Fight. For your Right.

Freedom sounds a lot different to each of us. To some it may be the leisure to travel without worry, to others it may be the ability to pull oneself out of their own chair, and to some it is as easy as being able to make a phone call. Freedom is far from free for many of us who have fought for it. I say us with sincerity and with concern. Not only our soldiers and militants are fighting for our freedom, but our every day folks are raising their fists to the opposition.

Crime.

Given the proper opportunities and abilities, we are all set in line to make the very most of our lives and live with great comforts and joys. Now, we may slip up at times and make bad decisions, but with justice and law we are able to pay our fines and move on...or are we? Each of has has been fortunate enough to have slipped through the cracks a time or two. Whether it was speeding on the way to work, or hitting a car without writing the owner a note...many of us have labeled ourselves as "law-abiding citizens" instead of just "lucky!"

Contained.

Our reformed prisoners are left with records that will not allow them a decent "second chance" and our high school buddy who sold marijuana is now bunking with a serial rapist and learning more about crime and pain then he would have if he was just slapped on the wrist. What are we proving by stomping out these guys and leaving them to rot...eventually only turning back to crime to live a halfway decent life. "Crime doesn't pay," yet our governors, lawyers, police officers, sheriffs, D.A.'s, Parole Officers and so on are all living just fine...crime seems to be one of the biggest businesses in America with the "victims" profiting far more than the "criminals" are 'paying'. Of course, some crime(rape, murder, violence) has no explanation and rarely deserves a second chance at a free life; however, crimes of graffiti, theft, drug use, all deserve another chance AND assistance in rehabilitation. Prisons should only house violent men and women.

Freedom.

As long as people exist, bad decisions will be forever-present. Paint a picture of any city in any time era and you will see a structure for holding our criminals. Lets be more open minded and give these PEOPLE a fighting chance to reform, to move on, and to be kindly welcomed back into our society...just as we were so freely given a very fair chance at the beginning of our lives. Gandhi was quoted, "Freedom is not worth having if we are not free to make mistakes." Give our loved brothers and sisters a fair fight and a chance at the pursuit of life, liberty, and....freedom. For freedom can be more than just a mindset, it can be a dream.