Comments on: Hip-hop justice

By: Okayreview

Okayreview — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:26:35 +0000

.people who harm others should be harmed in return

i disaggree. . .

By: Herb Blake

Herb Blake — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 01:40:28 +0000

I agree wholeheartedly, the common thought processes of those who want to correct the justice system is “Let’s get back to the way things used to be.” But when was our justice system ever fair? We, as a society, have always tried to improve the “broken” system by adding more of what has it dysfunctional in the first – more laws. Our justice system reflects the mindset of the people we have put in power and we just go along with it. We believe that somewhere under all this mess there is fundamental fairness and equal treatment. Until, we find ourselves in the system and discover that looking at it from the outside and being caught up in the system we have defended is an entirely different story. Thank you for exposing it for what it really is – it would be nice if more people listened.

By: Judy Clarke

Judy Clarke — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 06:53:20 +0000

Juries can nullify the law! Who knew? This idea is both exhilerating and frightening. It is exhilerating to think that I, as a juror, might actually participate in a justice system where I could render a decision based on my social conscious. Then again, it is frightening to think that I might be able to “hold up” due process. The values of mutual respect and love, along with trust, honesty, empathy and forgiveness are avenues toward equal justice.

By: Bonnie Lofton

Bonnie Lofton — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 22:56:03 +0000

The opening quote you chose — “The American criminal justice system is so dysfunctional that it presents well-intentioned people with a dilemma. Should good people cooperate with it?” — is something that surely everyone in the field of peace and justice asks themselves at one time or another (or even constantly), in reference to the overall socio-economic system in which we are enmeshed and in which we necessarily live and work. Many of us look at the messes — harmed people and natural environments — that could have been avoided or prevented if our “system” did not foster such harms and wonder if the answer is to continue to apply ourselves at fixing the messes rather than figuring out how to prevent them. What a thought-provoking (conscience-provoking) blog you posted! Thank you.