Word choices are often important. A lot of misstatements and misunderstandings trouble the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave because people have used the wrong words, or misunderstood the right ones.
Truth, Justice and the American Way, I need to do something on that some day. It is not hubris, but fact, that the American Way is not Jingoist separatist nor haughty, but meek, mild, and good news for all.
But that is an aside from my subject today: Due Process.
Let me start by stating emphatically, the United States is NOT a democracy. Some people try to make it a demagoguery. We are representative Republic, but not just that, but a Republic based on the rule of law, not the rule of the majority or the rule of the people, but the rule of law. We the people have a role in making and shaping those laws, but the foundation of the law is based upon a precedent that the law as handed down to us itself comes from a sense of justice granted us by our CREATOR. Every citizen but one could want to erase laws and civil rights, and the one remaining citizen could be right, if he stood by the rule of the law and the civil rights guaranteed to each and every one.
I harp on that, because Due Process is a key element of Rule of Law. It is a cousin to checks and balances, the branches of government, and a whole host of things people learn to rattle off in school and political rallies, but seldom realize how vital and important they are our personal safety and freedom, to our Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness.
Due Process, when well, makes sure nothing is rushed, nothing is dragged out, everything proceeds with dignity and respect, protecting the innocent and chastising the guilty. But due process can also partake of the sickness of our current injustice system. Continuance by court continuance, the addition of charge by niggling charge entangling person after person in the injustice system so any mistake, error, or unintended misstep or misunderstanding ensures that one will never exit the system. Laws written that contradict themselves so no one can not be at fault and able to be charged and criminalized into the system. Each of us is vulnerable. If someone wants to get you, there is a law they can pull up that can snare you. You ARE guilty. We all are. There are no free citizens.
Now that this theory has been expounded, let me turn another way, but Due Process nonetheless. Community groups, businesses and religious groups have their due processes as well. I am going to focus on them for a moment,. because I have several personal irons in this fire. As I look at the spiral of my past that has brought me where I am now, a lack or abuse of Due Process has been key in many of the situations that have caused my downfalls. I counted on Due Process, and was denied it, again and again, all for “Legitimate” reasons.
I spent 22 years of my life as a partner in Madrigalia Bar Nonne, invested in the business, and had that investment ripped from my hands, all my investment lost, by misuse of Due Process and a lack of Due Process. As I was kicked out I was told my banishment was only for two years, and I could choose to reapply in two years. WHY would I want to join a group that fabricated false facts about me and despite a virtual chant from board member Marilyn “Mother Madrigalia” Miller that we “must always follow the by-laws”, chose to skip them and deny me my chance to face my accuser, and go straight to sentencing me out. By e-mail. They didn’t even meet face to face. Unanimous decision, so you are a hypocrite, Marilyn Miller.
And Susan Klankey, my sister in Christ who rescued me and my son once when our ride abandoned us miles from home and no one else could be found who would make any effort on our behalf, I do not forget that, nor have I ceased to be grateful, but in this instance with the board you were a ditz. You voted to kick me out, via distribution e-mail, and didn’t even understand that it was permanent and irreversible. It would have only taken one person to stand up and require the due process to proceed as it should, and that SHOULD have been you. I don’t know what chastisement you will receive, or have received, for this failure in your duty, and I pray it was small and you have learned your lesson, because we always pay a price for these things.
I know a part of the price I paid for it. Loss of income, loss of health, deep mental anguish, and it gave the ammunition to the next group of people who took its falsehoods as truths to batter me down even further and justified their abuse of due process and the violation of their oaths as church ministers to turn a church sanctuary into a place of lies, deceit and coercion.
I ended up in the hospital. on life support.
You never intended such a result, but without your choice, your absent-minded choice, it wouldn’t have happened, Susan Klankey. I bring that out not to blame you, but to caution you; someone who does such good should not let such sloppiness mar all her good deeds.
The above is said out of care and love. I know it will be used by many to show the extreme hatred I have.
(More on Due Process to come. But it, too, is part of a bigger picture, and thus, be patient as the upcoming series of blog posts slowly churns their way out to paint the great picture of hope or catastrophe awaiting us all….)
At The Rainbow 