Now You See It, Now You Don't

This has nothing to do with the craft of a magician, although a slight of hand plays a major role.

This has to do with the habits of many young adults born in the 80’s when the housing boom in Spring Hill, Florida, was in its early stages, the poorest played-out planned development era in Hernando County. The kids were raised under conditions that all but guaranteed them a life of distress with repeat offenses of one crime or another. Quite often it’s one crime and another.

This has to do with shoplifting.

I admit there was a time in my life when I did a bit of it myself. The smartest thing I did to arrest these activities was to discontinue the habit when I turned 18. It was wrong then as it is now but this was back in the late sixties when store detectives lacked the assistance of cameras to nab an offender. Security enhancements have made the activity much riskier. Apparently not enough.

I’m not a witness to these finger-pickin’ crimes but the spoils of their dishonesty have been brought to my attention by the perpetrators themselves. They’re not only brave in their activities, but they’re down right proud of their successes. It’s like show-and-tell time.

By whatever means they steal their choices of apparel, footwear, bath items and a variety of other human wants, including food, it works very well. There are days when some go on a free-for-me shopping spree. And yet, they haven’t gotten caught.

I express my distaste, pointing out what the eventual repercussions can bring to their lives. A first time offender will most likely be given a citation similar in effect of a traffic offense. A Notice to Appear letter sets a court date with a fine and community service to follow but no jail time.

A trespass warning would be issued, prohibiting the person from entering the store forever more. If broken, there’s a civic fine of $200. If unpaid, the place of business reserves the right to proceed with a lawsuit. Retail theft is indeed punishable by law.

A person with a rap sheet goes directly to jail with a $350 bond. That’s just the beginning for restitution. The lack of a sales receipt comes at every shopper’s expense.

Of the three people I’ve come to know who have committed these acts, two are on probation for one reason or another, one of whom is on house arrest. The third person has a family of three ranging from 1 to 4 years old. All have menial jobs, if in fact they have a job at any given time. They are lazy at living, even more so with employment, leaving one job before securing another. None have a driver license because of one or more traffic infractions. It creates a situation whereby keeping a job is in jeopardy.

When I think of those babies, I have concerns they could likely become wards of the state when DCF takes the on the responsibility of their safekeeping. I would sorely miss the times they demand a high-five; it’s cute regardless of the number of times they insist I take part. We giggle together. We eat apples together. If taken from their parents, their smiley faces would be contorted; confusion would accompany tear-falls.

It’s disgusting that some children are made accomplices in the crimes. Baby carriages are a poor means of keeping thievery hidden from view.

Since moving to Spring Hill, there have been many times I’ve felt like a shock absorber, trying to cushion myself from the rocky paths of many who have been raised in environments foreign to my upbringing. At times I feel worn. I have become thankful multi-fold for having been a farmer’s son.

Not all people are distressing. I’ve met a more unique mix of people than any other place I’ve called home. They range from those in their 20's to others who are, or could be, grandparents to these young adults. Some are acquaintances while others are neighbors, or people I have come to know as friends. The number of true friends is limited and a long time in coming. As a result, we especially appreciate our relationships.

The kids I have come to know are good kids, no different than my own childhood friends. I can’t envision them growing up to be as their parents are. Only time will tell whether or not they are led to paths of petty crime.

I pray that the sons and daughters of today’s young adults are taught lessons that will keep them outside the confines of a detention center, or somewhere worse. Otherwise, now and again you’ll see them, then you won’t.

Self Wrighteousness

The Reverend Jeremiah Wright is a bullfrog, his forked tongue lashing at the hopes and dreams of many Americans who have put their faith in the leadership of a fellow African-American. A man who so dearly wants to be the next President of the United States and who seeks to bring this country back to its greatness has been challenged by the misgivings of a man intent on making racism a dominant issue.

Barack Obama has been the darling among younger generations who are drawn to his political charisma that instills a sense of better days to come. The passionate speeches of Barack have incited scores of people to become voters for the first time in their lives. Their beliefs that a change is going to come has given them a cause for patriotism, an idea lost among the actions of a maverick president that have wrought upon America the distaste and disdain of the world community.

The relevance of the speeches of the Reverend has been allowed to overshadow those of the Senator. His words blatantly put the nomination of Obama in jeopardy. He puts self-interest before the needs of the very country that he so harshly criticizes. This is in contrast to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. forty years ago, widening the division between whites and blacks and damaging the integration among all minority groups. The Doctor would be appalled, his prescription for equality never fulfilled.

At a time when Obama must place his full attention to promote his causes for the America he envision, Jeremiah’s ranting gives pause to Obama’s effectiveness to draw the support he has easily perfected up to this point. A lot of political damage has already been done and the prospects of more of the same are likely.

The primary elections are coming to an end, the last of which foresees Obama with a disturbing handicap. Senator Hillary Clinton is on a roll with this controversy, giving party leaders reason to put into question Obama’s ability to draw voter support among whites and blue-collar workers. Hillary is making the most of his vulnerabilities, taking her cause to the Super Delegates who will most likely take on the responsibility to award the nomination to the candidate with the best chances to keep the presidency out of the hands of presumed-Republican nominee Senator John McCain. It is deemed an important step to avoid a veritable showdown at the Democratic National Convention.

An assumption that Barack would become the Democratic nominee has been diluted because of the words and actions of Rev. Wright. The media feeds on the controversy, especially by means of unrelenting talk show hosts and political commentators who take pride in their influence of public opinion. They leave free speech with a bad taste of journalism.

Barack was much to kind, missing the opportunity to quell the initial controversy. Jeremiah did not deserve that degree of respectful consideration. The limelight is now on the Reverend and again Barack has failed to show the degree of contempt for the man than what is demanded. Barak has shown no passion against the Reverend, as he has toward his goal to make a change in America’s future. A superpower can’t sustain its greatness by a president hopeful who is meek and mild in responding to what amounts to a personal crisis.

Of all adversaries, Reverend Wright may very well be the elephant of them all, more so than the Republican Party. He shows no shame, no blame and no sense of responsibility for the misgivings he has created for Senator Obama.

If by chance Obama can weather the demagoguery of a racist religious cleric to win the Democratic presidential nomination, he may not be able to have the same success in the General Election. History may show a failed attempt to show the world that America is truly a nation of equal employment opportunities.

It appears Wright is willing to be the spoiler in a political contest where he apparently puts more faith in a white man and a white woman than he does in someone of his own racial background.