person should limit any aid, kindness, or respect that they give to only good, decent people who deserve it. Love people who deserve it. F the Terrorists.
I came across this quote and wanted to use it somewhere. Here is probably appropriate:
“The best revenge is to be unlike the one who performed the injustice.” – Marcus Aurelius
It is usually translated as “the best revenge is to be unlike your enemy” but that has a slightly different meaning, more like seeking retribution by being contrary or doing the opposite of what your enemy wants you to do or feel. The idea is to free ourselves from all bondage to the enemy.
I think there is a difference between being more justice minded and fair than your enemies and being different than them just out of spite. The latter is probably more satisfying, but the former brings you greater self worth.
I think
“living as a registrant ”
Should be changed to
‘Living beyond the label’
Thanks to
https://all4consolaws.org/2018/03/living-beyond-the-label/