Proud to be part of the "irate, tireless minority!”


Samuel Adams, American statesman, one of our founding fathers, once said:

"It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brush-fires of freedom in the minds of men."

A very nice person who likes what I write recently suggested that I write an op-ed for one of the major newspapers. I sincerely appreciated the compliment and the suggestion, but I opted not to pursue that challenge for two reasons. One, I’m not all that enamored by my own writing; and two, I’m not all that convinced that my ranting and raving makes any difference.

BUT, having said that, on this Fourth of July weekend, I’m grateful for the freedom to write. I am proud to claim membership in Samuel Adams’ “irate, tireless minority,” and for that reason, I’ll keep right on setting brush-fires.

You’ve heard it in the past, and I guaran-dam-tee-it you’ll hear it in the future.

-I’m going to keep on bitterly complaining about the inhumane and widespread use of solitary confinement.

-I’ll never let up on the shameless way we feed Michigan prisoners, on two-dollars a day.

-I’ve been griping forever about the terrible medical care that our inmates receive, and that will never change until there is improvement.

-Mental illness is a problem that won’t go away, and we cannot keep ignoring it.

-Defendants, especially those who are indigent and/or of color, continue to be over-charged and over-sentenced in our system of injustice.

-Until we deal with mandatory minimums our prison population will remain inflated.

-Until that day our governor grasps the importance of clemency, and her power to use it, our cells will be occupied by many who deserve freedom.

-Ignoring the ailing and the elderly is not only inhumane, it is immoral.

-It never ceases to amaze me how politicians of both parties ignore the plight of the incarcerated. Our of sight, out of mind.

The list of prisoner "brush-fires" is endless, limitless.

And we’re not talking about numbers or statistics, here. We’ll talking about moms and dads, aunts and uncles, sisters and brothers.

So, on Independence Day, 2020, this old man continues to warn that things ain’t gonna just get better on their own. It’s up to all of us.

…whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
James 4:17


Comments

Cindy Anderson said…
Rock on, doug! We need your voice!
July 3, 2020 at 9:35 AM
Bob Bulten said…
Your voice makes a difference in me, Doug. I need regular reminders because, sadly, for me, too, “our of sight, out of mind”.
July 3, 2020 at 10:13 AM
Anonymous said…
NOBODY encapsulates the issues as you do, Doug! Keep on keeping on because the fight is worth it, prisoners are worth it, and we must continue to enlighten minds that have no clue. Thank you. Knowing prisoners makes knowing freedom all that more precious!
July 3, 2020 at 10:25 AM
Unknown said…
The video of the murder of George Floyd galvanized public opinion and forced us to recognize systemic racism throughout our society, but especially in the criminal system. The focus on pre-incarceration injustice should expand to recognize the system's "knee on the neck" of prisoners who are confined, often under brutal conditions, decades after they have proven that they would no longer be a threat to public safety and would, instead, contribute positively to their communities.
July 3, 2020 at 2:11 PM
Wflower2001 said…
Thank you, Bless you! Appreciate every thing you fight and stand for. ♡
July 3, 2020 at 6:06 PM
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