INJUSTICE

Wrote this in the spare of the moment, just venting about my anger over recent issues plaguing my country.

Couple years back here in Seattle there was a high profile case
In which people only saw the suspects barbaric act, but were too blind to see the role of race
And just how it was applied in this place.
The case stretched out over many months, many days
Don't get me wrong, the suspect definitely doesn't deserve any praise
He broke into a home with the intent to murder two gays
Raped both the women, forced them to do barbaric sexual acts in many ways.
He stabbed one to death and killed her on sight
The other one was able to escape and took flight,
To the neighbors house, called 911, told them what happened that night
The fight for her life, the ghastly sight
What Isaiah Kalebu did was far from normal, moral, far from right.
He deserves to be locked up and pay for his crime
But see that's not the thing in this rhyme
Isaiah Kalebu was mentally ill, insanity plea was perfectly applicable for his crime
It was even evident in court from his outbursts from time to time.
So let me tell you just how much race in the system is intertwined
Some of those prosecutors are completely out of their mind
And the media adds fuel to the fire, making people even more blind
A lot less inclined, to bring out the truth that's behind
A system that practices and preaches racial unfairness
Somebody needs to raise awareness
This is where we need to start the discussion,
Start the instruction, stop the destruction
By implying the presumption and crazy assumption
That all blacks are criminal thugs
All Mexicans are illegal and are involved in drugs
And that all white people are mentally ill, mass murdering, serial killers with happy mugs.
It ticks me off when the insanity plea is used for some political social gain
If you ask me, that right there is the definition of insane
That a white criminal gets this plea simply and plain
But a black criminal who clearly has mental illness doesn't. Now how do you explain?
This is deliberately done to inflame
Causing people to throw around blame
There is no fair justice, that's a huge shame
Because to them it's all just a money game.
I'm not condoning the crime that was committed
I'm condemning the discrimination that's not even admitted
This discrimination in courtrooms that's constantly, blindly acquitted
When insanity is strongly evident in the suspect, it should be fairly submitted
So the suspect can be fairly and accurately convicted
This is the side of our "justice" system that we don't see
A white guy who goes into a theater on a shoot spree
Easily gets the insanity plea
A black guy who's as mentally ill as the other gets a life sentence penalty
By reason of no insanity?
Fair ruling? Explain that to me.

Author's Note

This is just me venting in the moment, through a rhyme, my thoughts and anger at the amount of injustice that plagues our justice system here in this country. The case I used with Isaiah Kalebu was a case I followed as close as I could. I was surprised that compared to other killers who were instantly offered the insanity plea, Isaiah Kalebu (who is quite clearly, and evidently mentally ill) was not even offered that. His mother even mentioned that her son is mentally ill. It all just makes me think about how justice is not being fairly distributed. Race plays a role.

Reviews

[DoormanDan]

This is, by far, the best spoken word poem I have come across on Writerscafe, I mean it. I could quite literally feel the anger and raw disgust emanating from your words, and I applaud you for doing this without dropping five gazillion f-bombs or other wicked words in this(I find that a lot of the times, poems do try to use these to sound more macho than anything). I 100% agree with what you are saying. This discrimination against other ethnic groups, colored people, and gay people and lesbians is absolutely outrageous. Your rhymes flow together almost perfectly, and none of this poem feels forced in anyway(which really lets me know that you have strong feelings on this subject). Fantastic job, this is a poem that deserves to be read. :)

[Aries1984]

Hey! Thanks for reviewing! I did write this in the moment. I'm trying to find my rhythmic nitch for writing real and raw spoken word and (hopefully) rap lyrics as well in the future. Trying to write with a certain rhythm and beat in your head is not easy lol. So I'm learning. But I like the writing style of real and raw spoken word. So I'll be definitely focusing more on such a writing in the future.

[DoormanDan]

You're doing a fine job so far, I could imagine this having a rap beat to it one day :)

[wordman]

it seems the devil and his clan is working overtime,hate and killing runs rampant in this country

[Valentine]

Insane people may need to be locked up to not only protect others but to protect themselves. Valentine

[Aries1984]

Unfortunately, that's not always the case in this country. Jame's Holmes psychiatrist alerted authorities that her client is a safety issue to the public, and they didn't believe her. That is until he shot up a theater. But then it was too late.

