Post by Police Moderator on Apr 24, 2013 7:10:34 GMT -5
A Rock And A Hard Place
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
In my childhood I sometimes heard my parents and other elders using that term, "Between a rock and a hard place," but I never quite fully understood or appreciated what it meant. I realize now the term can mean different things to different people. One finding him/herself in a situation where he/she can't seem to escape.
I actually had a young man to explain it to me this way: "I sometimes feel I'm in a nightmare from which I can't escape. I'm embarrassed by the wrong choices I've made in the past. I know I've hurt my family and have been a disappointment to them. In all that I've done, the person I realize I've done the most damage to is myself. I can't change that, but I'm really struggling and trying to do right. To take care of the family I missed out on while abusing drugs. I was a selfish, uncaring person. I'm amazed and grateful that my children and family still care about me. That their mother didn't teach them to despise me. I'd certainly deserve it she had. I feel I don't deserve them or their love, but I'm trying prove myself worthy."
The rock and the hard place is: The young man has a job. He's asked no one for any handouts. He's been in jail, in prison for mostly drug related, and minor offenses such as driving on a suspended license. The problem isn't that he can't find a job, he has one. The problem is he can't get to the job for being stopped, harassed, arrested and strip searched because he's unable to pay off or down the court fines and fees to apply to have his license reinstated because, well, he has to take the chance of driving to work where he's likely to be stopped, harassed, arrested, taken to jail and ordered strip searched, because he has prior drug charges, while in jail (ten bucks an hour), he's likely to lose that job and has to start all over again, trying to find another job, falls behind in child support, and the cycle starts all over again. Stopped, harassed, arrested, taken to jail, strip searched ordered by arresting deputy, jailers reluctant to carry it out, but compelled to 'follow orders," eventual complete total breakdown of the human spirit.
Many would have given up a long time ago and gone back into their old habits, it would be less complicated. But not this one. He's determine not to slip back into that old lifestyle.
Read more excuses by Brenda Manghane-Washington, and assorted BS, if you sincerely desire to continue to bang your head between a rock and a hard place here like Brenda: chattanoogan
I know a guy who rides his bike, beginning at 4:00 am, every day, to his work place, and back to his humble home at 6:00 pm, as his drivers license is permanently revoked as a result of his 8th (Eighth) and now, final DUI. He is overcoming it as I type. I guess he's 'privileged' in Brenda's book.
I know another girl who's never had a drivers license due to an issue over some truancy earlier in her life, when she acted stupid. She walks a mile to her job, and back, every day. She's realized she has acted stupid, but overcame it. I guess she's 'privileged' in Brenda's book.
These 'privileged' folks can't catch a bus, 'cause they live outside of our highly subsidized CARTA routes.
What's Brenda Rock and Hard Place person's excuse?
Maybe do what the rest of us do? Pay our dues, pay our bills and try to act right despite a little hard work? Righteously utilize the funds, the education, the legal work, the opportunities that the taxpayers have graciously provided us instead of just bitching to any forum that will publish us?
Don't blame others for our self-imposed misfortune? Don't depend on a incompassionate government to save our collective asses?
There's a novel idea, Brenda.
Grow up Brenda. At least once, I implore you, be a part of the solution, instead of continually, and vocally, being one of the sand-in-my-crack ineffective whiners who obviously can't afford a taxpayer subsidized InToxLock on their keyboard. (I can write you a grant. I got mine for free!)
Find your own bootstraps and pull yourself, and those you claim to care about, up. If you, or yours, are not willing to do that simple thing, STFU.
The rest of us are too busy, finding (Or making) or pulling our own bootstraps up to have enough time, tax-dollars, or energy to force you to, at least, find a simple , guvmint-damn-advertised-obvious, (free), boot strap that every other responsible taxpayer paid for and is trying to point out to you, and those who you claim to be, yours.
