Pray for me because I'm about to lose it.

crystal smith · Monday, March 16th 2009 at 4:28PM · 734 views

I do taxes and the other day I had several clients keep me up all of last night. Thank God for this board because I have been using it to escape my world. Anywho, I don't know if it's because I'm pulling an all nighter and I'm tired and cranky or if I am justified in my feelings.

BUTTTT: Is anyone following this Madoff stuff. I just received a news alert about this criminal. It seems as if all of the people who lost their retirement, investment and livilyhood to him want the courts to take everything from his family so that they can feel what they are feeling.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/03/16/madoff...

I'm sorry. I'm not an evil person or even a vengeful person. But being a woman of color in America I am getting more and more upset with the developements. How many of our ancestors lost wealth and financial stability so that others within this nation could prosper and leave an inheritence to their children. When we spoke of reparations the nation was in an uproar. Why don't they get over it? Does it matter? Why should we pay now? I feel as if we are the only unnoticed group in this nation. For generations we have been forced to suck it up and take it. Why can't they take and move on? It's over with? No while we still have unsolved murders with confessions and the murderers still walking becoming prominent figures within our nation, they want swift justice, and it appears as if they're going to get it.

I love this nation. But when I look at my grandmother and see her missing digits because people cared not to prevent DDH from being sprayed over her while she was out working doing what was available to her at the time. When I visit our ghetto's and suburbs and see the wasted talent because our children and adults are being strayed away. I can't help but feel a little upset. I don't care what anyone says if a person can sell drugs they can open a legitimate business and do well. Look at what Jay-Z, Biggie Smalls, Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Fifty cent, Judge Mathis, Kirk Franklin, Bob Johnson and many many more have accomplished by simply changing the way they made their money. I honor the success that many of us have had. But I am also saddened when I see the loss that so many of us still face. The denied just and the feeling to just sweep it under the rug without truly confronting it.

Sorry guys, please don't hate or take this the wrong way. But right is right no matter which side it's being applied to.

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Comments (6)

Natalie De Souza Monday, March 16th 2009 at 5:07PM

I love this, Well said....I share similar feelings. Part of Life is always about CHOICES. However everyone's REALITY may not be the same and this is all about what or how our perceptions have been moulded.

Siebra Muhammad Monday, March 16th 2009 at 6:23PM

Nuff Said!!!

Patricia Ford Tuesday, March 17th 2009 at 12:25PM

I hear you and I feel the place from where you are coming but, as you said right is right. Madoff is a thief, a destroyer, and the worse type of criminal. He and his entire family, and friends all benefited from the billions $$$ he stole from others. So, as much of that money as possible, I think, should be recovered and returned.

His crime, like others of this nature, stole and shattered the public� faith and confidence in our financial system. The greed and now loses can be traced back to this irresponsible, greedy, and self-serving conduct. All who committee such crime should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. And, other laws need to be instituted to make this a capital crime. Let�s stop the madness!

Our prisons are full of young black men who have taken far less but are paying with much greater sentences than men of others races. When people of African decent commit a crime our punishment is severe. Who is the face of �animal cruelty� and who is the new face of domestic violence? It is not Charlie Sheen or Sean Penn for their abusive acts on women (the same kind). No, because the goal is to keep and maintain the balance of wealth and to return any earned wealth to those who feel that they should have it all. We should know that the magnifying glass is always focused upon us. So be better that the best and do the right thing.

So, back to Madoff! Was he not allowed to stay in his penthouse until the trial, after being charged with this horrendous crime? I think the Madoff crime is being glamorize and he should be called to task for is actions separately. The people from whom he stole should have their day in court. All persons involved with him should be treated likewise on these so called �white collar crimes.� The impact of the Madoff theft(s) are far reaching to charities, to schools, and to seniors who thought they did the right thing saving/investing for their retirement and for the future of our nation, our children. They needed more not less money to help others.

You�ve got it! Right is right! Accountability is important and the treatment must be fair-handed. Thank you for helping me purge and to get some of my feelings out. It is ALL way too much.
Pat

crystal smith Tuesday, March 17th 2009 at 6:09PM

Hey Pat, hear you loud and clear and love it.

God Bless

Crystal