Be a Citizen - Screw your responsibilities as such...Okay....so I haven't blogged in a few days because we've been busy getting the apartment ready for painting. That is now done, and I've been waiting to get this rant up for 3 days now.
Many people are here illegally, they come on boats, on planes, the walk over they even ship themselves over in boxes and crates. People are willing to DIE to live here - people that have only HEARD of the freedoms that belong to us are willing to give their lives just to end their lives on American soil.
I love being here. I know that this country has its problems. I know as a black woman I sometimes feel (both from outside sources and myself) inferior. I know that 'equality' isn't across the board here. I know that bad things happen here - more than anywhere else I believe. But, given all of that, I really ADORE this land. I love the freedoms I have. I am not the type of person that would volunteer for the military, but I vote faithfully, I obeserve national holidays for our armed forces with my own silent moment (and if my girls are around, I explain to them why it's important). I think that I am a good citizen, maybe not 'model', but I contribute positively to society.
I AM FUMING AT MOST PEOPLE THAT ARE CALLED FOR JURY DUTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!Okay, not all of them, but the bulk of people that are called for Jury Duty view it as some stupid waste of time. They can't seem to understand that they're being INVITED to share in one of the things that make this country a great place - and that is a legal system - even with it's flawas - that includes and requests the local citizenry for it's help in enforcing the laws - the lawas we as citizens vote for year after year.
As a member of the court system, I see daily people that freely admit they've got 'better things to do' than sitting in a courtroom being examined for Jury service. How can this be? How can it be that the same body of peopel that whine and cry and scream bloody murder at criminal activity can't see the service the provide when they are serving on the Juries of our nation? Why is it that the only time the majority of people living in this nation want to experience the jury system at work is when they're own family member or friend might be on trial for something - then of COURSE they want to have a "jury of peers" sitting in judgment of the facts of the case. Which, if you aren't clear on that, is what the Jury is doing. No Jury judges the PERSON, the Jury judges only the facts, in respect - what is TRUE and what is FALSE within a trial.
Gosh - if you're one of those that can't stand being called for Jury Service - please stand back, take a moment, and ask yourself where else can you be such an integrel part of the system of laws...and if you dislike Jury Duty so much - are you willing to move to a less free country to avoid it? After all, I am not so sure that if you can't see the reason and necessity for serving as a Juror you deserve the other 'good things' about living here.
hmph. - blogging buddies - if you've been patient enough to read this long post, click the link to my designer's blog and you can snag that gift that's there. It's for another purpose, but you can have it too.
