In the Jungle, Expect to be Eaten by the Animals

Too often – historically – too many people personally decide that revenge is better than answering / paying / facing the  law – the justice for a crime that affects them personally. This crime may be a more simple common if there is such a thing. Or it may be being called a racist name or all the way to a most serious violent act of being hit by someone… or maybe even raped or murdered. It has been and is still all too convenient that there are some people who are “justified” in getting justice their own way. Some of these people are “prepared-predisposed” to react “extremely” to being disrespected or challenged or affronted in a any way. The re-action to personal attack – however “simple” – can be deadly.

Realistically, there are people who have been “innocently” conditioned in various ways to be out of touch with the humanity of justice and the law. Some, through years of abuse or neglect can be understood more easily… yet, what about those who have lived to only know a disturbed distorted sense of morality or “egoist” value which makes them believe that have every right to end any and all “fights” which they deem “extreme” in a most extreme way.

A person growing up with disturbed parenting or neglect is a person, who is more likely to have trouble dealing with even the most minor of confrontation or challenges in life. They are more prone to over-reacting to confrontation or troubled moments on life. They can also be under-reacting which can also lead to a build up of disturbance resulting in an explosive over-reaction. Over-reacting is where you make the one that you have “trouble with” – making them pay in what you see as equal or as more punitive way – an amount to pay for the “crime” against you or someone you feel connection to.

It is healthy to feel hurt or scared or angry about injustice in this world… it is not healthy to take justice into your own hands. Think about the people who actually plan to “defend themselves” or “stand their ground” or take advantage by preparing to deal with a troubled person in a troubled area… and plan a “defense” to a place where “attack” is imminent.

Like a judge once said to me and some other teen friends who I hung out with – “if you go into the jungle expect to be eaten by the animals”. He said this because (back in 1969) we – teens of 17 t0 19 years… had been attacked by a group of adults who took acceptation to us coming to “their restaurant” being trespassed by “Indians”.

Physical attack with fists and feet and threats were done with knives and racist words to us. I was hurt and sacred and angry… so were my friends. BUT, instead of us calling police… we left – purposely regrouped – and we came back and attacked them. We were bent on justice in our own way. As we came back and attacked them… the police happened to cruise by… and intervened.

Being the “kids” and them being the older – “establishment” guys – them being the “home boys” – the “good guys”… we “felt” “I felt” we were in trouble with everyone… and we had to fight in the old way. We did and we lost. No we didn’t get convicted, but then the older guys did not either. But what the judge said to all of us did eventually made sense – only many years later. At the time we took the jungle as the world ion general and the wild animals as us because we would have won the later altercation.

Sadly, at that time I was susceptible to the injustice of the society of which I was a negative contributor… I saw justice as something which was more retribution in the form of violence… pay back and fight back. It is not!

No person is above the law even though some may force some others to think and feel that way. Each and every person must have faith in this justice system and live accordingly… even when a crime is being committed by those very people who are supposed to uphold the law and dispense real genuine justice.

JUSTICE is not VENGEANCE and the LAW is not dispensed by the OFFICER or the one who is arresting!

The best advise I can give you is to follow the law and live with human and societal morality… do not take the law into your own hands and leave the area of crime or criminal behavior and call the police. And if need be call a lawyer… but do not seek personal retribution or vengeance.

Pilamaya, Mitakuye Oyasin