“An unjust law is a code that a numerical or power majority group compels a minority group to obey but does not make binding on itself. This is difference made legal. By the same token, a just law is a code that a majority compels a minority to follow and that it is willing to follow itself. This is sameness made legal.”

In the same letter, he also wrote:
“We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights.”

Interesting thought there. There was no constitution before 1789, so 174 years is the maximum for Constitutional rights and, of course, part of the problem lay in the fact that the Constitution withheld those rights. Most were not slaves at all for most of that time and none had been slaves that long, a lifetime being the limiting factor.

Still, people decided to enslave themselves to drugs and blame others for their problems.

This leads to the question of whether you consider his principled stance on injustice equal to selling dope to children. It seems to me you are cutting him down if so.

even so, it is good you seem to have chilled since your previous writing.

Daid for rightful and righteous
comparisons and contrasts

Nope. If you check up, I have never mentioned the race, nor do I care. You were the one screaming about the effect on a particular race.

Try to think this thing through. If someone is interested in consequences based solely on race, is he a racist?

I probably lost you there again, but shall go on as if you were still with me.

What kind of person is a good role model?

Is it a person who breaks the law for personal profit or one who obeys the law where possible?
Is it a person who encourages people to stay out of trouble–including prison– by not committing crimes or one who encourages people to break the law and then scream and shout when they suffer from doing so?
Is it a person who contributes to society or one who tears it down?
Is it a person who helps his neighbor or one who robs his neighbor?

Is there anyone who you would consider a poor role model of your favored group? People whose presence might be worse than their absence??

David for reality checks

Temper, temper, temper.

Let’s turn to an impartial source for our facts since we seem to disagree:

http://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/sp/federalprison.pdf

which says:

“· The majority of persons sentenced for both crack and powder cocaine offenses in 2000 were convicted of low-level functions in the drug trade. More than half (59.9%) of powder cocaine offenders were either street-level dealers or couriers/mules, while two-thirds (66.5%) of crack cocaine offenders fell into these categories.
· The proportion of low-level offenders has been increasing in recent years. Low-level powder cocaine offenders rose from 38.1% in 1995 to 59.9% in 2000, while low-level crack cocaine offenders increased from 48.4% to 66.5% in this period.”

Please try to understand this isn’t saying they were casual users (as you claim) rather that they were involved in selling and transporting illegal drugs.

“BUT THEY SHOULDN’T BE ILLEGAL!” you shout!

Fine, I actually agree with you. If drug usage were legal, the gentlemen who engage in it would be put out of business by Wal-Mart or other large suppliers. Further, the drugs would be less likely to be laced with other poisons and they would be less likely to hire and sell to minors.

Having said that, please let us return to the fact that drug trafficking IS illegal and those who engage in it do so KNOWING the likely consequences.

If it all possible, all laws should be obeyed until they are removed.

David for truth

i am offended that you disagree with me BECAUSE YOU’RE uninformed. if you actually knew what the hell it was you’re trying to talk about and made valid points in disagreeing with me, that’s fine. in fact, i welcome it. but until you speak from some plane of reality, i will continue to think you’re an ignorant fool.

DRUG CRIMES. THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE POSSESSION. for christ’s sake. taking drugs is far different than stealing, raping, or murdering. if you equate the two, you’re just an idiot. in speaking about DRUG CRIMES, which make up THE MAJORITY OF THE FRIGGING PRISON POPULATION, yes, these people should absolutely, by all means be free to “commit their crimes.” the government should never regulate what any adult puts into his or her own body. period.

i imagine you’re a conservative, no? probably one who thinks the government intrudes too much on people’s individual rights and liberties? so why is it ok for a government to tell adults what they can and can’t ingest? or can you spare us all the trouble and just admit you’re racist and enjoy seeing millions of black men go to prison

Now think real hard about what you wrote: “CRIMES”. They are in prison for crimes. If I steal all your money, that is a nonviolent crime but it is still a crime. If I sell poison which kills people over time, that is a nonviolent crime but it is still a crime. The penalties for crimes are published. Those who commit crimes know what to expect.

What you are really saying is that people should be free to commit such crimes since you don’t want them restrained via prison. And you call me offensive?

AND
“millions of – - – have been forced into prison for nonviolent offenses, removing potential role models”

You want them as role models for the next generation? Would you want them as role models if they were white criminals? Korean criminals?

AND
“your ignorance is what offends me, and the notion that people in prison want to be there is beyond even ignorant. it’s willfully stupid.”

Why does my ignorance offend you? If you would be honest about it, you would admit it is not my ignorance but the fact that I may disagree with you.

Let’s go back and review: If you willingly do what is likely to get you sent to prison, you have made a choice to go to prison. That is no role model. It is a drag on society.

David for honesty
even if it offends
the sensitive soul

So yeah it’s friggin offensive that you sit there and say people want to go to prison. millions of black men have been forced into prison for nonviolent offenses, removing potential role models and decimating black communities. there are countless scholars and academics who agree. maybe you should educate yourself. your ignorance is what offends me, and the notion that people in prison want to be there is beyond even ignorant. it’s willfully stupid.