More Time Than Money

Got a speeding ticket over the 4th of July weekend. To the tune of $180. Ouch. There's no telling how much speeding tickets have cost me, but I'm sure I could have bought a small lot with that kind of money (I've been getting tickets since I was 16 or 17--not steadily but just so I don't sound like a speed demon or anything). I'm kind of in a dilemma right now.

I told a friend about the ticket/cost and he said that I might want to spend that time in jail. Just turn myself in once it becomes a warrant (failure to appear). "I got more time than money, man." Now this is the time where I would love to have that pre-paid legal, but I don't really care for too many in-case-shyts. My money does me pretty well. I don't like to hand it out to money-hungry folk. But I digress. I have had to realize that it's so important for me to understand my legal rights as a black man in the U.S. Not saying that a black man is different from a white man (or am i?). Just saying that the law (po po, dem folk, dem peeple, jake, even the d.a. and the courts) would pull the wool over your eyes, if allowed. And we allow it every day. One of those unfortunate truths about life. We have an option. We can equip ourselves with information and, therefore, knowledge and power.

We've grown enough to realize that books hold wealth that unlocks doors. Unfortunately our youth do not all realize that. Inmates who have the opportunity to read find out just how much more there is to life than what they were caught up with.

**Let me break to express my support for all those caught up and "made examples of". Hang in there.**

I attended a neighborhood meeting recently for graffiti cleanup. There's been a lot of places getting tagged lately. The city's code enforcement places fines upon home/business owners who get tagged--as if they wanted it in the first place. Other city officials were there and all that I got from the meeting was that they're suggesting that you report (similar to crimestoppers) the activity so the individuals can be hauled off to jail. While the individuals are not always minors, this event just made me look at how unconcerned people can be. True, the "vandals" weren't concerned about the expense and trouble that the homeowners/business owners go through, but in efforts of teaching a lesson to some, a few got the big:
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I know that I'm not speaking about something new, but just had to mention it. After reading The Reckoning and watching the highly tragic comedy Life I've simply had some very irreverent thoughts concerning my country. I laugh when I hear people talk like prisoners are on an all-expense paid vacation, paid for by tax-dollars. We are bred to become uncaring people, mostly unforgiving, but I'll settle for uncaring. If the majority of citizens don't care, how do they even expect the rest to? My ex-wife coined the term, "I am what you make me." [Baby, if you're reading this, I wanna make you mine again. Okay, had to say dat. Sorry folk]

Oh yeah, so I'm in this dilemma. Do I hand over my freedom for a few hours/days to repay my debt to the Texas Department of Public Safety? I believe my friend because one thing I've learned is that frequent offenders are on top of their game when it comes to the legal system. Which brings me to my next suggestion. We need to find a way to make it worth people's while to enter the criminal justice field. In college, I knew a few pre-law majors. They could've made some extra shnaps with all of the kids getting hemmed up for varied offenses. If somebody's reading this with the capacity to do so, set up something to introduce kids and adults to the legal world. Provide subjects to legal students to do research on. Have them present their findings that can be distributed.

Anyway we all have more time than money. We spend our time tryna make mo' money mo' money mo' money, only to push ourselves to make more. 24 hours come and go so fast. Work takes up a good ten (including commutes for those with not so long of a commute); sleep takes six; and anotha eight to do what we do (eat, exercise, entertain, study, chores, what have you). Less or more if we sleep/work more or less. We stay on the go. Keep it poppin. [Supposedly] No time for any causes. Give a few bucks that we don't really have [okay, supposedly].

I'm gonna suggest something we've all heard and hear, take time out for somebody to give them a lift. Spark em up, if you will. It's not always instantly appreciated or recognized, but do it anyway. Others may try to stop you because it seems absurd to do for someone else, but people thought that way for all who sought to seek a change for the better.

Besides, we got more time than money.