[Amber Lily]

Wow. I think a lot of people are afraid to post things like this because of such controversy. First, let me thank you for being brave and posting this, because poetry is just as much about opinion and it is about emotion.
I completely agree with you, I wish we could all just forget that we have different skin tones and backgrounds and just be put to trial as fairly as the last. The "justice" system is indeed flawed in this manor and there's no hiding it. I for one an sick of seeing things on this news such as "hate crimes" simply because it involved two different races of people. And now with gay marriage being legal I've seen so much gay hate it's crazy.
I thank you for not being blind for being able to see all of these things. I love how you were able to put all of this in a wonderful poetic form, I think that makes your message that much more powerful. Great job :)

[Aries1984]

You should never been afraid to write about something that's really on your heart. Even if people may not like you or agree with what you said. Poetry is how I am able to get my emotions out.

[jeannemarie coulter]

if justice were really blind... how wonderful it would be...but our justice is done by men and thus is susceptible to the flaws of men...it would be better if politics and race could be kept out as they should be...

[Aries1984]

Exactly. I agree with you 100%.

[Thatoetsile Simons Thup..]

You are a great poet.Just cant get enough of this poem.

The poem is very sad.really describe how bad justice system is.

Keep on doing the good job.KEEP WELL

[Aries1984]

Thank you for taking the time to read it and review it as well. I'm glad you like it.

[AaronFreitas]

This is an awesome write... it's a harsh truth that there are many flaws in the system. It is crazy how it all works out and I do agree that race plays a big role regardless of what anyone says. You can have 4 different men of 4 different races commit the same crime and the perception for each will be different. The way media portrays it and presents the story will be different. It's a harsh truth. Great write I loved it buddy!

[Aries1984]

Unfortunately it all boils down to making bad judgements and the end result is always gonna be money. My State already miserably failed once before, and that was when the State gave Josh Powell supervised visitation rights of his children. On the very first visit, he murdered them and then killed himself.

[closed]

good commentary on the complexity of legal ethic
it clearly identifies an instance in which social injustice still plagues the system

it can be angering
even maddening

but as long as we have a voice
especially a literary voice...

there's something we can do


and justice can be found...


thanks for writing and sharing this


-Dream

[Perkele.7885]

Aries 1984~~ First, let me say that I am a... 65 year old, white, ex-Chicago Police Officer!

Aries, unfortunately for you, and me and everybody else of any race, color or creed, the way people first started perceiving other people happened too far back for us to get a brand new fresh start.
But, that being said, all of have to start looking upon ourselves as a single body of people (color a non issue).
We have to stop trying to be different. God created people in his likeness without dwelling specifically on color. I didn't choose my shade of skin and I am not going to let it affect my dealings with other people.
Now, as to your premise about unfair rulings. What you are suggesting is across the board malfeasance in a lot of areas of government for what you are saying to have happened as you believe that it has. I would like to believe that we are are beyond all the unfairness that separated all the races that represent America. I wish you well.

[Aries1984]

Thank you for taking the time to read my spoken word poem here. I have no issues with police officers. I respect what officers do, their line of work and all that. I do the best I can to judge a person by the content of their character. To me it doesn't matter where they work, what their race, gender, age, or creed is. I also am friends with a former police officer from Louisiana and know 2 others. I also work in a place that is family friendly and have had many local officers come into my store while on their breaks. You guys are some of my most favorite customers in fact.

For me, I'm also white. And have noticed a pattern in these stereotypes. Well new ones at least. I don't like it that our race is being known for racism and now for being "mentally ill". I find that disturbing. I'm sure you don't like it how the police force has been depicted recently either. Having to follow the case I mention in my poem here as much as I possibly could, I couldn't help but notice that he wasn't even offered the insanity plea, that wasn't even brought up. Don't get me wrong, the guy deserves to pay for his crime, but he also needs a psychiatrist. Some of the things I didn't mention about him in the poem is how he swallowed a pencil prompting to have him taken to the ER. Throughout his trial he's had more than one outburst as well.

I don't know, it most likely is how crimes are being reported on the news or something like that. Plus there's some things that are wrong in the justice system in my State too. After all, they seriously failed the Powell family and the two little boys Braden and Charlie Powell. They shouldn't haven given their dad Josh Powell any custody. The very first visit, he murdered his boys and killed himself by hacking his kids and then setting his house on fire. I don't know, I can add a lot more, but this was me just reacting out of anger.

[Perkele.7885]

The world that we live in has been turned into a place that I am sure makes God turn his head and cry at times and I do not blame him.

[Aries1984]

Me neither.